Public Transport Accident Claims

Updated: December 8, 2025

Reviewed by: Jayne Orme

Updated: December 8, 2025

Reviewed by: Jayne Orme

Bike Accident Solicitor

Jayne is a Bike Accident Solicitor from one of our panel law firms.

Types of Public Transport Accident Claims 

Bus accident claims 

There are various types of injury you may receive after having a bus accident. Some of these include: 

• Being hit by a bus 

• Falling on a bus 

• Being involved in a crash on a bus 

• Being involved in an accident as a bus driver 

You can have an accident involving a bus as a pedestrian, a passenger on a bus, a bus driver, and another road user. Some of the injuries can be more severe than others. 

Bus accident example: A passenger was on a bus that was stationary at a bus stop. Another driver hit the back of the bus as they were speeding and did not stop, causing the passenger to be thrown forward and hit her head on the bus. This resulted in a fractured cheekbone and damage to the lady’s teeth. 

Train accident claim 

If you’ve been injured in a train accident and was someone else was responsible, you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim. Train accidents might include: 

• Collisions with another train or vehicle 

• Slip, trip or fall on a train 

• Cuts from broken seats with sharp edges exposed 

Taxi accident claim 

Taxi accidents can result in a range of injuries, depending on the circumstances of the incident. Taxi accident claims might include: 

• Being involved in a collision as a taxi passenger 

• Being hit by a taxi, as a pedestrian, or while in another vehicle  

• Taxi driver claims, where another road user was responsible, or partly responsible for the accident 

What is the average settlement for a bus accident in the UK? 

It can be difficult to give an exact amount of compensation you might receive for a bus accident, as this will depend on a range of factors, including the severity of your injury, the impact it has had on your life, and any losses you’ve suffered. 

However, the Judicial College Guidelines give an indication of the amount of compensation you could receive, based on the type of injury sustained.  

Neck Injuries: Compensation for minor neck injuries, with a recovery time of three months or less can result in compensation of up to £2,990, while the most serious injuries might settle for up to £181,020.  

Hand Injuries: Compensation for minor hand injuries can reach up to £5,800. The most serious cases can attract compensation of up to £245,900.  

Arm Injuries: Compensation for a simple fracture to the forearm could range between £8,060 and £23,430.  

Leg Injuries: Simple fractures of the tibia or fibula can result in compensation of up to £14,450. A simple fracture to the femur can settle for up to £17,180.  

Back Injuries: Back injury compensation ranges from up to £2,990 for minor injuries, to £196,450 for severe back injuries involving damage to the spinal cord.  

Figures are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines – 17^th Edition.  

Whiplash: The Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 detail the compensation you could receive for a whiplash claim. Depending on how long you suffered with the injury, you could receive between £260 and £4,345, if you also suffered psychologically, and between £240 and £4,215, with no psychological injury. These figures relate only to the pain and suffering (general damages) element of your compensation and the tariff applies to injuries that occurred on or after 31^st May 2021. 

How do I make a public transport accident injury compensation claim? 

Seek medical attention and gather evidence 

Your priority after any accident should be to seek medical assistance.  

This might be visiting a GP or hospital, or contacting emergency services, depending on the situation. It’s important to seek medical attention even if your injuries are seemingly minor, as some injuries aren’t always immediately obvious.  

Once it’s clear that you and others around you are safe and have received medical care, you should consider gathering evidence, if you’re able to.  

Collecting evidence is crucial for any future claim. Evidence might include: 

• Witness details (including name, contact details)  

• A record of what happened, including date, time, location and weather conditions 

• Photographs of the scene and of your injuries 

• Details of medical visits  

• Receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses 

• Police (or emergency service) reports 

Report the incident 

You should also ensure that the incident is reported accordingly. For a road traffic accident where injuries are involved, it should be reported to the police. If urgent medical assistance isn’t needed, you can report using 101. The police report can form part of the evidence in your personal injury claim.  

Speak to a lawyer 

It’s also important to seek legal advice early on after an accident. Engaging with a lawyer who specialises in claims like yours will help ensure that you understand your rights and help address any questions you might have.  

Talk to our experts and we can connect you with a law firm who is experienced in public transport accident claims.  

Investigate 

If you have a valid claim, you will be connected with a personal injury solicitor. They will investigate your case and gather the relevant information and evidence to begin your claim for compensation.  

File a claim 

Your solicitor will file a claim on your behalf and notify the other party that you wish to begin claim proceedings.  

Get your settlement  

Your legal team will work hard to bring your case to a resolution and recover the compensation you deserve.  

Most personal injury claims settle without the need to attend court, but if your case does go to court, your solicitor will support you throughout the process.  

The majority of our partner law firms will handle your case on a No Win No Fee* basis, which means that if your case is unsuccessful, you won’t pay any legal fees.  

* Typically, customers pay 25% including VAT of the compensation amount that is recovered by our third-party law firms, although this is subject to your individual circumstances and the actual fee may be more or less than this. Termination fees may apply if you do not keep to the terms of the agreement. 

Nationwide Help 

Our nationwide network of hand-picked solicitors will work closely with your loved one to guide them through the public transport accident claims process. Always acting with professionalism, we are always on hand to answer your queries.