What to consider when making an injury on public transport claim
- You can claim if you were hurt in an accident on a bus, coach, tram or train caused by another road user's negligence.
- You can also claim if your injury was caused by the driver or operator of the vehicle you were riding in (e.g. the driver braked suddenly, or drove off before you were seated).
- You can still claim if the road user who caused the accident is unidentified or uninsured.
- You have 3 years from the date of your injury to start your claim - however, the longer you wait, the harder it can be to collect evidence.
- You can claim on a no win, no fee basis.
- Your compensation will depend on the seriousness of your injury, and your financial losses and expenses. You can find out how much you can claim with our compensation calculator.
If you were hurt in an accident on public transport, we can help you claim
If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by an accident on public transport, we can help. If your injuries were caused by another driver, cyclist, pedestrian or any other road user, you may be entitled to claim compensation. You can also claim for injuries caused by a mechanical fault or poor maintenance.
You can make a No Win, No Fee road injury compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.
With over 75,000 bus, coach and train injuries every year, you are not alone
In 2023, there were 749 car occupant fatalities and 72,155 casualties (gov.uk).
If you decide to make a public transport accident injury claim, your road accident solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.
See also:
What if the driver was uninsured or untraceable?
If the driver responsible for the injury is either uninsured or untraceable, a claim can be pursued through the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB).
The MIB is an independent that pays road accident compensation to the victims of uninsured or untraced (unidentified) drivers.
Read more:
Claiming compensation through the MIB
How much compensation can I claim for an injury on public transport?
The compensation you can claim for your injury on public transport will depend on:
- the nature and severity of your injury,
- the impact of your injury on your daily life and ability to work,
- any financial losses or costs you have incurred due to your injury.
Public transport accident injury
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General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Special damages are awarded to compensate you for any costs or losses you've incurred or might incur as a result of your accident. These costs might include loss of earnings, or any other out of pocket expenses.
Special damages may also be awarded for medical treatments or procedures that you might need to treat your public transport injury, including pain medication and psychological support.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average public transport accident injury compensation payouts
The following public transport accident injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Ankle injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Minor fractures, sprains, and ligament injuries with full recovery | Up to £15,250 |
| Moderate | A fracture or ligament injury with mild ongoing symptoms | £15,250 to £29,500 |
Elbow injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery within 18 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £3,920 |
| Recovery between 18 to 36 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £7,210 |
Knee injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | E.g. dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus, that could cause future symptoms or weakness, or that exacerbated an existing injury | Up to £15,250 |
| Moderate | More serious knee injuries with a greater risk of future symptoms, pain and weakness | £16,460 to £29,050 |
| Serious | E.g. a leg fracture that extends to the knee joint, or injuries that cause constant pain and restricted movement, and/or a risk of osteoarthritis or future knee surgery | £29,050 to £48,210 |
Leg injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Simple tibia or fibula fracture | Simple fracture with full recovery | Up to £13,140 |
| Simple femur fracture | Simple femur fracture with no damage to articular surfaces | £10,110 to £15,620 |
Pelvis and hip injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Injury with no residual disability and complete recovery in under 2 years | £4,380 to £13,970 |
| Moderate | Ongoing symptoms but no major disability | £13,970 to £43,460 |
| Serious | Including fracture of acetabulum and injuries with a risk of future hip replacement surgery or leg instability | £43,460 to £58,250 |
Whiplash
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery in under 3 months | Up to £220 | |
| Recovery in 3 to 12 months | £220 to £1,200 | |
| Recovery in 1 to 2 years | £1,200 to £3,830 |
Wrist injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser | Relatively minor soft tissue injury or displaced fracture, with a full recovery within 12 months | £3,920 to £5,260 |
| Moderate | Uncomplicated Colles' fracture | Around £8,250 |
| Moderate | Fracture or soft tissue injury with complete recovery | £6,750 to £11,480 |
Psychological harm after a road accident
Have you been mentally or emotionally affected by a road accident? You are not alone.
According to our 2025 Road Injury Claimant Survey, 32.47% of injured road users suffered a psychological injury, 78.53% of these alongside a physical injury.
An accident on public transport can result in debilitating anxiety or phobias, such as agoraphobia (fear of crowded spaces) and PTSD.
Your solicitor will help to ensure you recieve suitable compensation for the diagnosed psychological harm you have suffered, to support your recovery and provide funding for therapies that may not be accessible on the NHS your area.
Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.
Am I eligible for public transport injury compensation?
Yes, you can start a compensation claim for an injury on public transport, if:
- you were made ill in the last 3 years, and;
- someone else was to blame, and;
- they owed you a duty of care.
Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.
What if I was partly to blame?
Liability for an accident often involves fault on both sides.
In our recent 2025 Road Injury Claimant Survey, 5.24% of injured road users thought they could be partially to blame for their accident.
You may still be able to claim compensation even if your actions may have contributed to the accident. Claims where there is fault on both sides (contributory negligence) are often resolved with a split liability agreement.
Read more:
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
How long do I have to start a public transport injury claim?
In most cases, you have up to 3 years from the date of your accident or injury to start a claim.
For an injured child, the three-year limitation period begins on their 18th birthday, giving them until they are 21 to start a claim.
Common public transport injuries
Trains
On the railway network, slips, trips and falls were the cause of 63% of injuries in 2014/15. These may have been caused by spillages or litter not being appropriately cleaned on floors or platforms.
Injuries when boarding or alighting from the train were also reported. Being caught in closing doors, or trapping fingers as defective doors slammed shut maybe some of the injuries. Faulty or poorly-labelled steps from the train to the platform may cause passengers to trip and fall as they dismount from the train at their destination.
Luggage falling from overhead racks is also a cause of head injuries.
Less common injuries that compensation may also be claimed for include cuts from damaged surfaces including seats and tables with exposed sharp edges.
See also:
Slip, trip and fall injury claims
Buses
Of those injured while travelling by bus, more than 87% of the injuries were reported as being non-collision transport accidents. These are likely to be falls caused by bus drivers accelerating or braking heavily, while people are standing rather than safely seated. Accidents also occur when passengers are boarding or alighting from buses, mainly where the bus drives off before the passenger is seated.
See also:
Ferries and watercraft
Although ferry operators cannot control rough seas, operators do have a duty of care to take all reasonable precautions to protect the safety of passengers. This includes securing anything that could move during the journey and the provision of life rafts and life jackets.
Collisions at sea are infrequent; however, ferry passengers have been injured when ships have collided with harbour walls when docking. Whiplash injuries may be sustained by sudden impact, and sprains and bruising may result from falling.
See also:
Claiming compensation for accidents on public transport
All carriers and other companies responsible for public transport, including bus, train, ship and airline operators, have a duty of care to protect passengers and comply with applicable health and safety standards.
Bringing a public transport-related claim can become complex if a number of different organisations are involved. For example, the rail network involves separate companies responsible for operating the trains, platforms and tracks. A solicitor will determine which party (or parties) is responsible for the accident.
How your public transport accident happened will affect the claim process
The claim process for an injury on public transport will vary depending on the circumstances. Click the icons below to learn more.
Can I make a no win, no fee public transport accident injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim public transport accident injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to a road accident specialist about your claim?
- Calls are FREE
- Confidential consultation
- No obligation to claim
- No Win No Fee solicitors
Call 0800 376 1001
or arrange a callbackSources
Rail safety | ORR Data Portal (reviewed: 02/08/2024)
Author:
Chris Salmon, Director
About the author
Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.