This guide is about making a public transport accident claim. Whether from trains, tram, or taxis, the data suggests that could be a significant number of people could suffer injuries while using public transport.
According to Office of Rail and Road statistics on rail safety, there were 15,821 harmful incidents between 2023-2024. In the year ending June 2023, the UK Government recorded 2,285 road casualties involving bus or coach occupants.
While technically one of the safest ways to travel, public transport is not without risk. This guide will explain the ways in which you are protected from that risk, as well as your rights in the event those protections fail.
If you have any questions or wish to get started with a personal injury claim, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
- Call us anytime on 0800 408 7825
- Submit any queries using our Contact Us page
- Use the live chat feature at the bottom of this page
Choose A Section
- Can I Make A Public Transport Accident Claim?
- How Do I Make A Public Transport Accident Claim?
- How Much Compensation For A Public Transport Accident?
- Claim For An Accident On Public Transport Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor
- Learn More About Personal Injury Claims
Can I Make A Public Transport Accident Claim?
You can seek help after a public transport accident through a claim for negligence.
There are three requirements of negligence.
- A duty of care.
- A breach of that duty.
- Harm caused by that breach.
Public transport companies owe a duty of care to their passengers. This means they have a legal obligation to keep them as safe as possible. This includes every case from self-employed taxi drivers to multinational coach firms.
If they do not keep their passengers safe, they may be found to be negligent.
If you can show that these three conditions are met, you can make a personal injury claim. Below, we look at a few situations in which you could have good grounds to seek compensation through a public transport accident claim.
Bus Accidents
Road users owe each other a duty of care to not endanger those around them. To fulfil this duty, anyone using the roads must comply with relevant sections of The Road Traffic Act 1988 and Highway Code. If they breach that duty and cause an accident, they could be liable for any injuries suffered.
You can make a claim against any road user if they are negligent, whether you are using public transport or not. To make a claim against a bus company, they must be the cause of your injuries. This includes their drivers, engineers, and wider organisation.
Here are some examples.
- You are travelling to work on the bus. The driver slams on the brakes, causing you to reach out and cut your hand on a jagged object that should have been repaired days before.
- You cycle past a stopped bus. The driver does not check their mirrors properly before they pull out and clip you, knocking you to the ground and leaving you with a broken cheekbone.
- You queue for a bus ticket. The driver closes the door, trapping your hand. Your little finger requires amputation.
Car Accidents In Taxis
Taxi drivers have the same duty of care as bus drivers. They must, as much as possible, look after other road users, including their own passengers.
If they cause a road traffic accident, for example, it is likely that they have breached this duty of care and are, therefore, negligent. For example:
- Another car crashes into your taxi, and the driver has not insisted that you wear your seatbelt. You receive a head injury from the dashboard.
- A taxi driver is checking the route for their next job and does not notice you step off the pavement. You jump out of the way and knock out your front teeth when you land.
- A taxi driver rushes while helping you load your shopping. They close the boot on your arm, and your wrist is broken.
Train Accidents
You may also be able to claim if you have been injured in a train accident or at a station.
The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 makes anyone in control of a public space responsible for the reasonable safety of anyone in that space. This is sometimes known as public liability.
This duty of care can be breached in many ways:
- There is debris on the platform due to recent maintenance work. There is no warning sign, and your foot is punctured by a nail.
- There have been no efforts to mop up mud that has gathered on the carriage floor. You slip and fall, breaking your arm.
- Delays cause too many people to gather in the train station. The crowd is not managed properly, and you suffer a severe injury and PTSD in a crush.
Accidents On Boats Or Ferries
Public liability stands on boats and ferries as well:
- Lunch is provided during a guided river tour. You get severe food poisoning because of seafood improperly prepared by a trainee cook.
- A ferry provider runs a busy crossing, despite being understaffed. You stumble on trailing cables that should be tidied away and suffer an electric shock and several burns.
- The captain of a small boat hands out protective covers when it begins to rain. He does not check if any passengers have a latex allergy, and you experience a severe reaction.
Every situation is unique. To know if you can make a public transport accident claim, get in touch using our details at the top of this page.
How Do I Make A Public Transport Accident Claim?
You make a public transport accident claim by showing that:
- You were injured on or because of public transport.
- Those injuries were caused by a breach of a duty of care owed to you.
To show this, you will need to provide evidence.
- Relevant Documents – this includes any receipts, travel tickets, or booking confirmations that place you at the incident.
- Photos or Videos – if you feature in any dashcam, CCTV, or phone footage, you have a right to request that footage under the Data Protection Act 2018.
- Medical Expertise – notes from your GP or relevant doctor can show that your injuries were caused by negligence.
- Witness Contact Details – your legal representative can work with witnesses to establish the facts of the accident.
Don’t worry if you’re not sure if you have the evidence you need. Our advisors can help you via the details at the top of this guide.
How Much Compensation For A Public Transport Accident?
You can claim two forms of damages in a public transport accident claim:
- General damages include compensation for your pain and suffering.
- Special damages recover material losses caused by your injuries.
General damages are based on medical reports and the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). These are figures provided by the Judicial College to standardise the value of personal injury claims. Some guideline figures are in the table below.
Please note that the top figure is not from the JCG and is listed here to account for special circumstances. The table should only be used as guidance as every personal injury claim is different with compensation awarded based on the merits of the case.
| Injury | Compensation Guidelines |
|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries plus special damages | Up to £1,000,000 or more |
| Paraplegia | £267,340 to £346,890 |
| Paralysis of Shorter Durations | £60,210 |
| Moderate (i) brain damage leading to changes in intelligence, personality, or employment prospects | £183,190 to £267,340 |
| Moderate (iii) brain damage affecting memory and concentration | £52,550 to £110,720 |
| Arm Injuries causing permanent and substantial disability | £47,810 to £73,050 |
| Serious leg injuries resulting in instability and prolonged treatment | £47,840 to £66,920 |
| Severe Finger Fractures | Up to £44,840 |
| Severe Toe Injuries | £16,770 to £25,710 |
| Dermatitis severe (a) enough to affect employment or domestic ability | £16,770 to £23,430 |
Special damages are based exclusively on the evidence available. If you cannot provide proof of your losses, you cannot attempt to recover them. They may include:
- Loss of earnings.
- Loss of earning potential.
- Medical or rehabilitation expenses.
- Related travel or care costs.
- The price of accessibility adjustments, i.e. ramps or stairlifts.
This list is not exhaustive. You may have made other losses that you are perfectly justified to claim for. Use our contact information above if you would like to know for sure.
Claim For An Accident On Public Transport Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor
Our panel of solicitors have decades of experience helping clients like those affected by public transport accidents. They can:
- Gather evidence on your behalf.
- Explain every step to you.
- Put your case forward in the strongest terms possible.
They also believe that income should not be a barrier to justice, especially if money has already been spent on vital care.
If you sign a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) with them, they will be able to make your case on a No Win No Fee basis. That means:
- No upfront fees.
- No ongoing costs.
- No money to pay if you lose.
In return, our panel takes a small success fee if you win. This is capped by law and agreed before you even begin.
If that sounds like the best future for you, get in touch today for a free initial consultation with one of our advisors. There’s no obligation. There are no surprises. Just professional, reliable advice:
- Call us anytime on 0800 408 7825
- Submit any queries using our Contact Us page
- Use the live chat feature at the bottom of this page
Learn More About Personal Injury Claims
If you enjoyed this guide, there are more resources that you may find helpful.
Here are some more guides and articles from us:
- Public Liability Insurance – who actually pays the compensation?
- Third party not admitting liability? – our guide on what to do next.
- Five driving laws you may have broken without knowing it.
Here is some further reading from around the net:
- Rail Passenger Numbers – Government statistics on train station crowding.
- International Institute of Marine Surveying – view their safety briefings by boat size.
- Workplace Transport – guidance from the Health and Safety Executive.
Thank you for reading our guide on how to make a public transport accident claim.
