Accident on public transport

steady__eddie

With my luck as of late, this is bound to be the wrong forum so apologies in advance.
Yesterday, the bus on which my daughter was travelling braked violently for no discernable reason causing people to be hurled forward. One passenger sustained a bleeding forehead and my daughter smashed head face on the handrail on the top of the seat in front. The result is 2 chipped teeth and possibly several loose ones. As the injury was not life threatening, no N.H.S. treatment was available last night so 9 o'clock tomorrow morning is awaited with trepidation (Another weeks E.M.A. lost).
As N.H.S. dental treatment stretches my credit card limit, can anyone please advise me upon an appropriate course of action ? The driver took her name and her mobile number but I am not entirely sure of his motives !
Is it advisable that I contact the bus company ? I am reluctant to go straight to the no win - no fee brigade but what are the options ?
Your assistance during my present muddled state would be profoundly appreciated.

rdwarr

Yes, contact the bus company in the first instance. They should have a record of the incident and insurance to cover any losses. Were the Police called?

steady__eddie

She does not think that the police were called, in any event none turned up.
The driver stopped the bus in order to see if anyone had been injured and offered an explanation of his actions but due to the state of shock that had been induced and a language problem, she was unable to comprehend the reasons given.

nadnad

contact a solicitor - you need to put in a personal injury claim. give them the details and they will start a claim for you against the bus company - or whoever caused the violent braking - take pictures of your daughters teeth as evidence.

us,thecat&thedebt

hi

dont want to hijack the thread but this happened to me in jan 2003 i was on my way to a exam and the bus hit a car.. the police were called ect.. i bashed my knee and had to go to a&e not straight from the crash
i was on crutches for 8 weeks missed my exam missed a bit of college and when i did go to college had to get a taxi becos it was snowing!!!!

i contacted a solictor but never got round to completeing it...

i think u would have a good case as i think i might...

maybe someone might come along with experience/knowledge

good luck...


btw if your daughter is under 18 (like i was at time of accident you have till there 21st bday to claim not the usual 3 years i think!

misterthrifty

It's quite a complicated business so you are best to instruct a solicitor early on while the damage is evident. You can choose 'no win no fee' who will only collect a fee if they win but be VERY sure about what their fees/expenses are before you proceed. Some of these people are ambulance chasers and have a poor reputation. You can also choose a solicitor who makes standard charges which they will recover from the bus company if they win (and from you if they don't). try asking if any friends have had good dealings with a firm.

Good luck, from the facts you have provided it is likely that you will get a fair result.

Mr T