Public transport accident claims are common, which is not surprising given that millions of journeys each year are undertaken on our roads, railways and in the skies. The operators of public transport have a duty of care for you as a passenger whilst travelling on their services.

The most common public transport accidents claims we see involve the following modes of transport:

• Buses and coaches– Common types of bus and coach accidents are caused by driving into the rear of other vehicles, failing to give way to other vehicles and changing lanes when dangerous to do so. Other types of bus accidents can happen as a result of the driver becoming distracted or tired, leading to collisions or by mechanical failure. 

• Trains (including the Tube and Metro)– Train accidents such as derailments can cause devastating consequences, in the worst cases resulting in the death of loved ones. true solicitors will handle your claim with care and compassion be in on your behalf or that of a deceased family member.

• Taxi accidents – Although taxi drivers are extremely experienced road users, accidents can still happen. You may be able to make a claim if you were a passenger in an accident, or if you were the driver of the taxi and were injured due to the other driver’s negligence.

• Air (aeroplanes and helicopters)– Travelling by air still remains statistically the safest way to travel, however accidents do still sadly happen. The Montreal Convention states that airlines are liable to compensate injured passengers up to the value of around £90,000, despite proof of fault on behalf of the airline. The Montreal Convention does however limit the time period of making a claim to two years from the date in which the accident occurred.

Public transport accidents claims can be very serious, for example if there is a train derailment, however most accidents we see are caused by simple slips or trips, luggage falls, or in the case of bus accidents, the negligent driving of either the bus driver or the driver of another vehicle.

With regard to bus accidents, CCTV evidence is often available to help determine who was at fault for the accident. Also, there may be a number of eye witnesses who may be able to help if liability is disputed.

With regard to public transport accident claims on trains and aeroplanes, these usually happen when embarking or disembarking, or it could be that a suitcase falls from overhead storage causing injury to an unlucky passenger.