Bus and coach accidents are something which may be overlooked when considering personal injury claims. This is because when we hear about road traffic accident claiming it is often regarding car or motorbike accidents. We hear advertisements on television all the time asking if we have had a road traffic accident; for some reason I guess we would usually associate this with a car accident.
Bus and coach accidents may be less common than car accidents, but we still have many clients approach us after being injured whilst on a bus. If you have been injured on a bus and it was not your fault then you may have a claim for compensation. Whether the road traffic accident was the fault of the bus driver or another car and you, there is a high chance you have a claim. If the fault was with the bus driver you may be able to bring a claim against the bus company. Bus companies are often vicariously liable for the actions of their drivers – meaning the bus company is responsible for the actions of the bus driver involved, and you can be compensated through the company insurance.
On the other hand, if fault lies with another driver, you may be able to bring a claim against them. Either way you may have a valid claim.
It may be that there was no collision involved: perhaps the driver broke suddenly, causing you to fall and injure yourself, or perhaps you tripped over an item negligently left in the gangway of the bus. If you have had such an accident as mentioned above, it is important to report the accident to the bus driver as an accident report may need to be completed – an accident report can also serve to prove that an incident actually did take place. CCTV evidence should be requested at an early stage to ensure it is not destroyed.
At The Injury Lawyers we have a vast amount of experience in dealing with bus and coach claims. We also give free claim assessments so whether we take the claim on or not you do not have to pay a penny.