The hidden risks of public transport and what you can do if you're injured

Daily Record

4 days ago

Public transport is a unique mode of transport as you, the passenger, put your life in the hands of a total stranger, writes David Nellaney, Partner at Digby Brown.
What provides assurance is the knowledge that the person in control of the vehicle - be it a taxi, bus, ferry, plane or train - is a professional. They are trained, licensed and insured to a high standard to deliver a reliable and safe service.
Arguably, they should be safer than any other mode of transport as they are also more likely to be vigilant, follow speed limits more strictly, and handle the vehicle smoothly.
And yet, over the last year or so, it feels like there's been a rise in public transport accidents, especially bus and coach accidents.
In March this year, the M8 ground to a halt after a bus crashed near the junction 30 turn off at Bishopton.
In December 2024, there were two bus crashes within days of each other - and both involved low bridges.
The first saw a double-decker collide with a railway bridge on Cook Street in Glasgow, then five days later, another struck a low bridge on Culzean Crescent in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.
Both incidents left multiple people injured, many of whom needed hospital treatment.
In Paisley last year, five people were injured after a single-decker ploughed into a block of flats.
Similarly, homeowners in Airth near Falkirk were injured after a coach left the road and smashed into a row of houses.
To be fair, it's not just buses.
All modes of public transport have their risks, and as we've seen in the past, accidents can happen anywhere.
Last summer, Digby Brown settled claims for passengers of the ferry MV Alfred after it ran aground on an uninhabited island near Orkney.
We also helped Ayr man Stephen McIntyre after he was struck by a taxi that crossed into his side of the road.
And families affected by the Stonehaven rail disaster turned to Digby Brown for help where we recovered more than £1million for those affected.
Whether you are on a bus, taxi, train, ferry or plane, it is the duty of those in control of these modes of transport to ensure your safety.
We know professional drivers don't set out to injure people. But through our experience, the sad reality is that most crashes are the result of human error.
If a mechanical fault arises that impacts safety they should stop, not continue and hope for the best while hoping to deal with it later.
If there's torrential rain or wind, then those in charge should slow down or stop entirely - simply plodding on and blaming the bad weather if things go wrong isn't good enough.
This was confirmed in another legal win for Digby Brown when we helped 17 people recover compensation after their coach was blown over in high winds near Loch Lomond.
And when it comes to buses and low bridges… well, the driver is ultimately responsible for driving to the road conditions and responding to hazards that lie ahead. Blaming a sat nav or a route diversion is no excuse.
The precise circumstances of incidents are nearly always different, but what remains constant is that if you were injured as a result of someone else's negligence, then you have rights.
When you use public transport, you are a passenger in a vehicle, and other people are responsible for your safety.
So, with a public transport claim or passenger injury claim, a solicitor will look to recover all relevant details, just like any other accident claim:
Having as much information and evidence as possible helps build a clear, thorough and accurate picture that can strengthen your case and secure a fair result.