Public Transport Falls

Public transport fall claims arise when passengers are injured on buses, trains, trams, or at stations due to the transport operator's negligence. These claims involve different defendants depending on where the injury occurred.

Common scenarios include falls on buses due to sudden braking or pulling away before passengers are seated, slips on wet train platforms, trips on uneven station surfaces, escalator injuries, falls between train and platform (the gap), and injuries from overcrowded vehicles.

Bus operators have a particularly high duty of care — drivers must wait until elderly and disabled passengers are seated before moving off. Transport for London (TfL), train operating companies, and Network Rail each have responsibilities for different aspects of the transport network.

CCTV is widely available on public transport and at stations, providing strong evidence. Accident reports filed by transport staff, control room logs, and maintenance records are also relevant. Witness statements from other passengers can be valuable.

Compensation ranges from £2,000 to £10,000 for minor injuries (bruising from a bus fall), £10,000 to £50,000 for moderate injuries (fractures), and £50,000 to £500,000 for serious injuries (head injuries from platform falls). The limitation period is 3 years.