Bus, taxi, ship & car passenger accident claims

What are common reasons for passenger accident claims? 

No matter when or where you're travelling, the driver must take due care so that you and other passengers are safe throughout your journey. If they fail to do this and it causes you injury, you may be able to make a passenger claim against the driver or the transport operator. For example, if you were in an Uber car accident, as a passenger, you may be able to claim compensation for your injuries and the impact they've had on your life.  

There are many situations that can lead to public transport accidents. Here are some of the common reasons for passenger accident claims:

• A collision with another vehicle, for example if you were in a car accident as a taxi passenger
• Heavy braking caused you to hit your head on the seat in front, or fall over on a bus or train
• Not having enough time to get off the bus which meant you fell over
• Poor road conditions that led to an accident, such as potholes
• Reckless driving, for instance if the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and you were unaware

These are just some of the things that can lead to car, ship or bus passenger accident claims - so if you don't see your situation here, please don't worry. We may still be able to help you. If you're unsure whether you can make a passenger claim for whiplash, or any other injury, get in touch with our friendly legal team to talk things through by calling or requesting a call back. We'll listen carefully and confidentially to what happened and let you know if we think you can make a claim.

How much can a passenger get in a car, bus or ship accident claim?

As all claims are different, we can't say exactly how much a passenger can get in a car accident, bus or boat injury case until we've investigated the details. Your lawyer will work out the right amount of compensation by looking at several factors, like the type of injury you have, the impact it's had on you and your loved ones, and how the accident has affected you financially. 

Our expert legal team will use the Judicial College Guidelines and other methods to work out how much you could potentially win if your case is successful. These guidelines give you a rough idea of what you could expect - but please note they are a guide, and the final amount will depend on things like the severity of your injuries, the recovery time and the accident circumstances. 

As experts in personal injury, we've helped many people with their passenger accident claims, so you can be sure you're in the best hands when you start your case with us. We'll work hard to get you the result you deserve and keep you informed at every stage.

The rules for making a small personal injury claim following a road traffic accident changed on 31^st May 2021. The government has introduced a tariff for whiplash claims linking compensation awards to the duration of the injury. They are designed to reduce the number and cost of exaggerated or fraudulent claims plus reduce motor insurance premiums for drivers. The changes mean Compensation for soft tissue and whiplash injury claims is now fixed, banded by severity, and lower than before.

The new fixed levels of compensation for soft tissue and whiplash injuries caused in road traffic accidents are shown in the table below:

Is it possible to make no win no fee passenger accident claims?

Yes - most of the time we take passenger accident claims on a no win no fee basis. If we can take your case on using no win no fee, our team will explain this in full, so you know exactly what to expect. We aim to make the process as simple and straightforward as we can, so rest assured there are no hidden or complicated fees.

If your passenger accident claim is unsuccessful, you won't need to pay your lawyer any fees. Your solicitor may need to take out special legal protection insurance for you, which pays the costs if your claim fails, and ensures making a claim is risk-free. The cost of this is only taken if you win your case. You'll never have to pay anything upfront, there are no hidden charges and so you'll never be out of pocket.

If you win your claim, your solicitor will typically make the following deductions from the compensation you are awarded:

• A ‘success fee' for winning the claim.
• The other side will usually be required to make a payment towards your legal costs -  and expenses but any shortfall may also be deducted from your compensation.
• The cost of the premium for any legal protection insurance you may have needed to ensure your claim is risk free.

You keep the rest and this will always be the majority of the compensation awarded to you. The deductions we list above will only be made when your compensation is paid. There are no upfront costs and no hidden charges.

Is there a time limit?

Usually, you have three years from the date of the injury to make a bus, ship or car accident passenger claim. However, in some situations this time limit may change. For example:

• If you were under 18 years of age when the incident occurred, then you have until the time you turn 21 to claim for compensation.
• There's no upper time limit if you're claiming for someone who, for whatever reason, lacks the mental ability to make a passenger accident claim. As stated in the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a person must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that they lack capacity. If you're unsure, please don't hesitate to give us a call and we can help.

If you think it's getting close to the end of this three-year limit, please get in touch with us while we can still help you.

Why choose National Accident Law?

Here at National Accident Law, we're dedicated to helping you get your life back on track. Our friendly team of legal experts are here to listen to what happened and help you decide what to do next. Please know that we'll never pressure you into making a claim - it's completely up to you if you'd like to go ahead. 

We want to make claiming bus, ship or car passenger compensation as easy as possible, so you can focus on your recovery. That's why we've made the process simple and straightforward - no legal jargon, no confusing paperwork. You can keep track of your claim online through our handy platform MyAccount - anytime, anywhere. After all, we all manage many parts of life from our phones or computers, so why should it be different with passenger accident claims?

If you're not keen on managing your claim online, that's absolutely no problem. We're here to talk to you on the phone and we can send you documents through the post. While we understand that making a passenger claim against a driver may seem daunting - you can be confident that our team of expert lawyers will be here to support you every step of the way. 

Any compensation you win can help cover the costs of medical treatment you may need as well as make up for any lost earnings if you've had to take time off work. We know that this financial support may take some of the stress away after your accident, so we'll do all we can to get you the positive result you deserve.

How do I make a passenger accident claim?

If you've been in an accident as a passenger and it wasn't your fault, you may be entitled to damages. We've made claiming for bus, ship and car passenger compensation as easy as possible. You can get in touch with our specialist team on , request a call back or complete our claim online tool to start your claim online.