Coach Passenger Injury Claim: High Speed Collision On A Motorway

Q: What benefits are there to using a solicitor to help us make our coach passenger injury claims?

The advantages of using a solicitor to claim include the fact that you will recover the correct amount of compensation for your injuries and financial loss & expense. The correct evidence in support will be obtained and all claimable losses considered. Therefore - your compensation payout would typically ne far higher with a legal expert fighting your corner.

Q: What are the dangers of trying to claim ourselves directly from the coach insurers for our injuries in a coach collision?

When you go direct to the coach insurer to make your claim - it is not in their interest (as they are the paying party) to notify you of all your potential heads of loss, obtain all the necessary evidence you may require, offer the correct amount of compensation or argue to increase your compensation. They may also delay your claim so that you could fall foul of the three year statutory limitation period. Thus your claim could fail altogether.

Q: What are the associated costs/fees of using a solicitor to make a coach passenger injury claim?

Your legal fees will depend on the funding arrangement that may be available to you. If you have legal protection cover - all of your costs will typically be covered by the insurance policy (subject to a small excess). Alternatively, you could use a no win no fee. This will typically mean - no fee should you lose your claim, but a deduction of up to 25% from your compensation for unrecovered legal costs should your claim succeed.

Q: Can we claim for our financial losses and expenses as a result of our coach accident injuries, such as lost income and unused gym membership?

Yes - so long as it can be proven that you have suffered loss and additional expense as a result of your injuries you should be able to claim. For example - lost income can be proved by confirmation of your lost income from your employer, your average pay as shown on your pay slips and confirmation from an independent medical expert that inability to work was reasonable given the nature of your injuries. You are however expected to mitigate your loss. Therefore - expenses like gym membership may be more difficult to justify. Most gyms have the option to freeze the membership or cancel. You would be expected to take these options if available.

Q: How can a solicitor calculate the amount of compensation we can claim for our coach collision injuries and other losses?

To establish how much your coach passenger injury claim is worth a process must be followed. Comprehensive independent specialist medical reports must first be obtained by your solicitor. The medical report will describe, on the balance of probabilities with a duty to the court, your physical and psychological injuries together with recovery periods and/or ongoing disability. The injuries set out in such reports are then compared by your solicitor to case law and judicial guidance to determine a likely pain, suffering & loss of amenity award known as general damages. In addition, specific losses unique to you (special damages) are calculated and added to the general damages figure to give your overall figure of a likely compensation payout.

In this coach passenger injury claim Q&A you will discover:

The advantages of using a solicitor to help you make your claim compared to dealing direct with the coach insurer,
How to ensure an accurate calculation of compensation payouts for your injuries.
Different types of solicitor funding options. For example – no win no fee and legal protection cover.
The additional types of financial los and expense you can claim. For example – lost income.
How to claim for more than one coach passenger injured in the same accident.

Table of Contents

Coach Passenger Injury Claim: High Speed Collision On A Motorway

DESCRIPTION: Coach Collision On A Motorway Causing Passenger Injury

I was injured as a coach passenger during a high-speed road accident on the motorway in the North of England heading towards Scotland.

Coach hit the back of a truck

I was sat close to the front of the coach when it went into the back of a truck that had slammed on its brakes quickly & unexpectedly.

Two family members injured

My mother was sitting next to me, so she was also injured in the accident.

Coach driver error

The police report currently blames the driver of the coach as dash cam footage shows no sign of braking prior to impact. I have the police incident number.

Taken to hospital in an ambulance

An ambulance arrived at the accident scene and we were taken to hospital.

ambulance coach passenger hospital — Coach Passenger Taken To Hospital By Ambulance

Multiple injuries sustained

We have since seen (and continue to see) various medical professionals for treatment.

To briefly highlight some of my injuries: I have a broken bone in my left arm which the hospital suggested may require surgery, my left wrist and hand also has severe swelling and bruising which I’m still suffering from over 1 month on.

I also experienced back pain and ringing ears in the days immediately after the accident.

My mother injured her head as she hit a rail on impact, resulting in immediate extreme pain, swelling, dizziness and headaches. Also, she is currently receiving treatment for a sprain / ligament damage to her wrist and fingers.

In addition, she is suffering with pain to her neck, shoulders and back which has also resulted in lack of movement, constant headache and difficulty sleeping.

Contacted coach insurers

We’ve looked at submitting a claim direct with the insurance company of the coach company. However – we have struggled getting any meaningful communication.

Specific financial losses and expenses experienced

On top of the impact on our lives of the injuries – we have experienced extra financial expenses. For example – loss of earnings and the cost of private medical treatment. In addition – we have to get trains everywhere whilst not being able to drive for previously booked events. Plus – I pay an annual gym membership – but I am unable to go.

Therefore, we would also be looking to claim these

Need for legal representation

We would like to discuss possibilities of legal representation.

Coach Passenger Injury Q&A’s

We were originally planning to handle our own claims – but since the coach’s insurance company has been bad at responding to us we believe legal help is the way forward. However, we have a few initial questions:

What benefits are there to using a solicitor to help us make our coach passenger injury claims?

What are the dangers of trying to claim ourselves directly from the coach insurers for our injuries in a coach collision?

What are the associated costs/fees of using a solicitor to make a coach passenger injury claim?

Can we claim for our financial losses and expenses as a result of our coach accident injuries, such as lost income and unused gym membership?

How can a solicitor calculate the amount of compensation we can claim for our coach collision injuries and other losses?

How to determine liability and make a coach accident claim

See our detailed coach accident claim article for full details on not only how to determine fault for a coach accident, but also who to claim against and how best to fund your passenger injury claim.

FREE specialist solicitor legal help

Before you decide to claim you may wish to discuss you accident with a solicitor in person.

See our telephone / online solicitor free help options. You can not only call to speak direct with our solicitors, but also arrange a callback at your convenience. Alternatively, you can have your coach passenger injury claim assessed and ask any further questions you may have.