Bus Accident Claims in South Africa

Every year, bus crashes lead to serious injuries and an increasing number of fatalities.

A recent horrific bus accident, covered extensively by local and international new agencies, occurred on the N1 highway in Limpopo in October 2025.

The driver of an overloaded bus lost control of the vehicle, which swerved off the road and tumbled down a steep embankment, killing 45 people, including a 10-month-old baby.

Eight months earlier, in March 2025, 16 passengers lost their lives when the bus they were travelling in flipped onto its side on the N1 Highway near OR Tambo Airport.

In the same month, a bus carrying learners to school crashed into a truck on the N12 in Germiston. There were no fatalities, but 19 schoolchildren were injured.

How common are bus accidents in South Africa?

As reported in the Daily Maverick, fatalities involving bus crashes have spiked to a five-year high. Last year alone, 146 passengers lost their lives in bus accidents.

According to the latest quarterly statistics from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), buses contributed to 1.1% of fatal crashes between January and March 2025.

That’s despite registered buses accounting for just 0.54% of the total vehicle population.

In an earlier study, the RTMC reported that over a five-year period, buses were involved in 323 fatal crashes in South Africa. As many as 487 people died in these crashes.

The highest number of bus accidents resulting in fatalities (76 crashes) occurred in Gauteng.

A University of Pretoria study found that buses have a 30% probability of getting involved in an accident – “the highest of all vehicle types”.

The majority of fatal bus crashes occur on Saturday and Sunday mornings between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.

The scale of the problem is best illustrated by the Mail & Guardian’s roll call of fatalities caused by bus crashes. Reported accidents are over an eight-year period.

Claims for bus accident injuries

If you’re injured in a bus accident, you can claim compensation from South Africa’s Road Accident Fund (RAF) and/or other liable parties.

Victims of bus accidents may include passengers, occupants of other vehicles and pedestrians.

What compensation can be claimed?

Depending on the facts of a case, a person injured in a bus accident may be able to claim compensation for the following “heads of damage”:

• past hospital and medical expenses
• future hospital, medical and supplementary expenses
• past loss of earnings
• future loss of earnings and interference with earning capacity
• for serious injuries, general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity.

In addition, a close family member of a breadwinner who has died as a result of a bus accident can claim compensation for basic funeral expenses and loss of support.

What to do following a bus accident

The first concern is to get proper medical attention – for yourself and anyone else who has been injured.

If a crash has resulted in loss of life, it’s mandatory to call the police.

Beyond these initial priorities, it can strengthen a subsequent claim if you or someone you know is able to record evidence of what occurred.

For example, it’s useful to:

• take photographs of the accident scene and your injuries
• gather contact details of witnesses, including others involved in the accident
• ask police in attendance where you’ll be able to get the police report that’s filed.

It’s vital to keep medical reports and receipts. Retain these for all treatments you receive, immediately following the accident and subsequently.

Who may be liable for injuries due to a bus accident

In South Africa, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) is required to compensate road accident victims for injuries due to accidents that weren’t solely their fault. This includes compensation for people injured in bus accidents.

Depending on the nature of a case, various parties other than the RAF may also be liable.

For example, liable parties could include:

• a private bus company
• a public transportation agency
• the local government entity responsible for road safety and maintenance, if a pothole or other known road hazard caused the accident
• the bus manufacturer, in the case of a known mechanical defect.