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Bus and Train Accident Claims
If you were injured on a bus, coach or train, or at a bus stop or station, you may be able to claim if someone didn't take reasonable care for your safety. That could be the operator, another driver, the company running the station or the council. Bus operators must have insurance that covers their passengers. You usually have 3 years to claim.
Most journeys pass without a problem, but passengers are sometimes hurt by a collision, a sharp stop, a slippery step or a gap at the platform edge. This guide explains who is responsible and how to claim.
- Buses and coaches
- The operator, or another driver at fault
- Trains
- The train company or Network Rail
- Stations and stops
- Whoever manages the area
- Passenger insurance
- Required for buses and coaches
Bus and coach accident claims
Bus and coach operators must take reasonable care for the safety of their passengers. The Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 can also apply to the vehicle itself. A claim may arise from:
- Careless driving, such as speeding, braking or turning without good reason, or not looking properly
- Moving off too sharply while a passenger, especially someone elderly, disabled or carrying something, is still finding a seat
- Wet, slippery or damaged floors and steps
- Broken handrails, grab poles or seats
- A collision caused by another driver
Sudden braking isn't always someone's fault. Drivers sometimes have to stop hard to avoid danger, and passengers are expected to hold on. The question is whether the driver was driving with reasonable care.
Bus and coach operators must have motor insurance that covers their passengers, so a claim is usually dealt with by their insurer.
What if another vehicle caused the accident?
If the bus or coach was in a collision caused by another driver, you can usually claim against that driver's insurer. If both drivers were partly to blame, you may be able to claim against both. As a passenger, you weren't in control of either vehicle, so you'll rarely be found to blame.
Lower-value claims
If your injuries are worth £5,000 or less, the claim may go through the Official Injury Claim service, and whiplash is valued using fixed amounts.
Other passengers' claims
Each passenger makes their own claim. You don't need other passengers to claim for yours to go ahead.
Learn more
See our guide to road traffic accident claims, including passenger claims and the whiplash rules.
In our £70,000 passenger case, a passenger was seriously injured in a head-on collision on a blind hill.
Train accident claims
Several organisations can be responsible on the railway:
- The train companyThe company running the service is responsible for passengers' safety on its trains, and at the stations it manages.
- Network RailNetwork Rail looks after the tracks, signals and some major stations. It may be responsible if a fault with the railway itself caused the accident.
- The station operatorFor slips and trips at a station, whoever manages that station is usually responsible.
Common train injuries include falls when a train moves while people are getting on or off, sharp braking, slippery platforms, faulty doors, seats or luggage racks, and falls into the gap between the train and the platform.
Railway companies must meet detailed safety rules and are regulated by the Office of Rail and Road. Serious accidents may also be investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, which looks at what caused them to improve safety rather than to decide who is to blame.
Accidents at bus stops and stations
Not every injury happens on board. Who is responsible depends on who controls the area where you were hurt:
Station platforms
A slip on a wet platform is usually a claim against the train company or Network Rail, whichever manages the station.
Pavements and bus stops
A trip on a broken pavement at a bus stop or outside a station may be a claim against the council. See pavement and pothole claims.
Car parks and shops
An injury in a privately run station car park or shop is usually a claim against whoever runs it. See slip, trip and fall claims.
What evidence do you need?
- Report it straight awayTell the driver or a member of staff before you leave, if you can, and ask for an incident reference number.
- Ask for the CCTV to be keptBuses, trains and stations often have CCTV, but it's only kept for a limited time. Ask the operator in writing to keep footage from the date and time of your accident.
- WitnessesNames and phone numbers of other passengers or staff who saw what happened.
- PhotosOf the scene, any hazard or defect, and your injuries.
- Medical recordsGet checked at A&E, a minor injuries unit or your GP, and explain exactly how you were hurt.
- Proof of travelYour ticket, travel card or bank statement, plus receipts for any costs caused by your injury.
Compensation guide
How much compensation could I get for a bus or train accident?
The table below shows indicative ranges for some common injuries from trips and falls, based on the current guidance used by the courts in England and Wales. Whiplash, wrist, knee and hip injuries are common in these accidents too. Their value depends a great deal on the type of injury and how well you recover, so talk to us about yours. You can also claim for financial losses, such as lost earnings, treatment and travel costs.
| Type of injury | Key factors | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| Minor soft tissue injurySprains, strains and bruising | Recovery period, impact on daily activities | Up to £16,500 |
| Arm or shoulder injuryFrom soft tissue damage to fractures and elbow injuries | Severity, dominant arm affected, impact on work | £5,500 – £42,000 |
| Leg fracture (simple)A simple fracture of the tibia, fibula or femur | Recovery time, surgery required, long-term impact | Up to £18,500 |
| Moderate back injuryDisc, ligament or muscle damage with longer-lasting symptoms | Duration of symptoms, impact on mobility and work | £16,500 – £51,000 |
| Serious leg injuryComplex fractures and injuries with lasting effects | Multiple fractures, permanent symptoms or disability | £36,500 – £117,000+ |
| Head and brain injuryFrom less severe brain injuries to life-changing damage | Cognitive impairment, personality change, long-term care | £20,000 – £530,000+ |
How to read these figures
- These are indicative ranges for pain, suffering and loss of amenity only. You can also claim for financial losses, such as lost earnings, treatment, care, travel, and damage to clothing, glasses or a phone. See how compensation is calculated.
- Figures are rounded and based on the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, April 2026). A "+" means the most severe cases can be worth more.
- Every claim is different. The amount you receive depends on your medical evidence and circumstances, and past results don't guarantee future outcomes.
Bus and train accident claims: FAQs
Can I claim if I was injured on a bus?
You may be able to. Bus operators must take reasonable care for their passengers' safety and must have insurance that covers them. If careless driving, a defect on the bus or unsafe conditions caused your injury, you may be able to claim against the operator's insurer. If another driver caused the accident, the claim is usually against that driver's insurer.
Who do I claim against if I was injured on a train?
It depends on what happened. For injuries on the train, it's usually the train company running the service. For a fault with the tracks or signals, it may be Network Rail. For a fall at a station, it's whoever manages that station. We'll work out who is responsible.
Can I claim if I was hurt by sudden braking?
Possibly. Drivers sometimes have to brake hard to avoid danger, and that isn't always negligent. But if the driver was driving carelessly, braked for no good reason or moved off before you had a reasonable chance to sit down or hold on, you may have a claim.
Can I claim if I slipped getting on or off a bus or train?
You may be able to, if the fall was caused by something like a wet or damaged step, a driver moving off too early or doors closing on you. Report it to the driver or staff straight away and ask for the CCTV to be kept.
Does it matter if I didn't have a ticket?
Usually not. The duty to take reasonable care for passengers doesn't depend on having a ticket. But a ticket, travel card or bank statement helps prove you were on board at the time.
How long do I have to make a claim?
You usually have 3 years from the date of the accident to start court proceedings. For children, the 3 years doesn't start until they turn 18. It's best to act quickly, because CCTV and other evidence held by operators may not be kept for long. See how long you have to claim.
Injured on a bus or train?
Talk to our team for free, with no obligation. We'll look at what happened, work out who was responsible and tell you whether you have a claim. Eligible claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis.