Skip to content

General information only — not legal advice. Published by Edward & Amaury Solicitors, solicitors regulated by the SRA (no. 800525). How that affects what you read.

No Win No Fee

Think you have a claim? Time limits apply, so get a free case review from Edward & Amaury Solicitors today.

Start your claim

Bus Accident Claims UK

England & WalesLast reviewed 18 September 2026

If you are injured on a bus or by one, you can claim against whoever was at fault: usually the bus operator's insurer, or another driver's. Passengers can claim even when no other vehicle was involved, for example after sudden braking or a fall while boarding.

Who You Claim Against

Direct Answer: The right defendant depends on what caused the accident: the bus driver and operator for negligent driving or an unsafe vehicle, another driver if they caused a collision, or the highway authority for a road defect.

Because buses must be insured, the claim is usually dealt with by the operator's insurer, and large operators often self-insure or use a claims handler. Passengers do not need another vehicle to be involved: a driver who brakes or pulls off harshly while passengers are standing or boarding can be negligent.

Evidence After a Bus Accident

Buses carry CCTV, and operators overwrite it quickly, so ask in writing that footage is preserved. Get the bus number, route, time and the operator's name, and report the incident to the operator on the day if you can. Witness details and photographs of any defect, such as a broken handrail, help.

Whiplash and Other Injuries

Passengers in a bus can suffer neck and back injuries from sudden stops. Whether the whiplash tariff and the Official Injury Claim portal apply depends on the vehicle and the injury, so ask your solicitor whether your case falls inside or outside the reforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim if I fell on a bus when it braked suddenly?

Possibly, if the braking or driving was careless. Buses expect standing passengers, so the driver must drive with reasonable care for them. A genuinely unavoidable emergency stop is a different case from harsh, unnecessary braking.

Can I claim if I was injured getting on or off a bus?

Yes, potentially. A driver who pulls away before a passenger is safely on or off, or a stop with an unsafe kerb or gap, can be a breach of the duty of care. The circumstances decide the claim.

Who do I claim against, the driver or the company?

The operator is usually responsible for the driver's negligence as their employer, and its insurer handles the claim. If another vehicle caused the crash, that driver's insurer is the target.

How do I get the bus CCTV?

Write to the operator promptly, asking them to preserve the footage. You can also make a data subject access request for images of yourself. Do not delay, because footage is often overwritten within weeks.

What if I was hit by a bus as a pedestrian or cyclist?

You have the same rights as in any road traffic claim against the driver's insurer. The Highway Code's hierarchy of road users places greater responsibility on drivers of larger vehicles.

Can I make a bus accident claim on a no win no fee basis?

Usually, yes, if a solicitor thinks the claim has reasonable prospects. Under a Conditional Fee Agreement you pay no solicitor fees if the claim loses, and if it wins a success fee is deducted from your damages, capped at 25% of general damages and past losses in personal injury cases. Low-value whiplash claims through the OIC portal work differently, so ask about costs before you start.

You May Also Be Interested In

Road Traffic Accidents

RTA claims, the OIC portal and whiplash reform

Read more

Taxi Accident Claims

Passenger claims in taxis and private hire

Read more

Pedestrian Accident Claims

Claims for pedestrians hit by a vehicle

Read more

Whiplash Claims

The fixed tariff, currently £275–£4,830

Read more

Slip, Trip & Fall Claims

Falls in public places

Read more

More guides on this topic

Motorcycle Accident Claims UK

A motorcyclist injured by another road user's negligence can claim compensation from that driver's insurer.

Read more

Pothole Claims UK

A pothole claim is brought against the highway authority, usually the council, for failing to maintain the road.

Read more

Uninsured and Untraced Driver Claims

If a driver who injured you had no insurance, or cannot be identified, you may still be compensated through the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), which…

Read more

Passenger Accident Claims UK

A passenger injured in a car crash can claim from the insurer of the driver who was at fault, including the driver of the car they were in.

Read more

Where this applies: This page covers England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland are different.

Sources for this page

Every rule stated above is based on the primary sources below. Each link goes to the legislation, court rule or regulator itself so you can check it. Last verified 18 September 2026.

  1. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, s.58 (conditional fee agreements)

    The provision that makes CFAs lawful and enforceable. CFAs derive from this section, not from LASPO.

  2. Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, arts. 4–5 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Art. 4 caps the success fee at 100% of base costs. Art. 5 caps what may be taken from damages in personal injury at 25% of PSLA plus past pecuniary loss, net of CRU, at first instance.

  3. Civil Procedure Rules, Part 44 (incl. rr.44.13–44.17, QOCS)

    Qualified one-way costs shifting and its exceptions. Rule 44.14 was amended with effect from 6 April 2023.

  4. Road Traffic Act 1988, s.143 (compulsory insurance)

    It is an offence to use, or cause or permit another to use, a motor vehicle on a road without insurance covering third-party liability.

  5. The Highway Code — Rule H1 (hierarchy of road users) · in force from 29 January 2022

    Places greater responsibility for reducing danger on those who can do the greatest harm (e.g. drivers) toward those most at risk (pedestrians, cyclists). A Code breach is not itself a civil wrong but is admissible as evidence of negligence under Road Traffic Act 1988 s.38(7).

  6. Limitation Act 1980, s.11 (personal injury actions)

    Three years from the date of the accident or the date of knowledge. Property damage such as a damaged vehicle is a separate claim with a longer six-year period under s.2.

Who wrote and checked this page

Written and published by
Edward & Amaury Solicitors (Edward & Amaury Ltd, company no. 12195443), regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 800525.
Legal review
Checked for England & Wales by Edward & Amaury Solicitors — Solicitors regulated by the SRA (no. 800525) (verify on the regulator’s register).Review is recorded against the firm. The individual reviewer is not named on this page.
Review dates
Last reviewed 18 September 2026. Next review due 18 March 2027.

Fee rules change. California’s medical malpractice fee limits changed on 1 January 2023, and the QOCS rules in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2023. If you spot something out of date, tell us — we publish corrections.

Think you have a claim? Find out for free.

Reading the rules is the first step. Most claims have strict deadlines, and evidence is easier to gather the sooner you act. Tell Edward & Amaury Solicitors what happened and get a free, no-obligation review of your situation.

  • Free, no-obligation case review: you decide what happens next
  • Many claims are handled on a no win, no fee basis if the firm accepts your case
  • Takes about two minutes, and you can start with just the basics

Where this applies: This page covers England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland are different.

Sources for this page

Every rule stated above is based on the primary sources below. Each link goes to the legislation, court rule or regulator itself so you can check it. Last verified 2 August 2026.

  1. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, s.58 (conditional fee agreements)

    The provision that makes CFAs lawful and enforceable. CFAs derive from this section, not from LASPO.

  2. Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, arts. 4–5 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Art. 4 caps the success fee at 100% of base costs. Art. 5 caps what may be taken from damages in personal injury at 25% of PSLA plus past pecuniary loss, net of CRU, at first instance.

  3. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, ss.44–46 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Ended recoverability of success fees and ATE premiums from the losing party. Did not create or regulate CFAs.

  4. Civil Procedure Rules, Part 44 (incl. rr.44.13–44.17, QOCS)

    Qualified one-way costs shifting and its exceptions. Rule 44.14 was amended with effect from 6 April 2023.

Who wrote and checked this page

Written and published by
Edward & Amaury Solicitors (Edward & Amaury Ltd, company no. 12195443), regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 800525.
Legal review
This page has not yet been through independent legal review. It is written from the primary sources listed below, which you can check directly.
Review dates
Last reviewed 2 August 2026. Next review due 2 February 2027.

Fee rules change. California’s medical malpractice fee limits changed on 1 January 2023, and the QOCS rules in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2023. If you spot something out of date, tell us — we publish corrections.