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Original poster

Bus driver accident

12 replies

BuggerShitBugger · 21/10/2025 10:58

DH is a fairly newly qualified bus driver (approx 6 months in). He was involved in an accident a few weeks ago. The accident wasn’t his fault, the other driver failed to stop at the give way and drove straight across his path.

He’s had on going back pain since the accident, he had the first week off and this was paid as industrial leave, second week he go a sick note and they changed this to sick leave so was unpaid (SSP only). He’s gone back for week 3 but still in pain.

He’s still in pain and started physio this morning (earliest appointment he could get).

Can he claim loss of earnings plus anything else for the pain from the other drivers insurance? Would there be any other claim, eg private physio, compensation or anything like that?

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 21/10/2025 13:26

He certainly has a claim against the other driver. This would cover things like medical treatment and loss of earnings.

Parky04 · 21/10/2025 13:45

Is your DH in a Union? They would instruct solicitors to deal with the claim on his behalf. It must have been a significant impact if he was shunted enough to cause an injury whilst driving a bus!

rwalker · 21/10/2025 13:48

Has he checked what it said about sick pay and work related injury
in my previous job 6 months sick pay as std but if it was work related you got 2 years and the sickness didn’t count against you on your sick record

Original poster
BuggerShitBugger · 21/10/2025 16:13

Thanks everyone, he’s finally got in touch with the union this afternoon and in turn their solicitor.

@Parky04 it was, he had to be cut out of the driver box as it was all bent. There was fire, ambulance, police and an incident response unit in attendance to give some idea. He was going down a slip road to a motorway, the firefighter said, a few seconds later and the car driver would have been dead.

@rwalker yes, he isn’t yet entitled to sick pay due to service, they paid him the first week but then said as he had got a sick note for the second week, they could no longer class it as industrial. He thought he was doing the right thing getting a sick note. Apparently not.

The union has now drafted a letter asking them to reconsider the pay and he has a solicitor appointment for later in the week if he doesn’t get any luck.

He has a NHS physio appointment but I’m thinking he could do with more intense physio.

OP posts:
HoppityBun · 21/10/2025 16:53

It seems wrong OP that your DH was given no advice by management about not getting a sick note. It might be worth pointing out that he had no way of knowing and wasn’t told

autienotnaughty · 21/10/2025 17:00

It’s hopefully whiplash that heals easily. He needs to do the physio exercises every day. NHS does have a sheet on their website . Keep moving, don’t sit /lay for too long (except sleeping. ) ice could help and ibuprofen for inflammation. If he’s having to work a heat pack could make things more comfortable or a brace or lumber cushion. But it depends where the pain is. He needs to regularly adjust his position when driving and get up when he can.

autienotnaughty · 21/10/2025 17:04

And just to say when I was hit from behind by another car (causing whiplash and unknown to me at the time a long term back issue) I got private physio (8 sessions I think) and a few thousand pounds comp ( this was 10 years ago) plus obviously hire car and car repaired.

Original poster
BuggerShitBugger · 21/10/2025 17:05

autienotnaughty · 21/10/2025 17:00

It’s hopefully whiplash that heals easily. He needs to do the physio exercises every day. NHS does have a sheet on their website . Keep moving, don’t sit /lay for too long (except sleeping. ) ice could help and ibuprofen for inflammation. If he’s having to work a heat pack could make things more comfortable or a brace or lumber cushion. But it depends where the pain is. He needs to regularly adjust his position when driving and get up when he can.

Thanks that’s pretty much the advice given by the physio this morning.
It is lower back, one side slightly worse than the other. Worse after sleeping and when he’s sat for long periods (ie when he’s working).

OP posts:
Original poster
BuggerShitBugger · 21/10/2025 17:06

HoppityBun · 21/10/2025 16:53

It seems wrong OP that your DH was given no advice by management about not getting a sick note. It might be worth pointing out that he had no way of knowing and wasn’t told

Yes, I’m not sure he asked which he maybe should have done, he took the four days after the accident as sick, he then had 3 rest days scheduled anyway. As he had then been off a week and didn’t feel able to go back he automatically went to the doctors.

OP posts:
Walkden · 21/10/2025 17:15

"He was going down a slip road to a motorway, the firefighter said, a few seconds later and the car driver would have been dead."

So did this happen on the motorway or on the slip road or did the car driver fail to give way at a connecting roundabout and hit your husband as he was heading towards the slip road?

Original poster
BuggerShitBugger · 21/10/2025 17:23

Walkden · 21/10/2025 17:15

"He was going down a slip road to a motorway, the firefighter said, a few seconds later and the car driver would have been dead."

So did this happen on the motorway or on the slip road or did the car driver fail to give way at a connecting roundabout and hit your husband as he was heading towards the slip road?

It’s a really unusual junction, I’d share a picture but would be quite outing.

He was approaching a slip road but there’s a give way road that cuts across his path. It’s not a round about.

OP posts:
Original poster
BuggerShitBugger · 22/10/2025 10:25

Update - the union drafted a letter regarding his pay and they have now agreed to pay both weeks in full.

OP posts:
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