Public Transport Accident Claims - Complete Guide
Motor Accidents
29 April 2026
min read
Key Takeaways
Public transport injury claims fall under two distinct legal frameworks depending on whether collision or non-collision injury occurred. Understanding the applicable law determines entitlement type and compensation potential.
• Collision claims with vehicles activate Motor Accident Injuries Act NSW 2017; benefits include 6 months loss of income and medical expenses
• Non-collision injuries (slip, fall on bus) trigger Public Liability law where government-operated vehicles owe duty of care
• Recoverable compensation includes pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, past and future medical expenses, and past and future lost income including superannuation
• Claim complexity varies by injury severity and work impact; accredited specialists recommended for claim assessment
If you use public transport to travel, whether that is by bus, train or light rail, it is not always without risk and unfortunately sometimes people will sustain injury whilst catching public transport.
If you have sustained an injury on a bus, train or light rail you may be able to make a claim for compensation.
What are Public Transport Claims?
There are generally two types of public transport claims.
The first type is where your injuries were caused by the public transit vehicles such as bus or light rail colliding with you or the vehicle in which you are travelling. In this situation, this is a motor vehicle accident, and the Motor Accident Injuries Act NSW 2017 would apply. If this is the case, then you need to make an Application for Personal Injury Benefits through SIRA. You are entitled to payment of loss of income and medical expenses for up to 6 months. If you have serious injuries and you can demonstrate that the public transport operator was at fault, then you may also be able to make a claim for damages.
The second situation applies where you are injured whilst a passenger on a public transport vehicle, such a slipping on water on the floor of a bus or train. An injury not involving a collision of vehicles. Public Liability law would apply in this case, where the owner of the public transport vehicle, usually the government, has a duty of care to ensure that they do not negligently injury someone and are liable to pay damages.
What kind of compensation can I expect from a public transport accident claim?
If you have sustained an injury, you are usually entitled to claim the following types of compensation.
- Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Payment of past and future medical expenses.
- Payment of past and future loss of income, including loss of superannuation.
The amount and type of compensation you are entitled to receive will depend on how serious your injury is and whether you have required time off work.
Claims of this type can be complicated and you should contact an accredited specialist in personal injury law to discuss your claim or complete a free case assessment here.
Disclaimer
The information contained on this article is of a general nature only and is not intended to be legal advice. The law may have changed since the information was published. There is no intention to create a lawyer-client relationship and you should always seek legal advice about your own personal circumstances.
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Have you suffered a
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