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Last Updated 1st September 2025. How much compensation for a bus accident you could receive depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries and whether you have fully recovered. You could also be compensated for your financial losses, such as medical costs, lost income and payments for home adaptations. Compensation can also account for psychological harm such as depression, anxiety and PTSD.
If you have been injured on a bus and it was a third party’s fault, this guide will help you make a road traffic accident claim.
Firstly, we discuss whether there is an average settlement for bus accident claims and how compensation might be calculated. We then discuss what duty of care is owed to you while you are on a bus and by whom, with the bus passenger accident claim eligibility criteria.
Furthermore, we tell you what types of evidence can help you pursue bus accident compensation and what the time limits are to begin a claim.
Towards the end of this guide, we also discuss how bus accidents could potentially occur and how our panel of solicitors help their claimants under No Win No Fee terms.
A bus crash claim may seem daunting to begin with, but we are here to assist you. We have many years of experience in bus accident claims, and we are dedicated to securing the maximum payout amounts for all of our clients. So, get in touch for free legal advice and information regarding your circumstances:
- Speak to us over the phone – 0333 000 0729
- Contact us through our website
- Use the pop-up chat window in the corner
Jump to a Section:
- What Is The Average Settlement For Bus Accident Claims In The UK?
- Can I Claim For A Bus Accident?
- Gathering Evidence To Support A Bus Accident Claim
- Bus Accident Claims – Time Limits
- Bus Accident Claims – What Are The Causes Of Injuries?
- No Win No Fee Bus Accident Claims
- Helpful Links
What Is The Average Settlement For Bus Accident Claims In The UK?
Knowing the average settlement for bus accident claims may not be of particular usefulness to you or your compensation claim. This is because every personal injury claim is unique, so knowing an average probably won’t help you determine what personal injury compensation you would get.
One thing that is for sure is that a successful claimant will receive a general damages payment. This is the part of a payout that compensates for physical pain and mental harm.
Those in charge of calculating that payment can use numerous resources to aid them in their efforts. One such resource is the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) document. It puts together compensation brackets for different injuries, but they are entirely suggestive. Road traffic accident calculators use JCG figures when giving potential claimants their rough estimate of compensation.
There are different ways to get an idea of how much compensation for bus accident injuries you could be awarded. A bus accident compensation calculator is one, or you could check out the table below. Most of the brackets were taken from the JCG. However, the top row is not from the JCG, and the last 2 rows are examples of the tariffs found in the Whiplash Injury Regulations (we explain these shortly). Be advised that the table isn’t a guarantee of compensation.
| Injury | Severity of injury | Compensation guideline | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries plus special damages | Severe | If you have suffered several severe injuries in a bus accident, then your compensation payout may cover all of these plus related special damages, such as the cost of home care. | Up to £500,000+ |
| Back | Severe (a) (i) | The most severe back injury cases leading to damage to the nerve roots and spinal cord. | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Moderate (b) (i) | Compression or crush fracture affecting the lumbar vertebrae or a prolapsed intervertebral disc that may require surgery. | £33,880 to £47,320 | |
| Neck | Severe (a) (i) | Injuries associated with incomplete paraplegia or permanent spastic quadriparesis | In the region of £181,020 |
| Moderate (b) (i) | Certain chronic conditions or fractures or dislocations that may necessitate spinal fusion. | £30,500 to £46,970 | |
| Arm | Injuries that result in permanent and substantial disablement (b) | 1 or both forearms have suffered serious fractures that lead to a permanent residual cosmetic/functional disability. | £47,810 to £73,050 |
| Leg | Severe (b) (iii) | Serious comminuted or compound fractures, or ligament/joint damage that will require prolonged treatment. | £47,840 to £66,920 |
| Whiplash Injury | Whiplash injury involving one or more psychological injury. | Lasts between 18 to 24 months. | £4,345 |
| Whiplash injury on its own | Lasts between 18 to 24 months. | £4,215 |
Additionally, you may be able to claim compensation for special damages. These damages are the head of your claim that addresses the financial impacts of your injuries. For example, under special damages, you may be able to claim back:
- Loss of earnings.
- The cost of childcare.
- Any paid domestic help.
- Medical costs.
- The cost of home adjustments, such as a stairlift.
Speak with an advisor for a free personalised valuation of your claim.
Bus Accident Claims – What Is The Whiplash Reform Programme
The Whiplash Reform Programme may affect how certain bus accident claims are made in England and Wales.
Per the reforms, if you were over the age of 18 and were a driver or passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a road traffic accident, and you suffered injuries valued below £5,000, the way you make your claim has changed. This includes claims being made for a whiplash injury.
Additionally, your whiplash injuries will be valued in line with the tariff of injuries set out in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021.
We have included some of these figures in our list of compensation payouts above. Any additional injuries you have suffered that aren’t covered by this tariff will be valued traditionally.
Contact our advisory team today if you are unsure which avenue to take when claiming bus accident compensation.
Can I Claim For A Bus Accident?
We’ve put together this guide to let you know how you could seek compensation following a road traffic accident on a bus. You could have grounds for a valid claim if:
- You were owed a duty of care
- This duty of care was breached (by a bus driver or another road user)
- You sustained harm as a result.
All road users, including bus drivers, owe one another a duty of care to travel in a manner that avoids causing harm to themselves and others.
Additionally, they should adhere to the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the regulations and rules found within the Highway Code as part of their duty of care.
When making London bus accident claims, or any accident on a bus claim, you must have evidence to support your case. We’ll discuss this in the next few sections.
If you’re wondering what you could receive in bus accident compensation, you could use a road traffic accident calculator to give you an idea of what compensation you might receive for injuries such as a broken bone or harm to your mental health.
However, they aren’t always accurate. As such, we have explored the different resources a solicitor may use to accurately calculate the value of your claim and provided guidance on what your settlement could comprise.
After you have finished this guide, you might be interested in speaking to our team about taking the next steps to getting a bus injury payout. Our advisors can offer a free consultation for your claim. Call for more information.
Gathering Evidence To Support A Bus Accident Claim
You may be entitled to compensation if you have been injured in a bus accident that you were not responsible for. However, you must prove that the third party breached their duty of care, causing your injuries.
To establish third-party liability, you should obtain as much evidence as possible that shows how the third party acted negligently, resulting in your suffering. Here are some examples of evidence that could support your bus accident claim:
- Dashcam or CCTV footage of your accident – there may be CCTV on the bus you were injured on
- Photographs of your injuries and from the scene of the accident
- Police or fire reports that were taken at the scene of the accident, if they were called
- Medical reports that show your injuries, including documents that show your diagnosis and treatment
- Witness contact details
- A bus ticket you purchased on the bus if you were injured as a passenger
- Third-party insurance details, if they were taken when the accident occurred
- A copy of an accident report book if your injuries were recorded in one
If you are having difficulty finding evidence to support your bus accident claim, one of the experienced solicitors from our panel can help you obtain it.
Get in touch with our friendly advisors to start your claim today or to learn more about the average settlement for a bus accident.
Bus Accident Claims – Time Limits
If you would like to make a bus accident claim, you must start within the personal injury claims time limit. The Limitation Act 1980 sets this as typically three years. It usually starts from the date you were injured due to bus driver negligence or negligence by another party.
However, certain cases can lead to suspension of the normal limit. These can include:
- If a person suffers injuries in a bus accident prior to their 18th birthday, they cannot handle their own bus accident claim. A litigation friend could start the claim for them at any point before they turn 18. However, should a road accident claim not be started, the claimant will have three years after their 18th birthday to get the claim underway.
- If a person is without the mental capacity needed to start a bus injury claim, then the limit is suspended indefinitely. Personal injury claims can be started on behalf of someone lacking the mental capacity by a litigation friend. If they are able to regain their mental capacity, and no bus accident claim has been started, they get three years to submit their case.
Just call and ask for personal injury time limit advice if you’d like a free case review.
Bus Accident Claims – What Are The Causes Of Injuries?
There are a number of ways that a bus accident could cause you to suffer a physical or psychological injury. However, as we’ve already mentioned, to make a bus or coach accident claim, you first have to establish that you were owed a duty of care and that a breach of this duty caused your injuries.
Some examples of how third-party negligence could cause a bus accident include:
- If another driver, such as a lorry driver, drove through a red light and crashed into the bus, the impact could cause you to suffer whiplash or a head injury.
- If the bus driver shut the doors of the bus prematurely and traps your arm, this could cause a dislocated shoulder.
- If the driver of the bus is not paying attention and needs to brake suddenly, this could cause the bus to overturn, resulting in multiple serious injuries such as breaks, concussions, or lacerations.
Contact our team of advisors today to learn more about bus accident compensation claims and how to seek compensation. Or, read on to find out how a personal injury solicitor from our panel can help you under No Win No Fee terms.
No Win No Fee Bus Accident Claims
Our friendly team of advisors are here 24/7 to provide assistance on the process of making No Win No Fee bus accident claims. They work around the clock to not only promptly answer all queries, but also help determine whether there is a valid case to claim for bus accident compensation. This case check is provided free of charge and can lead to you being connected with one of the expert No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel.
Our panel of solicitors offer a nationwide service under the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which ensures the following benefits:
- You won’t be required to pay any solicitor service fees at the start of your claim
- You also won’t face being charged a solicitor’s service fee as your case progresses
- There will be no solicitor fees if your claim is unsuccessful
If your claim wins, you’ll be required to pay a success fee for your solicitor’s services. The success fee is small, as the percentage that is subtracted from your compensation is capped by legislation. Consequently, you’ll always get the bulk of your compensation.
Besides the advantages of a CFA, you can also benefit from:
- Constant claim updates so you always know where your case stands
- Access to physiotherapy and other forms of specialist rehabilitative support
- Straightforward guidance on the terms and documents you may encounter during the claim
- Advice that is always transparent, clear, and confidential
- Assistance with evidence gathering, such as taking witness statements or obtaining CCTV footage
- Being the point of contact for the defendant and acting as your representative during negotiations to secure a fair compensation settlement
Contact Our Team
If you have been injured in a bus accident at a bus stop or elsewhere and it was not your fault, get in touch with us today to start the process of making a bus accident compensation claim.
You can reach our polite and professional advisors by:
- Speaking to us over the phone – 0333 000 0729
- Contacting us through our website
- Using the pop-up chat window in the corner
Helpful links
For more advice on claiming compensation for accidents involving buses under a No Win No Fee agreement or for making a personal injury claim for different types of accidents, you can check out the resources below:
- Government information and statistics on buses: This link takes you to the UK Government website where you will find information about the local bus sector in Great Britain. This includes statistics on everything from levels of revenue to vehicle miles.
- Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain: This link takes you to the UK Government’s page on Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain. You will be able to apply for an operator licence, check operator licence applications, find out about running a local bus service, and much more.
- NHS – Whiplash Injuries: Whiplash is one of the most common injuries experienced after a bus accident. This link takes you to the NHS page for whiplash. You will find information on the symptoms of whiplash, when to get medical treatment, causes, treatments, and outlooks.
More Helpful Guides
- Our FAQs on road traffic accident claims.
- Claim for being knocked off your bike by a car which is pulling out of a driveway.
- How to claim if you’re hurt when merging into traffic and being hit.
- If you were injured by a drunk driver, learn how you can claim.
If you would like to speak to an advisor about topics such as bus accident compensation or London bus accident claims, then you are welcome to contact Legal Helpline.
