Go-Ahead Bus Accident Claims Guide – How To Claim Compensation For Personal Injury Against A Go-Ahead Bus Accident?

How Much Could I Claim For A Go-Ahead Bus Accident?

Go-Ahead bus accident claims guideWithin this guide to making a compensation claim for a Go-Ahead bus accident, we will cover many kinds of accidents that Go-Ahead could be liable for, and why you could be eligible to make a claim in similar circumstances.

As long as you are within the personal injury claims time limit, which our claims team can inform you of, we can provide you with a personal injury lawyer to process your claim for you. If you have questions that you need to be answered, please speak to a member of our claims team on 0800 073 8801. They will be able to provide you with the help you need.

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A Guide To Accident Claims Against Go-Ahead Buses

This free online guide covers the legal process of making a compensation claim following a Go-Ahead bus crash. By reading it, you will learn about the reasons why people make a bus passenger accident claim, and why you could be eligible for some form of bus injury compensation. The guide begins by laying some groundwork, and explaining just what could be construed as a Go-Ahead bus accident that the company could be liable for. We will also explain what your rights are as a passenger, as well as the duty of care that Go-Ahead owes to its passengers, and how the company could be liable for injuries to passengers.

The next part of this guide will cover specific kinds of claims. This will include claims for whiplash injuries, as well as slips, trips and falls, as well as emergency stops. We also look at how driver negligence can cause an accident, as well as accidents caused by other drivers or poorly maintained roads.

The final part of this guide covers some of the monetary considerations of making a claim against Go-Ahead. We have added a table that lists possible ranges of compensation for a number of different injuries. You will also find a list of some of the frequently awarded types of damages a claimant could receive. To wrap things up, we discuss how a No Win No Fee solicitor can help you to make your claim, as well as mitigated many of the risks of doing so.

If you have any questions about the contents of this guide, the claims process in general, or anything else, then please speak to a member of our claims team on the number at the bottom of this page. A claim adviser will discuss your potential claim with you, go over the options available to you, and then if you agree, arrange for a solicitor to begin processing a claim for you.

What Is A Go-Ahead Bus Accident?

In this section, we look at what a Go-Ahead bus crash is, and why you could be eligible to make a compensation claim if you are injured in one. This kind of claim occurs when a road user is injured by the actions of a Go-Ahead bus driver. Or due to negligence on the part of the firm itself.

The accident can involve any road user. Generally, the passengers on the bus are the most likely party to make a claim, but any road user that is injured in a Go-Ahead bus accident that wasn’t their fault, may be able to make a claim. Such as car, van or truck drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

There are many causes of bus accidents, and we cover some of the more common ones in the sections further down this guide. The simple take away here, is that if you are injured in an accident involving a Go-Ahead bus, and it was the bus company or their representative who was even partially to blame for causing the accident, we could be able to help you to make a compensation claim. If you would like us to evaluate your claim and tell you whether it is valid or not, please call our claims team today.

Your Rights As A Bus Passenger

You have very specific rights if you suffer a passenger injury on the bus. These rights are laid out within the European Union (EU) legislation and will apply as long as the bus journey begins or ends within a member country of the EU (this may change post-Brexit) . The bus journey must be an organised, scheduled service with a fixed route for these rights to apply. Additionally, these rights apply to long-distance routes of more than 250 km.

Your rights include the fact that the bus operator has to provide you with understandable information about the service, and the specific rights that the bus company grants its passengers. This information must also be provided in a way that people with disabilities can understand. For example, either in braille or spoken form for deaf passengers.

Part of your rights as a passenger, is your ability to make a compensation claim against the bus operator if you are injured by the actions of the bus company, or one of their representatives such as the bus driver. We can assist in these kinds of claims. You can speak to one of our claims team to get more information about this.

What Duty Of Care Does Go-Ahead Owe To Passengers?

Part of the process of making bus injury compensation claims, is to prove that the bus company is liable for the harm a passenger has suffered (more on this in the next section). In order to do this, it is important to understand the responsibilities of the bus company, and the duty of care towards passengers. Every bus company in the UK is regulated under several bodies of legislation. Compliance with this legislation is mandatory, and is a prerequisite obtaining and keeping a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence. To keep this licence, the company is required to:

  • Keep tachographs maintained and check mileage regularly
  • Ensure that speed limiters are working on all vehicles at all times
  • Keep detailed records of tachograph charts, as well as driver timetables and staff rosters
  • Monitor drivers to ensure that they have the relevant licence to operate their vehicles, and that they receive adequate training. Records must be kept of this
  • Ensure that all vehicles are kept in a safe condition and that MOTs are checked regularly
  • Ensure that the company holds sufficient insurance coverage for public liability
  • Monitor weight limits and set passenger limits to ensure these weight limits are adhered to
  • Keep a record of vehicle inspections, repairs and maintenance

If the bus company fails to follow these rules, then it could lose its PSV licence. If a failure to comply with these rules results in harm to a passenger, then the injured party could have a valid cause to make a compensation claim.

Liability For Injuries To Passengers

In order for you to make a bus passenger injury claim, you will need to prove that you were harmed by the bus company or one of its representatives. Unless the accident was caused by a third party other than the bus company. In this case, you would claim against the third party responsible.

Liability can be total or partial. In cases where the claimant contributed to the accident in some way, then a reduce level of liability, expressed as a percentage, will be negotiated with the bus company.

Go-Ahead, as we have shown in a previous section, has very clear responsibilities to its passengers. If the company fails in these responsibilities, then they could be liable to pay compensation. If you are unsure of whether you are eligible to make a claim against Go-Ahead or not, please speak to one of our claim advisers. They will evaluate your claim for you, and tell you whether it is valid or not.

Bus Crash Whiplash Injuries

Of all injuries caused by a road traffic accident in the UK, whiplash is the single most common of all. Whiplash is a very common injury on a bus, caused by kinetic trauma to the neck. The NHS has published some good information about whiplash. Examples of accidents that could result in whiplash could be:

  1. A bus driver is forced to make an emergency stop, due to a hazard ahead of them on the road
  2. A bus runs off the road and into the verge, causing it to stop abruptly
  3. A bus collides with an automated traffic bollard that has failed to lower as the bus approaches

In these examples, it is not only the bus company that could be liable. In the first example, it could be the third party causing the hazard that forced the bus to stop. In the third example, it could be the local highways authority responsible for maintaining the automated traffic bollards. If you have suffered a case of whiplash in a bus accident, please speak to our claims team. They will tell you how we can be of help.

Slips And Falls In A Bus

Slips, trips and falls are a very common reason for people to make personal injury claims in the UK. A bus presents a unique set of hazards that could lead to this kind of accident. As an example:

  1. A person can trip whilst embarking or disembarking the bus, due to damaged rubber matting on the steps of a bus
  2. A hazard left in the aisle of the bus can cause a passenger to trip
  3. If the bus has to stop too quickly, such as during an emergency stop, a passenger who is standing could fall over

If you are injured in a slip, trip or fall accident, and it can be proven that the harm you suffered was the fault of the bus company, we could be able to help you make a claim. Speak to our claims team to learn how.

Bus Accidents Caused By Driver Negligence

It isn’t always the bus company itself that is to blame for an accident. I can be one of their representatives, such as the bus driver. A Go-Ahead bus driver accident can result when the driver is negligent in some way. For example:

  • The bus driver is distracted in some way, such as reading or sending an SMS message on their phone when they should be paying attention to driving
  • If the bus driver is intoxicated, or under the influence of recreational or medicinal drugs
  • If the bus driver is driving recklessly, such as speeding, etc

In cases such as these, if a passenger is harmed due to the negligent acts of the bus driver, a valid claim could exist. Our claims team can help you with such a claim, call them today to find out how.

Bus Accidents Caused By Other Vehicles

Not every bus crash is caused by the bus company or its drivers. Some accidents are caused by another road user. In such cases, it will not be the bus company that you levy a claim against. Instead, it will be the third party that caused the accident that you were harmed in.

You will, of course, need to prove that the third party was to blame for the accident. It is the responsibility of the bus driver to take all the details of the other driver involved. However, you could support your claim by taking photographs of the scene of the accident and gathering the contact details of any witnesses.

Bus Accidents Caused By Damaged Roads

It may be possible for an accident with a passenger bus, to be caused by external factors such as a damaged road surface, or some other form of static hazard such as road sign that has fallen down.

The local authority is responsible for maintaining road surfaces, and are obliged to repair potholes and other serious hazards within an acceptable time-frame once they have been reported.

In the cases of other static road hazards, it would be the organisation responsible for the cause of the hazard. For example, if a road sign has fallen down and caused an accident, it could be the local highways authority that is pursued for damages.

If you have been injured in a bus accident due to a damaged road surface, we can help you to make a claim against the local council. Call our claims team to proceed.

Emergency Stop Accidents And Injuries

A common kind of incident that can cause harm to a bus passenger, is an emergency stop performed by the driver. This kind of manoeuvre presents a number of potential hazards, such as kinetic trauma causing injuries such as whiplash, and other injuries caused by the passenger falling or being thrown out of their seat. Who you make a claim against depends on why the emergency stop was performed. It could have been through driver negligence, the actions of another road user, or some form of a static obstacle such as a pothole. If you are unsure who was to blame for your injuries that we caused during an emergency stop, speak to our claims team today.

Calculating Compensation Against Go-Ahead For Bus Accidents

You may be able to locate an online personal injury claims calculator that could give you a rough idea of how much you could claim. If not, you can use this table below to find the range of compensation you could be able to claim.

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What Type of Injury? How Severe Was It? Possible Compensation Information
Injured hand Minor to moderate Up to £12,460 All minor injuries that the patient will recover from within 6 months. From cuts, lacerations, burns, etc. through minor soft-tissue injuries such as strains and sprains as well as fractures (simple or compound).
Moderate to serious £12,460 to £79,360 Including crush injuries and penetrating wounds, as well as deep lacerations and serious sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries as well as all sorts of fractures. At their worst, injuries would cause long-term or permanent disability.
Amputation £102,890 to £189,110 Loss of either one of both hands.
Injured arm Moderate to severe £11,820 to £122,860 For serious soft-tissue injuries, as well as compound fractures, and any other serious injury that falls short of amputation and could cause a permanent disability.
Minor to moderate Up to £11,820 Minor cuts, lacerations burns, etc as well as soft-tissue injuries and any other injury that will heal within 6 months.
Amputation £102,890 to £281,520 From amputation of one arm below the elbow to both arms at the shoulder.
Injured back Moderate to severe £36,390 to £141,141 Serious sprains strains and other soft-tissue injuries. Also, bruising and skin damage that will restrict movement in the long-term. In the worst case, full or partial paralysis.
Minor to moderate Up to £36,390 Flesh damage such as cuts and lacerations, less serious soft-tissue injuries, and all other types of injuries that will heal fully within 6 months.
Injured neck Moderate to severe £36,120 to £139,210 Serious sprains strains and other soft-tissue injuries. Also, bruising and skin damage that will restrict movement in the long-term. In the worst case, full or partial paralysis.
Minor to moderate Up to £36,120 Flesh damage such as cuts and lacerations, less serious soft-tissue injuries, and all other types of injuries that will heal fully within 6 months
Injured foot Minor to moderate Up to £23,460 All minor injuries that the patient will recover from within 6 months. From cuts, lacerations, burns, etc. through minor soft-tissue injuries such as strains and sprains as well as fractures (simple or compound).
Moderate to very severe £23,460 to £102,890 Including crush injuries and penetrating wounds, as well as deep lacerations and serious sprains, strains and other soft-tissue injuries as well as all sorts of fractures. At their worst, injuries would cause long-term or permanent disability.
Amputation £78,800 to £189,110 Loss of one or both feet.
Injured leg Moderate to severe £36,790 to £127,530 For serious soft-tissue injuries, as well as compound fractures, and any other serious injury that falls short of amputation and could cause a permanent disability.
Minor to moderate Up to £36,790 Minor cuts, lacerations burns, etc as well as soft-tissue injuries and any other injury that will heal within 6 months.
Amputation £91,950 to £264,650 From the loss of one leg below the knee to both legs at the shoulder.

For a more accurate estimate of the value of your claim, please speak to one of our claim advisers.

Additional Types Of Compensation You May Be Awarded

When a personal injury solicitor is successful in processing a claim, the final settlement will comprise of a number of different kinds of damages, such as:

  • General damages:
    • Permanent disability
    • Long-term recovery
    • Psychological damage
    • Pain and suffering
    • Stress and trauma
  • Special damages:
    • Loss of future prospects
    • Loss of current earnings
    • Medical fees
    • Care costs
    • Travel costs

To get a rough indication of the kinds of damages you may be able to claim for in your own case, please speak to our claims team today.

No Win No Fee Accident Claims Against Go-Ahead Buses

You could use a No Win No Fee solicitor to make a compensation claim for the harm you suffered in a public transport accident. This will keep financial risks to a minimum. You won’t pay a fee to start a claim, or while it is processed. You also won’t pay a fee if the claim is unsuccessful. You only pay your legal fees when the solicitor receives a compensation payment for you. They will, at this stage, deduct their pre-agreed fee from this money which is known as a ‘success fee’.

Why Make Your Claim With Us?

When you use us to help you claim for a personal injury sustained in a bus accident, you are guaranteed to receive legal help from an experienced accident and injury solicitor. We take every step possible to ensure that your claim is successful, and that you receive the highest level of compensation possible. We work in a completely transparent manner, and are always available to keep you updated on the status of your claim, and what we have been doing on your behalf.

Contact A Road Traffic Accident Solicitor

We could be able to help you to get compensation for a bus injury. To find out how, please contact a member of our claims team on 0800 073 8801. One of our claim advisers will go over your claim with you, and then advise you of what your legal options could be. If you wish, they will arrange for a solicitor to begin processing your claim for you.

Essential Resources

These external pages might contain useful information:

UK Transport Regulations

Health And Safety In The Transport Industry

Information About The PSV Operators License

You may also like to read these other guides:

A Guide To Claiming For A Bus Accident

Bus Accident Claims In Spain

Claiming For An Accident In A Taxi

Article by MW (Mac)

Editor Honey