Bus and coach accident claims in Scotland
When you board a bus or coach you are putting your trust in the driver and vehicle operator to arrive safely at your destination without incident. The driver will be well trained and considerate to the needs of the passengers. However as a large vehicle on the road buses inevitably are involved in accidents, and no matter how well trained your driver is, the crash may be unavoidable as it was caused by the failings of others. You need to understand your rights, if you are injured as a result.
As a passenger you are almost certainly the innocent party having not caused the crash and therefore entitled to compensation for any injuries that you have suffered. Whether the accident was caused by the bus driver or another motorist you should seek legal advice from an independent law firm and find out whether you can make a compensation claim.
At Digby Brown, we have helped thousands of people across Scotland secure the compensation they deserve and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Bus crash claims
A bus or coach accident is any incident involving a bus or coach. It doesn’t just stop at collisions with other vehicles - it could involve incidents like colliding with a low bridge or, in some known cases, being blown over in high winds.
The key thing to note is that the law and other road safety regulations like the Highway Code place a greater burden of care on the bus or coach. This type of vehicle is huge and poses a greater risk to the safety of other road users, so the driver is expected (and trained) to operate the bus with a higher degree of care and, arguably, be more mindful of driving to road conditions and identifying hazards.
This means that if you are injured then the most likely route to recovering fair compensation is to make a claim against the bus or coach operator which has ultimate responsibility for your safety.
What to do after a bus accident
If you are involved in a bus accident, taking the following steps can help support your bus accident compensation claim:
- Seek medical attention – Your health is the priority. Documenting your injuries also strengthens your claim.
- Report the incident – Ensure the accident is officially recorded, either by the bus operator or the police.
- Gather evidence – Take photos, collect witness contact details, and keep bus tickets or receipts.
- Contact a solicitor – A specialist bus accident lawyer will provide legal advice and begin the claim process.
How to claim after a bus accident
To make a successful bus accident claim there needs to be evidence proving that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. Your solicitor will investigate several aspects of your case, including:
- How severe your injuries are
- Necessary specialist medical treatment
- Ongoing care or support
- Loss of earnings due to the accident
- Additional expenses caused by the accident
To ensure you receive a fair settlement we collaborate with medical and financial specialists. This ensures the compensation you obtain fairly reflects the true extent of your damages and the wider ongoing impact those injuries may have in other areas of your life. This is especially important if your injuries prevent you from working, doing hobbies and or have left you with restricted mobility.
If required, we may also obtain reports from other organisations such as the police of the Health and Safety Executive to support your claim.
Some examples of evidence which may help progress a claim are:
Proof of the journey – keep any relevant documents that could be used as proof of the journey such as tickets, receipts, or booking confirmations.
Witness details – ask for contact details from any witnesses who saw the accident or any other drivers for dash cam footage. Only do this when it is safe to do so.
Report the incident – make sure you report the accident to the relevant authorities as soon as you can and request a copy of the police report.
Details of injuries and medical attention – keep a record of any doctor you see, treatment you receive or what ward you were kept in.
The more evidence we gather, the better.
No win, no fee personal injury solicitors
The expression “No win, no fee” is often used in personal injury cases. It is used as a way of funding a compensation claim where the accident victim does not have the means to pay for the costs involved as the case progresses.
A number of solicitors are prepared to handle personal injury cases on a “No Win – No Fee” basis but very few are able to offer their clients complete protection if the case is unsuccessful.
In that event, the client could end up being liable for many thousands of pounds in legal expenses or the case won't be fully investigated and therefore likely to under-settle.
Compensate 'no win, no fee' funding
Digby Brown has its own funding company, Compensate, which provides the funding to allow the case to be fully investigated, employ the best experts surrounding the circumstances of the accident and/or injuries sustained and where and if necessary go to court.
If for whatever reason the case is unsuccessful, Compensate pays all your legal expenses and those of your opponent – you pay nothing.
On average our clients receive over 3 times the pre-litigation offer
Because of Compensate funding Digby Brown's success rate is extremely high and on average our clients receive three times the pre-litigation offer.
In the event the case is successful, a small percentage of your damages will be deducted with VAT to pay for this service. The percentage which Compensate will charge depends on the degree of risk involved. We believe that this is the fairest method of giving clients access to justice whilst ensuring their cases are fully investigated, prepared and funded.
Don’t take our word for it, just read many of the court decisions and case studies on our website.
Beware of compensation offers which may be too good
We know you will have seen many adverts offering 100% compensation or telling you that you will not lose any of your compensation, however we believe there are a number of problems with companies that do this.
- How do they make their money if they don’t charge you anything?
- If they aren’t taking any money from you, the client, what incentive do they have to ensure you receive the right level of compensation, appropriate to the injuries you have sustained?
- Fully preparing a case, finding out exactly what happened and what the consequences of your injuries may mean in the long term, is expensive, how do they do this properly?
- If they aren’t fully preparing these cases will they just accept the first offer they are given on your behalf by the Insurance company?
- It makes simple business sense, the less work they do the higher their profit margin is - they simply have no incentive to work harder on your behalf.
- These adverts in the main are from English firms on national television which operates in a different way and therefore wouldn’t apply to a Scottish person.
We know from the many client cases we mandate from other firms of solicitors (in the main at the request of the client who is extremely unsatisfied with the service received for the other firm) that many shortcuts are taken in preparation and that the first offer received is being recommended for acceptance, regardless of the value.
Getting something for nothing is usually the first sign of poor service.
Correct level of compensation with Digby Brown
Our experience and statistics show time and time again we will achieve the correct level of compensation which will be substantially more than the insurer is initially prepared to offer.
Even after we have deducted our percentage as a success fee you will gain considerably more than you would have achieved using a 100% compensation model.
Contact Digby Brown's personal injury solicitors
We have offices across Scotland in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Kirkcaldy, Inverness, Aberdeen and Ayr.
For further information about no win, no fee, or anything else, call us on 0333 200 5925 or fill in our enquiry form below and someone will get back in touch with you.
What can I claim for?
At Digby Brown we will work to ensure you can recover fair compensation. We aim to help put you back in a financial position as if the accident never happened.
The compensation amount you receive isn’t awarded at random. It’s not just based on how you were injured but how that injury has impacted your daily life which is carefully calculated. The final settlement will be made up of several different elements, known as ‘heads of claim’, which may include:
Your personal injury (solatium) – any physical pain and suffering caused by your injury as a result of the accident.
Lost earnings – if you have had to miss work resulting in any lost wages or even any impact on your pension we will seek to recover these costs.
Medical treatment/rehabilitation – if there is evidence that additional treatment would aid your recovery, we can include these costs, even if private care is needed.
Damaged belongings – any personal items that were lost or damaged in the accident can also be recovered as part of your personal injury claim.
Future care needs – if your injury has long-term consequences you may need ongoing assistance or home adaptations which we can include in the value of your claim.
In Scotland you generally have three years from the date of the accident to make a claim. To fully understand your options the best thing you can do is to get in touch with us as soon as possible.
We will be able to advise you if you have a case and how long you have to make an accident claim. It’s also important to get in touch as soon as possible as if the claim is not raised within the time limit the case will become ‘time barred’ meaning you might lose your right to recover compensation.
Why choose Digby Brown?
Digby Brown has the right specialists to help no matter what the circumstances are and no matter how you were injured. We have extensive experience in handling bus accident claims and have successfully secured compensation for countless clients. Our legal experts are dedicated to ensuring you receive the compensation for a bus accident that reflects the full extent of your suffering and financial losses.
In one bus injury claim case from Ayr our client was left suffering from PTSD after his bus took a corner too fast and ended up in a ditch. But we were able to secure him fair compensation as well as provide access to specialist mental health support.
In another high-profile case we acted for dozens of holiday makers who were injured in Tenerife. They were being transported on a bus from an aeroplane to the terminal building when the bus crashed into a baggage lorry. Our Foreign & Travel Team, who specialise in accidents abroad, were able to secure damages for everyone who raised a case with us.
Making a bus accident compensation claim doesn’t have to be confusing. For expert legal advice about making a bus accident compensation claim, please call us or fill in our enquiry form and we will get in touch with you.
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation can you get from a bus accident?
Every case is unique so it's nearly impossible to predict how much compensation you are likely to receive. You could search the average settlement for bus accidents in the UK but it won’t give you a true representation of what your outcome could be. The compensation you receive is based on how the injury impacts your life. It has to be properly calculated, justified and proven with thorough calculations that are then backed up by supporting evidence such as:
- The severity of your injuries
- Medical expenses
- Loss of earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Impact on your quality of life
Do I make a claim against the bus driver or the bus company?
This depends on who is determined to be at fault for the accident. If a bus company is responsible for an accident you may be able to sue a bus company for damages. Your solicitor will be able to tell you who you will claim against.
Can I make a claim if a bus hits my car?
If a bus has bit your car then you might be able to make a claim. You should follow all the steps including filing a report to the police before getting in contact with us. We will then be able to assess your case and see whether we can help you depending on your situation.
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