Ultimately it is the responsibility of the bus company to keep passengers safe and free from harm. A bus company is liable for the acts of its employees acting in the course of their employment. Therefore if a bus driver is negligent and causes an injury, a claim can be brought against the bus company.
If you sustain injury on a bus as a result of a broken chair, then chances are you are entitled to recover compensation. It is the responsibility of the owner of the bus (the bus company) to ensure that the bus is reasonably safe. Any defect on the bus should be rectified to prevent injury from occurring. If there is a defect on a bus then the defect should be rectified before the bus is put into service. You’d normally expect a bus to be inspected at least once day.
A broken chair on a bus comes under occupier’s liability. The bus company occupy the bus and are responsible for the contents and safety of customers. Regular inspection of the bus should be undertaken. A bus provides a service to the public and it is the bus company’s responsibility to ensure that passengers are not injured whilst using the service.
Injuries on busses are fairly common and can be quite severe depending on the circumstance of each particular case. You could sustain a fracture, a strain, a laceration etc. Some buses may have CCTV and you should request that this footage is obtained as soon as possible. It is normal for CCTV footage to be destroyed quite quickly and you should write to the bus company immediately to request that CCTV footage be retained. Also keep some proof that the letter has been sent.
If you have been injured and it was not your fault, contact The Injury Lawyers today to discuss a potential claim.