Bus Accident Solicitors — Scotland

Bus Accidents

Bus accident claims

Bus and coach accidents can happen in a range of circumstances, including in low-speed city traffic or at high speed on national motorways. Collisions with other road users, including cars, bicycles, pedestrians and other buses, are possible. All these accidents can lead to a variety of injuries, from whiplash to broken limbs and, in some cases, even fatalities.

The driver of the bus has a duty of care towards their passengers and other road users. But, if you’ve been injured as a result of their negligence, you may be entitled to claim bus accident compensation.

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

• A passenger on the bus
• A pedestrian injured by the actions of a bus driver
• In a bus or coach hit by another vehicle that fled the scene
• In a bus that collided with another vehicle
• A pedestrian hit by a bus that fled the scene

Watermans employs an expert team of personal injury solicitors, who specialise in injuries sustained in road traffic accidents. Whether you have sustained a minor injury or something altogether more serious, we advise you to speak to one of our advisors today to make a bus accident injury compensation claim.

Contact us

Common Bus Accident Injuries

While most journeys on public transport are safe, accidents involving buses can lead to both minor and serious injuries. Understanding these potential injuries is crucial when claiming compensation for a bus or coach accident claim.

Types of injuries

Here are the most common injuries caused by bus accidents.

• Whiplash and soft tissue injuries – These are often caused by a sudden swerve or harsh braking, causing passengers to jolt. These injuries can be painful and long-lasting. They may also occur during collisions with other vehicles or when a bus makes an emergency stop.
• Brain injuries – In more serious accidents, passengers may suffer brain injuries ranging from concussions to severe traumatic brain injury. These can result from impact during a collision or falls within the bus.
• Spinal injuries – These injuries can range from minor strains to severe damage, potentially leading to partial or complete paralysis. They might occur due to powerful impacts or when passengers are thrown from their seats.
• Fractures – Broken bones and joint injuries are common in bus accidents, especially during collisions or if the bus overturns. These can affect any part of the body 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. 

• Bus driver’s negligence – Reckless driving or careless driving by the bus operator can lead to accidents. This might include speeding, distracted driving, or failure to follow safety regulations.
• Mechanical issues – Poor maintenance of the bus or mechanical failure can cause accidents. Bus companies are responsible for keeping their vehicles in a safe condition.
• Road conditions – Poorly maintained roads or poor road conditions can contribute to bus accidents, especially in adverse weather.
• Other drivers – Sometimes, the accident might have happened 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.

If you’ve suffered injuries in a bus or coach accident, you may be eligible to claim compensation. This is true whether the accident occurred on a city bus, long-distance coach, or even a school bus.

At Watermans, our solicitors specialise in bus or coach accident claims and will help you secure maximum compensation.

Making a Claim

How do I make a bus accident claim?

The effects of being in a road traffic accident involving a bus or coach can cause pain and suffering both for you and your loved ones. As well as painful physical injuries, you may continue to experience psychological trauma as a result. Any changes to your physical and mental well-being may result in you needing to take time off of work, and consequently, you will experience a loss of earnings.

Here’s the process of making a bus accident compensation claim:  

• Seek medical attention – If you’ve been injured in a bus accident, your health comes first. Seek medical help immediately, even if injuries seem minor. This also creates an official record of your injuries.
• Gather information – Collect as much information as possible about the accident, including the bus number, accident location, and details of the bus company and bus drivers involved.
• Contact emergency services – If not already done, inform the emergency services. 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 strengthens your case.
• Contact a solicitor – Reach out to our personal injury team. We’ll guide you through the claim process and help you make 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.

Although the standard cut-off date for making a personal injury claim is three years, it is suggested that you provide as much information as possible regarding the driver and the vehicle concerned as soon as you can.

At Watermans, we understand that making a financial compensation claim can seem a daunting task, but that is where we come in. We are here to help you and offer straightforward legal advice to guide you through the claims process.

Remember, we are here to take the hassle out of the legal side of things for you and seek the compensation reward that you deserve for your suffering. Speak to one of our expert personal injury solicitors today.

How Much Compensation?

How much compensation can I claim for a bus accident?

The amount of compensation you’ll be able to claim as a victim of a bus accident can vary considerably. If you were in the vehicle at the time of the accident, your injuries may be minor. If you were a pedestrian, it is likely that your injuries will be more serious. Either way, the collision is likely to have caused you significant pain, discomfort and inconvenience.

When injuries are more significant, the compensation can be a lot higher because of the impact the injuries will have on your lifestyle, work and even personal relationships. In such cases, the compensation received will support you throughout recovery and long after your claim to make sure you receive the appropriate treatment, support and rehabilitation.

Potential areas of compensation in a bus crash claim include:  

• Medical treatment costs – Bus injury compensation can cover expenses related to your medical treatment, including hospital stays, medications, physiotherapy, and any future medical needs resulting from permanent injury from the accident.
• Lost earnings – If you’ve had to take time off work due to your injuries, your claim can replace lost earnings. This also includes potential future losses if your ability to work has been affected long-term.
• Travel expenses – Any additional travel costs incurred due to your injuries, such as trips to medical appointments, can be included in your public transport accident claim.
• Care and assistance – If you’ve needed 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.

Whatever your injury, you can be sure that Watermans will fight for the best possible outcome for your claim after a bus accident.

Why Watermans? 

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

Watermans make legal services look and feel easy so people can move forward in life.

Watermans is your modern personal injury law firm in Scotland. Our expert team is committed to doing everything to make the claims process straightforward for our clients following an accident.

We take the hassle from you and fight each case to secure the maximum level of compensation. We also provide access to a range of additional services, such as physiotherapy and psychological treatment, to ensure you recover from your injuries as soon as possible and get your life back on track.

Trusted Personal Injury Solicitors in Scotland

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

1. Accidents at work
2. Public liability claims
3. Road traffic accidents
4. Fatal and serious injury claims
5. Cases relating to abuse

We represent thousands of clients throughout Scotland each year, securing millions of pounds in compensation for our clients. Our specialist solicitors work on a no-win no-fee basis, which means that if your bus accident claim is unsuccessful, you won’t end up out of pocket.

Request a Callback