Public Transport Accident Compensation

Millions of journeys are made on Ireland’s buses, trams, and trains every year, and while public transport is generally very safe, accidents do happen. If you were injured while travelling on, boarding, or alighting from public transport, or at a station or stop, because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

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Seeking Compensation for an Injury on Public Transport

With more than 30 years of experience in personal injury, the team here at McCarthy + Co Solicitors LLP has advised many passengers who have sustained injuries on Ireland’s bus, tram, and rail networks. We provide clear, practical guidance at every stage of the claims process, and help our clients secure the compensation they deserve.

Public transport operators owe their passengers a high duty of care, and so do other road users and the bodies responsible for stations and platforms. A claim may arise where that duty is not met. Common causes of injury on public transport include:

a sudden stop, jerk, or acceleration that throws a passenger who is seated, standing, or moving about;
an injury while boarding or alighting, including doors closing on a passenger;
a collision involving the bus, tram, or train and another vehicle;
a slip, trip, or fall on a vehicle, or on a station platform or concourse; and
an assault that a reasonable operator should have taken steps to prevent.

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

Types of claims we assist with

We advise passengers involved in:

Bus accidents – For drivers and passengers injured on a bus.
Luas tram accidents – For those injured in incidents involving Dublin’s tram system.
Rail accidents – For those injured on a train, or on a railway platform.

We also provide guidance to claimants injured in incidents involving taxis, coaches, ferries, and subway trains.

Who is responsible

Who you claim against depends on how you were injured. Where a driver or operator was negligent, for example through sudden or careless driving, or a failure to maintain the vehicle, the transport operator is generally responsible, as the employer of the driver and the party in control of the vehicle. Where another road user caused a collision, the claim may be against that person, or, where they were uninsured or cannot be traced, against the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland.

Where you were injured by a hazard at a station or on a platform, the body responsible for maintaining that place may be liable. As with any public place, a distinction is drawn between a hazard created by defective works, for which the responsible body can be liable, and one that arose simply through wear and tear over time, for which it generally cannot. Expert engineering evidence is often important in establishing which applies, so it is valuable to have the scene inspected as soon as possible after the accident.

“It was a pleasure to work with this firm, namely with Liam Crowley. He made a difficult and lengthy process very easy and any questions were answered in a very timely manner. I was included throughout and every step of the process was explained to me without overwhelming me with information. If anything ever arises in the future I will be hoping to work with Liam and McCarthy + Co Solicitors again and would be happy to recommend them to anyone.”

Sarah Fahy

Call us Freephone to Discuss Your Case:

1800 390 555

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Meet Liam Crowley

Liam Crowley is a partner at McCarthy + Co Solicitors LLP and leads our personal injury department. He has worked in litigation for almost 20 years, and in recent years he has acted almost exclusively for personal injury plaintiffs before the Circuit and High Courts, attending court venues throughout Ireland. He has handled many complex High Court actions involving multiple defendants and high-value loss of earnings claims, and he has managed investigations and claims in many wrongful death cases for families who have lost loved ones in road traffic and workplace accidents.

If you have been injured while using public transport, and you would like trusted, attentive advice, you can contact Liam directly at liam@mccarthy.ie.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the questions we are often asked in relation to this topic.

What kinds of public transport accidents can I claim for?

Claims can arise from a wide range of incidents, including being thrown by a sudden stop or jerk, an injury while boarding or alighting, a collision involving the vehicle, a slip or trip on board or at a station, and, in some cases, an assault that should have been prevented. If you are unsure whether your circumstances give rise to a claim, it is worth asking us.

I slipped on a platform or on a bus. Can I claim?

Possibly. Those responsible for stations, platforms, and vehicles must take reasonable steps to keep them safe, including dealing with hazards such as spillages. Whether there is a claim depends on whether reasonable systems were in place and followed, and, for a fixed defect, whether it resulted from defective works or simply from wear and tear. These cases turn on the evidence, so early advice helps.

How does the claims process work, and how long do I have?

Most public transport injury claims are submitted to the Injuries Resolution Board, and you must notify the party responsible in writing within one month of the accident. In most cases you have two years, less one day, from the date of the accident or the date of knowledge, to bring a claim. Because these deadlines are strict and evidence is best gathered early, it is wise to take advice promptly.

Do I need a solicitor?

You are not required to instruct a solicitor, but it can make a real difference, particularly where liability is disputed or more than one party may be responsible. A solicitor can preserve evidence, gather medical reports, identify who is liable, and deal with the Injuries Resolution Board and the operators or insurers on your behalf.