If you have been involved in an accident whilst using public transport and have suffered harm or have been injured, then you are entitled to make a claim for personal injury. Public transport covers a wide range of options, such as a bus, coach, train, and includes everything from a quick bus ride to your local town centre to a EuroStar train trip from London to Paris.
In our experience, common injuries suffered on public transport vary, and include everything from a bump on the head following a bus stopping suddenly, a burn injury from a trains refreshment trolley to more serious injuries such as broken bones following a road crash in a taxi. As with any personal injury claim in the UK, it’s important that you seek professional advice, follow the correct process and also to be able to demonstrate to a Court that by using public transport you were entitled to expect that nothing would be done to put you in harm’s way. This is known as establishing the existence of a ‘duty of care’. People responsible for public transport such as bus drivers, taxi drivers, train operators etc, are generally under an obligation to perform their duties with the care and skill that would be expected of someone in their position, i.e. not to do anything that could cause their passengers to suffer injury.
It is also important to prove that the duty of care that you were owed was breached - in other words you must establish negligence on the part of the person that your claim is against. It is important to understand that it is your responsibility as the person claiming financial compensation to prove negligence, and no court will make an easy finding of negligence unless there is convincing evidence of this. Evidence is crucial, and can include:
• The overall circumstances surrounding the accident, in as much detail as possible
• Witness statements
• Details of your injury and its significance
• Photographs of the accident and any injuries you suffered
Once negligence is proven, a court will decide on the appropriate amount of compensation you will be due. To find out whether you have a valid claim, contact one of our friendly team for further advice on 0800 977 4852 or via email here.