Public Transport Accident Claims | Road Traffic Accident

SPEAK TO OUR SPECIALIST TEAM

Fill in our simple form and get a call back at a time to suit you.

Alternatively our team are on hand 24/7 to discuss your case.

You can call them on:

According to the Department for Transport, 1,505 people were killed or injured on buses or coaches in 2020. This shows these vehicles are vulnerable to being caught up in accidents, irrespective of whether or not they have been recklessly driven. The risks to passengers in public transport accidents are often heightened because, in many cases, buses and trains don’t have seat belts.

What are public transport injuries?

Public transport injuries are the result of accidents involving buses, coaches, taxis, light rail systems – such as the London Underground - and trains. Examples of accidents on public transport include:

Cuts, bruises and broken bones in the aftermath of a train crash
Suffering whiplash following a collision between a bus and a car
Falling in a bus carriage due to reckless driving
Being hurt after the bus/coach driver pulls away while a passenger steps on or off the vehicle

Who can I claim against?

Drivers have a duty to ensure the safety of all passengers, although if making a claim, the transport company is liable as it employs the drivers. It’s also responsible for the maintenance of its fleet of vehicles. Any lack of care involved can also make it responsible.

In the event of a crash where a car driver is at fault for the accident, they are the ones to claim compensation from.

If your accident happened while you were abroad, you can also take a look at our car accidents abroad page.

More about making a claim

How much can I claim?

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries from public transport accidents. The laws around compensation for whiplash have changed. You can now receive £240 for a case lasting up to three months, while a two-year injury could see you receive £4,215.

Other injuries will see different compensation amounts. For example, a minor head injury, possibly coming from a knock after a sudden stop, could see compensation ranging between £1,940 and £11,200. It’s hard to say how long it’ll be before the claim is resolved until one of our solicitors has carried out an initial investigation.

Public Transport Accident Compensation Calculator

Re-select

Selected:

Select the section of your body below

Click on it to select it and move on to step two.

Head

Upper body

Arms

Hands

Lower body

Feet

Re-select

Area of body

Selected:

Select the section of your body below

Click on it to select it and move on to step three.

Brain Injury

Hair

Eye

Ear

Nose

Cheek

Jaw

Teeth

Neck

Chest

Shoulder

Back

Arm

Elbow

Hand

Wrist

Leg

Knee

Hip & Pelvis

Foot

Ankle

Re-select

Type of injury

Selected:

Choose the type of injury to your

Click on it to select it and see results.

Minor brain or head injury

In these cases brain damage, if any, will be minimal.

Select

Minor brain damage

Where a good recovery has been made but symptoms such as poor concentration and memory problems continue.

Select

Moderate brain damage

Where ability to work is reduced and there is a risk of epilepsy.

Select

Severe brain damage

The injured person is very seriously disabled and is dependent on others.

Select

Epilepsy

Epilepsy has been caused as a consequence of the injury.

Select

Psychiatric damage

Affecting the ability to cope with life and/or work or affecting relationships with family and friends.

Select

Moderate PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)

The injured person largely recovers within two years.

Select

Severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)

Injury causes effects that cause significant disability for the foreseeable future, or permanently.

Select

Damage to hair

In consequence of defective permanent waving etc. where effects are dermatitis or hair loss leading to distress and effects on social life.

Select

Less serious damage to hair

Where hair has been pulled out leaving bald patches, or stress-induced alopecia with full recovery within two years.

Select

Minor eye injury

Resulting in pain and temporary interference with vision.

Select

Minor but permanent damage

Permanent impairment of vision in one or both eyes.

Select

Loss of sight in one eye & reduced vision in the other

Total loss of sight in one eye and reduced vision or other problems with the other eye

Select

Loss of sight in one eye with little or no damage to the other eye

Total loss of sight in one eye only.

Select

Total loss of one eye

Select

Total blindness

Select

Occasional or mild tinnitus

Mild tinnitus with some hearing loss

Select

Moderate tinnitus

With noise induced hearing loss, or moderate to severe tinnitus, or noise induced hearing loss alone.

Select

Severe tinnitus

With noise induced hearing loss

Select

Loss of hearing in one ear

With or without associated problems such as tinnitus, dizziness or headaches.

Select

Total deafness

With or without the speech being affected, or tinnitus.

Select

Loss of smell

Select

Loss of taste

Select

Simple undisplaced fracture

Full recovery with no surgery required.

Select

Displaced fracture requiring surgery

Where recovery is complete after surgery

Select

Serious or multiple fractures

Injuries requiring a number of operations and/or resulting in permanent damage.

Select

Simple fracture, no surgery required

Simple fracture of the cheekbone, which will fully recover without surgery.

Select

Simple fracture requiring surgery

Simple fracture of the cheekbone requiring some reconstructive surgery, but with full recovery and little or no cosmetic effects.

Select

Serious fractures requiring surgery

Serious fractures causing lasting effects such as burning/prickling sensation or an element of disfigurement.

Select

Simple fracture

Requiring immobilisation but recovery is complete.

Select

Serious fracture

Serious injury causing permanent damage, such as difficulty eating or opening the mouth.

Select

Multiple fractures

Very serious multiple fractures requiring prolonged treatment. Permanent effects such as severe pain, restricted eating.

Select

Loss of or damage to back teeth

Assessed per tooth.

Select

Loss of or serious damage to one front tooth

Single tooth only.

Select

Loss of or serious damage to two front teeth

Select

Loss of or serious damage to several front teeth

Select

Significant, chronic tooth pain

Extends over a number of years, including significant deterioration of overall condition of the teeth.

Select

Whiplash

Where full recovery takes place between nine months and one year.

Select

Moderate neck injury

Fractures or dislocations which cause severe immediate symptoms and chronic conditions, leading to impaired function or limitation of activities.

Select

Severe neck injury

Injuries usually involving serious fractures or disc damage leading to disability, such as substantial loss of movement or loss of function in one or more limbs.

Select

Lung cancer

Caused by asbestos

Select

Asbestosis

Varying levels of respiratory disability and reduced lung function (1-10% and in excess of 10%)

Select

Mesothelioma

Severe pain and impairment of the pleura (lung lining) or the peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity), affecting function and quality of life.

Select

Pleural thickening

Causing respiratory disability attributed to asbestos exposure.

Select

Traumatic injury to chest, lungs or heart

Causing permanent damage, impairment of function, physical disability and reduction of life expectancy.

Select

Minor shoulder injury

Such as soft tissue damage causing considerable pain but recovery almost complete within two years.

Select

Moderate shoulder injury

Such as frozen shoulder causing limitation of movement and discomfort for up to two years.

Select

Dislocated shoulder

Causing pain in shoulder and neck, aching in elbow, weakness of arm and hand.

Select

Severe shoulder injury

Involving damage to the brachial plexus and resulting in significant disability.

Select

Fracture of clavicle (collarbone)

Temporary or permanent disability as a result of a fracture.

Select

Minor back injury

Such as strains, sprains, disc prolapses and soft tissue injuries.

Select

Moderate back injury

Such as disturbances of ligaments and muscles causing backache, or compression fracture.

Select

Severe back injury

Injuries causing severe pain and disability, including impaired bladder, bowel and sexual function.

Select

Simple fracture of the forearm

Select

Serious fractures to one or both forearms

Resulting in significant or permanent disability

Select

Loss of one arm - amputated at the shoulder

Select

Loss of one arm - amputated above the elbow

Select

Loss of one arm - amputated below the elbow

Select

Loss of both arms

Select

Minor or moderate elbow injury

Most elbow injuries such as simple fractures, laceration and tennis elbow, not resulting in permanent damage or impairment.

Select

Serious elbow injury

Injuries causing impairment of function but not involving major surgery or significant disabilty

Select

Severely disabling elbow injury

Select

Minor hand injury

Injuries such as deep lacerations, soft tissue wounds or crush injuries, all recovering within six months.

Select

Severely fractured fingers

Resulting in impairment of grip or reduced mechanical function. Partial amputations resulting in deformity.

Select

Thumb injury - serious or very serious

Injuries such as a thumb being severed and re-attached, leaving it with little use, amputation of the tip or at the joint of the thumb. Nerve damage or fracture resulting in impaired grip or dexterity.

Select

Loss of thumb

Select

Amputation of little finger

Select

Amputation of index or middle finger

Amputation resulting in very little use and weak grip.

Select

Loss of one hand

Amputation due to crush injuries, or loss of a significant part of the hand due to traumatic injury.

Select

Loss of both hands

Serious injury resulting in extensive damage to both hands, effectively leaving them with little use.

Select

Vibration White Finger (VWF or HAVS)

Caused by repeated vibration, damage to hands including impaired grip, dexterity and frequent pain.

Select

Minor wrist injury

Such as an uncomplicated fracture with full or virtual recovery.

Select

Serious wrist injury

Injuries resulting in significant permanent disability, but some useful movement remains.

Select

Moderate wrist injury

Injuries causing some permanent disability, such as persistent pain and stiffness.

Select

Severe wrist injury

Resulting in complete loss of function in the wrist, for example when an arthrodesis has been performed.

Select

Simple leg fracture

Such as a broken femur, tibia or fibular

Select

Serious leg injury

Serious fracture or injuries to joints or ligaments, scarring, instability and lengthy treatment required.

Select

Severe fracture

Fractures where a full recovery is not made.

Select

Amputation of leg - below the knee

Loss of a leg below the knee

Select

Amputation of leg - above the knee

Loss of a leg above the knee

Select

Loss of both legs

Both legs being lost above the knee, below the knee, or where one leg has been lost above the knee and the other below.

Select

Modest knee injury

Torn cartilage or meniscus, laceration, twisting and bruising. May be full recovery, or continued aches and pains.

Select

Less severe knee injury

Injury or damage causing mild disability or continuing pain, discomfort or limited movement that may require future surgery.

Select

Severe knee injury

Fractures, joint or ligament damage causing constant pain, impairing movement and agility. Requiring prolonged treatment, the injured person will be prone to osteoarthritis.

Select

Minor injury to pelvis or hip

Including fractures where there is full recovery within two years.

Select

Moderate injury to hip or pelvis

Significant injury but any permanent disability is not major. Injury may require a hip replacement.

Select

Severe injury to hip or pelvis

Such as extensive fractures resulting in substantial disabilities.

Select

Minor foot injury

Simple metatarsal fractures, ruptured ligaments.

Select

Moderate foot injury

Displaced metatarsal fractures resulting in permanent deformity.

Select

Severe foot injury

Fractures to feet resulting in restricted mobility and /or considerable continuing pain.

Select

Loss of one foot

Select

Loss of both feet

Select

Severe injury to toes

Crush or multiple fractures to two or more toes, resulting in permanent disability.

Select

Amputation of the big toe

Select

Amputation of all toes

Select

Minor ankle injury

Undisplaced fractures, sprains and ligament injuries.

Select

Moderate ankle injury

For fractures and ligament tears resulting in moderate disability, such as difficulty walking on uneven ground or on stairs.

Select

Severe ankle injury

Injuries involving long periods of treatment, long period in plaster and some permanent disability.

Select

Result

Re-select

You could claim upto £11,890*

Result

There are other types of compensation you could be awarded through your accident such as loss of earnings or damage to property. The estimates given here are simply for your personal injury claim.

First4Lawyers' solicitors will be able to give you the best idea of the amount you should expect from your individual injury.