Road accidents
Injured on a bus, tram or metro: what should you record?
A sudden stop, closing door or fall while boarding needs careful documentation. Identify the operator and preserve the journey details.
Identify the journey, not just the station
Record the date, approximate time, route, direction and stop. A vehicle or service number and your ticket or travel history can help identify the particular bus, tram or metro. If possible, report the incident to the driver or operator and retain the reference number.
Describe where you were: boarding, leaving, standing near a door or sitting inside. A sudden braking incident raises different questions from a trapping door or a fall over damaged flooring. Note what you actually observed rather than guessing why the driver acted.
Ask for relevant evidence to be preserved
Transport companies may hold camera footage or internal incident information for limited periods. A prompt preservation request should identify the journey and the approximate place inside the vehicle. Requesting footage does not mean you automatically have unrestricted access to recordings of other passengers.
Witnesses may have left at the next stop. Their names and contact details can be important if the operator disputes the event. Photographs of the location, handrails or steps may provide context even if nobody photographed the moment of injury.
Which party should handle the injury claim?
Passenger transport rules, the operator’s responsibilities and the conduct of another vehicle may all matter. A ticket complaint and a claim for bodily injury are different processes. Ask for confirmation that your correspondence has reached the department handling personal injury, rather than only customer service.
For wider background, see our passenger injury guide. Avoid applying the rules for a friend’s private car to public transport without checking the legal basis.
Record the effect after the journey
If symptoms develop, seek medical advice and explain when the incident happened. Save proof of extra travel, missed work and necessary help. A factual claim record in English helps organise documents from several organisations.
For a tram or bus incident in Amsterdam, you can use our Amsterdam contact route without assuming that the location alone makes the transport operator liable.
What to keep or ask for
- Route, time, direction, stop and vehicle number.
- Ticket or travel history showing the journey.
- Operator incident reference and preservation requests.
- Witness contacts and records of injury-related expenses.
Questions you may still have
Does a sudden stop always make the operator liable?
No. The cause, severity and circumstances need assessment under the rules that apply to the journey. A necessary response to another road user may introduce additional questions.
Is a customer service complaint sufficient?
It may alert the operator but should not be assumed to preserve every legal right. Make clear that you suffered injury and have the claim route and deadlines checked.
Sources and legal context
General information about Dutch personal injury claims. Some source material is in Dutch. Your circumstances may require a different assessment.
This guide explains general principles. It is not a decision on liability or the value of an individual claim.