Coach and Bus Accident Claims

The team here at McCarthy + Co Solicitors LLP has extensive experience bringing successful road traffic accident claims. If you have been injured as a passenger on a coach or bus, our team will handle your claim with clarity, care, and discretion.

A bus or coach operator owes a duty of care to its passengers and to other road users. A claim may arise where an injury was caused by negligence, whether by the driver, the operator, or a third party. Common causes include:

• a sudden stop, jerk, or sharp turn that throws a passenger who is seated, standing, or moving to a seat;
• an injury while boarding or alighting, including a fall on the steps or doors closing on a passenger;
• a collision between the bus and another vehicle, a cyclist, or a pedestrian;
• careless or dangerous driving, or a failure to maintain the vehicle properly; and
• a slip, trip, or fall on board, for example on a wet floor.

Arrange a time to speak with a solicitor by completing our quick and confidential online form.

Who you can claim against

Who is responsible depends on how you were injured. Where the driver was at fault, the claim is generally against the bus operator, such as Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead Ireland, or a private coach company, as the driver’s employer. Where another road user caused the accident, the claim may be against them, or, where they were uninsured or cannot be traced, against the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland. In some cases more than one party may share responsibility, and we can help you identify who to pursue.

What to do after a bus accident

The steps you take afterwards can make a real difference to a claim. As far as you are able:

• write down what happened as soon as you can, including a simple sketch of where the vehicles and any pedestrians were;
• take photographs of the scene and your surroundings;
• note the names and contact details of any witnesses, whose evidence is often decisive;
• record the bus driver’s name, the operator, and the registration and insurance details of the bus, along with the details of any other vehicles involved; and
• see a doctor, and keep a record of your injuries, treatment, and any time off work.

You do not have to begin a claim yourself. If you are still recovering, you can authorise someone you trust to start it on your behalf, and we will never discuss your affairs with anyone without your clear and express consent.