My 76 year old mother was on a bus last week which was full and had to stand among the crowded bus, as the bus was moving along the road a car shot out in front of it and the bus driver slammed on his brakes suddenly to avoid hitting the car, my mother hurt her back trying to stop herself from falling but did not realise this at that time till the next day, she was in agonising pain and had to go to the hospital for an xray, even though nothing is broken she sprained her back quite badly and is on pain killers, My question is can she claim compensation from the bus company for this? she did not report this to anyone other than her GP, she knows the number of the bus but not who was driving it.
2006-07-04 08:32:03 · 5 answers · asked by Anne A 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
Who do we contact to find out?
2006-07-04 08:32:54 · update #1
Contact the bus company. Write them a letter and explain what has happened and the details of her injury. Advise that you will seek the advise of a solicitor unless they offer soething in way of an apology. If they offer nothing, or you are not happy with their offer, contact a solicitor but i don't think you will get any where. Buses are designed to allow a certain number of standing passengers and, as long as it wasn't over it's limit of passengers, i don't think you can prosecute them in any way.
But they will most likely offer you mum something to avoid any kind of bad press. I slipped in a well known cosmetics shop because of the high shine on the floor. I went to hospital but there was no major damage except to my pocket as lost weeks pay and had to pay out to get to hospital and for pescription (and plasters that the particular shop made me purchase after i had fallen in their shop). I wrote to them and they reimbursed ALL the money i had lost (about £500) and also gave me £250 worth of vouchers as a good will gesture. The funny thing is, i consulted a solicitor and they said i had not claim against the shop.
2006-07-04 08:40:31 · answer #1 · answered by willowbee 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Your mother does indeed have a case as far as I can see, bearing in mind I am not a trained professional.
The injury occured on public transport, for which the operator will have insurance. The insurance will cover the fact of injury whilst travelling on the bus, this should mean they simply pay out. It shouldn't take a lot of proving that you have a case and I don't see anybody contesting it to be honest. I can see the headlines now - "Bus Company Nearly Kills Granny, Then Laughs!"
Can't see them wanting that sort of publicity...
2006-07-04 08:43:19 · answer #2 · answered by Manicsloth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard of worse stories where an elderly fell because the bus accelerated away too quickly, she broke her hip, needed an ambulance, can't walk now.
The bus company are refusing her a penny, and it's already been on the TV.
2006-07-04 09:59:17 · answer #3 · answered by 'Dr Greene' 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont think the bus, but the driver of the car, if u can trace it
2006-07-04 08:36:54 · answer #4 · answered by mattb77 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call a lawyer
2006-07-05 21:18:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋