What happens if I’m injured on public transport?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates that over 544,000 Australians take public transport to work daily. With the recent rise in fuel prices, public transport is becoming the main choice of travel for commuters. We’ve seen some great incentives from state governments with Queensland leading the way with their “50 cent fares” initiative, which permanently reduced public transport fees to a flat rate of 50 cents a day across their Translink network.

Victoria followed suit in early 2026 when the Victorian Government announced free public transport between 31 March to 31 May 2026, followed by half price travel from 1 June 2026 until 1 January 2027. While it’s a good thing for our pockets as well as the climate for us to be taking public transport, more people on trains, buses and trams, means more chances of injuries on public transport.

What are common types of public transport injuries?

There are different types of injuries that can happen on public transport, such as:

• Slip, trips and falls: falling over on a bus, train or train carriage, uneven platforms, boarding gaps between platforms
• Crash injuries: getting hit by a bus or being on a tram that collides with another vehicle
• Overcrowding injuries
• Sudden braking or acceleration which causes you to fall

These injuries can lead to physical injuries like bone fractures or soft tissue injuries, as well as psychological injuries like anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Regardless of who was at fault, these injuries can have a significant impact on a person’s’s life and may make their daily commutes more daunting moving forward.

How does the TAC help with public transport injuries?

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) is Victoria’s government body for managing compensation claims that happen on public transport. As part of their no-fault scheme, injured persons are entitled may be entitled to various benefits, including:

• Medical and hospital expenses;
• Income payments if you’re not able to return to work; and
• Impairment benefit in the form of lump sum compensation.

Depending on the severity of your injuries and the negligence of the person or driver at fault, you may also be entitled to a larger lump sum compensation as part of a common law negligence claim.

Learn more about common law claims.