Bus Accident Claims: Your Rights as a Passenger

Thousands of people travel by bus every day across Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the rest of Scotland. Most journeys are uneventful. But when something goes wrong, whether it is a collision with another vehicle, an emergency stop that throws passengers forward, or a slip on a wet floor inside the bus, the injuries can be serious. And as a passenger, you are almost never at fault.

This is the key point. As a bus passenger, you have no control over how the vehicle is driven. If you are injured because the bus driver braked suddenly, swerved, or was involved in a collision, you are entitled to claim compensation regardless of who caused the accident. If the bus driver was at fault, the claim goes against the bus company. If another driver was at fault, the claim goes against their insurer.

Either way, as the passenger, you have a valid claim.

Standing passengers are particularly vulnerable. A sudden stop can send someone flying down the aisle. Even seated passengers can be thrown forward if they are not braced. The most common injuries we see from bus accidents include whiplash and neck strain, back injuries from being thrown against seats, broken bones from falls, cuts and bruises, and head injuries from hitting handrails or partitions.

Older passengers and those with mobility issues face a higher risk of serious injury from the same incident that might leave a younger person with just a bruise.

Report the incident to the bus driver and get the details of the bus (company name, route number, time of the incident). If you can, note the registration number. Ask fellow passengers if they would be willing to provide witness statements. Take photos of any hazards (wet floors, broken handrails) if that was a factor.

See a doctor as soon as possible, even if your injuries seem minor. As with any accident, having a medical record close to the date of the incident strengthens your claim.

Bus companies carry public liability insurance specifically for passenger injury claims. Companies like First Bus, Lothian Buses, McGill's, and Stagecoach all have insurers that handle these claims. The bus company's insurer pays the compensation, not the company directly. You are not taking money out of a driver's pocket.

Scottish Accident has experience with bus and coach passenger claims. We know which insurers cover which operators, and we know how to deal with the specific challenges these claims can involve (such as CCTV requests and establishing exactly what happened). If you have been hurt on a bus, get in touch and let us take it from here.