Making a bus or coach accident claim

As a bus or coach passenger, you can’t be responsible for an accident as you aren’t in control of the vehicle. So if you are hurt in an accident while on a bus or coach, you have a good chance of a successful compensation claim.

Your claim could be against the driver of another vehicle or against the driver of the bus you were on. This could involve cases of the driver pulling off before you’ve sat down, careless driving or injuries caused by an overcrowded bus.

As many buses don’t provide seatbelts to passengers, you are at risk of an injury. If yours happened in the last three years, our expert team could help you make a compensation claim.

How much compensation can I claim?

The amount you can claim will depend on your injury. In most cases, amounts are based on legal guidelines. For example, serious damage or the loss of several of your front teeth could see you awarded up to £10,710 in compensation.

Meanwhile, if you injure your wrist and it takes up to a year to recover from, you could claim between £3,310 and £4,450.

The laws around whiplash compensation amounts changed in May 2021. For any whiplash injury suffered in an accident that happened on or after 31 May 2021, you will receive an amount set by the government. It will be based on how long you suffer symptoms for.

A whiplash injury lasting up to three months will entitle you to £240. The same injury with symptoms lasting up to two years will mean you receive £4,215.

Can I claim for non-injury losses?

Yes, you can claim for any financial impact your accident has had on you. That’s because the aim of a personal injury claim is to get you back to the position you were in before the accident happened.

You can make a claim for anything that you’ve spent money on as a result of your accident or any financial losses you’ve suffered.

This could include:

• Loss of earnings, bonus or commission if you’ve been unable to work
• Medical care – including any medication you’ve bought or any treatment you’ve needed, such as physiotherapy
• Repairing or replacing any belongings that were damaged in the accident, such as your phone
• Transport to and from medical appointments

If you have any questions about what you could receive in compensation, just ask. We’re always here to help.

How can I pay for my claim?

At First4InjuryClaims, we want to make it possible for everyone to access justice. We do that by offering No Win No Fee claims, so you don’t have to worry about paying upfront for legal action.

If we think you have a strong claim, we’ll enter into a No Win No Fee agreement with you. This means you won’t have to pay anything if your claim is not successful, making it risk-free to claim.

We will only receive payment of our legal fees if your claim is successful. This will be up to a maximum of 35% of your compensation plus VAT, but the exact figure depends on the type of accident you were in.

How long do I have to make a claim?

Most people have three years from the date of an accident to make a claim. But it’s a good idea to begin the process as soon as possible, rather than closer to that deadline.

Not everyone must submit their claim within that time limit, though. Exceptions exist for certain people. For example, if you’re claiming on behalf of someone who lacks the capacity to claim for themselves, you won’t face any deadline, unless they regain capacity.

Meanwhile, if you’re claiming on behalf of a child, you can submit your claim at any point until they turn 18. After that date, they have three years to start their own claim.

Do I need evidence to make a claim?

Evidence can help you claim the compensation you’re entitled to. As part of your claim, we’ll help you work out what you should submit to make it as strong as possible.

This could include things like:

• Bus or coach tickets
• CCTV of the accident – either from the vehicle itself or outside
• Details and statements from other passengers or road users who witnessed the accident
• Medical reports – as part of your claim, you’ll have to have a medical assessment
• Photographs and video of your injuries and the accident scene
• Police reports

If you have any questions about what evidence you might need or the process of making a claim, just get in touch however is convenient for you – whether that's by phone or email. We’ll get back to you within one working day to make sure things progress smoothly.