When you pay your fare to embark on a bus journey, you enter into a contract with the bus company and automatically acquire certain rights, such as the right to be conveyed to your destination. An operator cannot introduce unreasonable conditions, such as attempting to exclude or limit liability for passenger injuries if the bus is involved in an accident.

 

A bus operator is liable for passengers killed or injured in an accident if the driver, another staff member or vehicle safety is to blame. However, if negligence cannot be proved, there is no automatic obligation on the operator to pay compensation. If the accident was the fault of another driver, for example, the bus operator would not be liable, but a claim against the other driver may be possible.

 

Many injuries sustained during bus journeys are caused by harsh and unexpected braking. Although long-distance coaches are fitted with seat belts, Service buses operating in towns are not, and if the driver is forced to brake suddenly passengers may be subjected to violent deceleration and impact injuries.

 

If you have suffered an injury while travelling as a bus passenger, whether you consider it to have been caused by negligent or careless driving or not, call Macks Solicitors now on Freephone 0800 9809 377. Put your case in the hands of our experts. To give just one example, the firm recently acted for a lady who was a front seat passenger on a bus which was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle. She sustained facial injuries, including a fractured nose, and Macks Solicitors assisted her in recovering damages amounting to £14,000.