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Bus accidents can cause injuries and disruptions, affecting not only passengers but also pedestrians, cyclists, other road users and even the bus driver. If you have been involved in a bus accident, you may be eligible for compensation.

These accidents can happen for a range of reasons, often leading to injuries for passengers or others on the road.

Common causes of bus accidents include:

• Sudden braking
• Collisions with other vehicles
• Slips and trips on board
• Injuries while boarding or disembarking

Your legal rights following a bus or coach accident in North Yorkshire / Teesside, including Middlesbrough, Redcar & Hartlepool

All bus and coach operators in North Yorkshire and surrounding areas, such as Teesside and Middlesbrough, have a legal duty to ensure the safety of their passengers and the public. This responsibility includes proper vehicle maintenance, staff training, regular risk assessments and the implementation of effective safety measures.

If an accident happens due to a failure in these obligations, injured passengers may have the right to seek compensation.

Are bus operators always responsible for a bus accident in the North East?

In North Yorkshire and surrounding areas, liability for a road traffic accident falls on the person or entity responsible for causing it.

If another road user was at fault, they would be held liable.

Bus passengers are not in control of any vehicles involved, so they are rarely considered responsible for an accident. However, in certain situations, they could be found liable or partly liable. For instance, if they distracted the driver or behaved in a way that created a risk of injury.

You can learn more about shared liability by reading Contributory Negligence: Can I still claim in if an accident was my fault?

Claiming compensation after a bus accident on Teesside & North Yorkshire’s roads

Those injured in a bus accident have the same legal rights as any other road user. If a bus passenger is injured due to someone else’s negligence, they have the right to seek compensation.

A bus accident claim may include compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of earnings
• Medical treatment
• Any other relevant damages

Beware of third-party capture after a bus accident

If you were a passenger on a bus and the driver or operator was at fault, you may be contacted by them or their representatives with an offer of compensation.

This practice, known as third-party capture, is often not in your best interests. Before accepting any offer or deciding whether to make a claim, it is important to seek independent legal advice.

You can learn more about third-party capture at: Beware of third-party capture in England & Wales.

Askews Solicitors are Middlesbrough & Redcar-based experts in public transport claims, including buses & coaches

We are a firm of personal injury solicitors with offices in Middlesbrough and Redcar, ready to assist whether the bus was operated by a private company or a local operator such as Arriva North East. We handle claims for all public and private bus services across the region and the rest of England & Wales.

If you have been involved in a bus accident, our team is here to guide you through the claims process and help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Contact Us to arrange a free no-commitment initial consultation.

Or, visit Road Traffic Accident Claims to learn more about our services.

This content is for informational purposes and is not intended as advice of any kind.