Public Transport Accident Claims

A public transport accident claim is the legal process you undertake to get the compensation you deserve for the personal injury. 

The use of public transport is increasing in Ireland. Transport for Ireland, TFI, figures show that in 2023, the use of public transport exceeded 300 million passenger journeys for the first time. Dublin Bus saw a 20% increase in passenger numbers to 145 million journeys, and the Luas saw a 25% increase to 48.2 million service users. TFI Local Link is now carrying more than 3.2 million passengers per annum and is continuing to grow. 

The more public transport vehicles there are on the road, and the more the public uses them, the greater the risk of an accident resulting in personal injury.

Valerie Kearins Solicitors will work with you to make a successful public transport accident claim.

The common types of public transport accidents range from the fall on the local bus to the trip while getting off a Luas tram in Dublin.

In a public transport claim, you seek compensation for the personal injury you have after an accident on the train, bus or tram.

Types of public transport injury claims

The public bus accident claims are for the injury suffered when using any type of public bus service in Ireland.

Common public bus accident claims:

You can make a personal injury claim* against the operator of the public bus service.

Train accident claims are for compensation for a personal injury suffered while travelling on a train in Ireland.

You may fall between the train and the platform and suffer severe leg injuries, and be off work for a length of time.

The train may stop suddenly, throwing you to the floor, causing head, neck and shoulder injuries.

Valerie Kearins personal injury solicitors can make a public transport accident claim against Iarnród Éireann.

Luas tram accident claims are common public transport personal injury claims* in Dublin. The Luas is popular, and accidents often happen on the city routes.

Types of injuries seen in Luas tram claims:

Valerie Kearins Solicitors know how to make a personal injury claim* against the operator of the Luas tram service.

Taxi accident personal injury claims* can be for when the taxi is in a road traffic accident, or you are injured due to a poorly maintained taxi cab.

If the taxi is in a road traffic accident, you could claim for the broken limb, the facial scarring and the head, neck and shoulder injury due to careless driving by the taxi driver.
You could also make a personal injury claim* if you suffer injury due to the taxi door opening suddenly or if the seatbelt does not work when the taxi stops without warning.

Valerie Kearins Solicitors can make a personal injury claim* for a taxi accident.

DART accident claims are for the breach of the duty of care to passengers by the operators of the commuter service in Dublin.

Types of DART accident injury claims:

You may have a public transport accident claim if you are injured while using the DART.

Valerie Kearins Solicitors will look at the details of your accident and the injuries suffered when making a public transport accident compensation claim.

After a public transport accident in Ireland, you will need to take steps to see if you have a valid personal injury claim*.

The first step is to report the accident to the relevant authority. If there is a member of staff on duty, such as the bus driver or train station manager, report the accident to them and get their contact details.

The next step is to seek medical attention, as you will need to show that you suffered an injury in a public transport accident. If you need to, call an ambulance or get a member of staff to call one for you.

The paramedics and hospital doctors will write a report on your injuries, and that report could be vital when making a claim.

You will also need to gather evidence of the public transport accident to support your compensation claim.

As much evidence as you can gather is needed to support a public transport injury claim. You may not think something is important, but your solicitor can point out exactly how a piece of evidence will help with a compensation claim.

When you fall down the stairs on a double-decker bus or hit your head on a seat on DART, you may not be thinking of evidence, but any type of evidence may help the claim.

Types of evidence suitable to support a public transport injury claim:

Keep all medical bills, reports, and receipts for payments made while recovering from a personal injury.

Valerie Kearins Solicitors will help you gather the evidence needed for the compensation claim.

The operator of the public transport and the Department of Transport may be responsible for the claim.

A personal injury solicitor will know from looking at the details of your accident who may be responsible for the compensation claim.

Those responsible for a public transport accident claim could be:

The company responsible for running the public transport vehicle owes you a duty of care. If they breach that duty of care, resulting in your personal injury, you may have a public transport accident claim.

Valerie Kearins Solicitors can look at the evidence and help make the personal injury claim* against the company responsible.

Making a personal injury claim* to the Injuries Assessment Board is the first step to making a public transport accident claim in Ireland.

The Injuries Assessment Board is a body set up by the government to examine every personal injury claim* and recommend any compensation amounts to be paid.

Every personal injury claim* in Ireland must first go through the Injuries Board before any other step is taken.

Your solicitor will be by your side during the personal injury claim* to the Injuries Board and can recommend that you take a compensation award offered or take it to the courts.

Valerie Kearins Solicitors has the experience of working with the Injuries Board when claiming compensation for clients.

Compensation for a public transport accident claim in Ireland depends on the effects of the injuries and the impact on your life today and in the future.

The compensation claim can be for the broken limbs, crush injuries and the cuts and bruises following the road traffic accident. The amount of compensation awarded considers all the factors and how much the injury will affect the injured party’s life.

A personal injury can affect the ability to work, to bring income into the home, and practical things like driving, walking up steps, and going out for exercise.

Any compensation claim may also reflect the physical therapy needs and costs of full-time care following a public transport accident. The compensation claim will look for damages for living with the injury due to being hit by a bus or an accident on board a Luas, which could affect the victim’s life.

Valerie Kearins personal injury solicitors can make your claim for damages following an accident involving public transport.

Contact Valerie Kearins Solicitors today to make your public transport accident claim.

Our personal injury experts can be with you from day one and fully support you when claiming compensation.

You are the one who was injured when on the Luas or going home on the bus at night. We know what to do when forming a compensation claim for any injury, and we will be by your side until you get the compensation you deserve.

Contact Valerie Kearins Solicitors today for all your public transport accident needs.