Bus Accident Solicitors - Scotland

Bus Accidents

Bus accident claims

Bus or coach accident claims can arise from various circumstances, including low-speed incidents in city traffic and high-speed collisions on national motorways. These accidents may involve:

• Other road users
• Cars
• Bicycles
• Pedestrians
• Other buses

The bus driver owes a duty of care to both their passengers and other road users. If you’ve been injured due to negligence, you may be entitled to a personal injury compensation claim.

You can claim compensation after a bus accident if you were:

• A passenger on the bus
• A pedestrian injured by the actions of a bus driver
• A passenger in another vehicle that was hit by a bus or coach
• A driver of another vehicle
• A victim of a hit-and-run involving a bus or coach

Our bus injury solicitors handle a wide range of coach accident claims. Even if you think the injury is minor or partially your fault, you may still be entitled to bus accident compensation.

Common Bus Accident Injuries

Types of injuries

Here are the most common injuries caused by bus accidents.

• Whiplash and soft tissue injuries: A sudden swerve or harsh braking can lead to passengers jolting, which can be painful and have long-lasting effects.
• Brain injuries: Passengers may suffer brain injuries such as concussions, lack of mental capacity and severe traumatic brain injury. These can result from impact during a collision or a fall within the bus.
• Spinal injuries: These injuries can range from minor strains to severe damage, potentially leading to partial or complete paralysis.
• Fractures: Broken bones and joint injuries are common in bus accidents, especially during collisions or if the bus overturns. These can affect any body part and may require lengthy recovery periods.
• Psychological injuries: Beyond physical harm, many victims suffer psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression after a bus accident.
• Fatal injuries: A fatal accident can have devastating consequences for families and loved ones. In such cases, a loved one can claim compensation on behalf of the deceased.

Causes of bus accident injuries

Here are some of the reasons why bus accident injuries occur.

• Driver negligence: Careless or reckless driving, such as speeding, distracted driving, or failure to follow safety regulations can lead to accidents.
• Mechanical issues: Poor bus maintenance or mechanical failure can cause accidents.
• Road conditions: Poorly maintained roads or road conditions can contribute to bus accidents, especially in adverse weather.
• Other drivers: Sometimes accidents occur due to the actions of other drivers on the road, not the bus driver.
• Bus stop incidents: Accidents can occur at a bus stop, such as bus passengers falling while boarding or alighting.

Our bus accident solicitors will help you secure maximum compensation.

Making a Claim

How do I make a bus accident claim?

Our helpful guide breaks down the process of making a bus accident compensation claim:

• Seek medical attention: If you’ve been injured in an accident, seek immediate medical treatment, even if your injuries seem minor. This creates an official medical record of your injuries, which can also be used as evidence.

• Gather information: Collect as much evidence as possible about the accident, including the bus number, accident location, witness accounts, details of the bus company and the driver.

• Contact emergency services: Inform the emergency services, as their reports can be valuable evidence for your claim.

• Document everything: Take photos of the accident scene and your injuries, and gather witness contact details. This documentation can help to strengthen your case.

• Contact a bus crash lawyer: Our road traffic accident solicitors for expert advice and support you throughout, helping you secure a successful bus accident claim.

• Contact the bus company: Keep your bus ticket and report the incident to the bus company.

• Negotiation and settlement: Your solicitor will negotiate with the opposing party to secure fair compensation.

• Court proceedings: If a settlement can’t be reached, your case may go to court. However, this is rare for bus accident claims.

How Much Compensation?

How much compensation can I claim for a bus accident?

The compensation you’ll receive can vary considerably depending on the circumstances. When injuries are more significant, the compensation may be higher due to the impact on your lifestyle, work and personal relationships.

Potential areas of compensation in a bus crash claim include:

• Medical and treatment expenses: These include hospital stays, medications, physiotherapy, and any future medical bills
• Lost earnings: If you’ve had to take time off work due to your injuries, your claim can replace lost earnings. This also includes future financial losses if your ability to work is affected in the long term.
• Travel expenses: Any additional travel costs incurred due to your injuries, such as trips to medical examinations.
• Care and assistance: If you need help with daily tasks due to your injuries, the cost of this care can be claimed, even if provided by family members.
• Emotional distress: Compensation can also cover emotional distress caused by the accident, including anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Why Watermans? 

Why should I choose Watermans to pursue my personal injury claim?

Watermans bus accidents lawyers make legal services easy so you can move forward. As your trusted personal injury law firm in Scotland, we’re dedicated to making the claims process straightforward for our clients.

Beyond bus accident cases, we also provide access to a range of additional services. These include physiotherapy and psychological treatment to ensure a speedy recovery from your injuries.

Trusted personal injury solicitors in Scotland

Our expertise in personal injury covers a wide range of areas, including:

• Accidents at work
• Public liability claims
• Road traffic accidents
• Fatal and serious injury claims
• Cases relating to abuse