Lorry Accident Claims: A Complete Guide to Workplace-Related Lorry Accident Claims
Working with or around lorries can be dangerous, especially when proper safety measures aren’t followed. Accidents involving lorries often result in serious, sometimes life-changing injuries. Whether you’re a lorry driver, a delivery worker, or someone working near large vehicles, these incidents can lead to long recovery times, financial strain, and emotional distress.
If you’ve been injured in a workplace lorry accident caused by negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries and the impact they’ve had on your life. This guide will explain how lorry accident claims work, what you can claim for, and how our expert team can help you through the process.
What is a Lorry Accident Claim?
A lorry accident claim arises when a person is injured in an incident involving a lorry while at work. Whether you were driving the lorry, loading or unloading it, or working nearby, you have the right to seek compensation if someone else’s negligence contributed to your injuries.
For example:
- A lorry driver suffers back injuries and broken ribs in a collision caused by faulty brakes.
- A warehouse worker is struck by a reversing lorry due to poor visibility and lack of safety marshals.
- A delivery driver sustains a head injury and dislocated shoulder after falling from a lorry without proper access steps or safety rails.
Rather than making separate claims for each injury or issue, your solicitor will handle everything as one complete legal case, taking into account how the accident has affected your health, income, and daily life.
How to Make a Lorry Accident Claim
Starting a claim after a serious accident can feel overwhelming, especially while you’re recovering. That’s why we’ve made the process clear and manageable:
Step 1: Book a Free Consultation
Get in touch with our team for a free, no-obligation chat. We’ll listen to your situation, assess whether you have a valid claim, and explain your options moving forward.
Step 2: Collect Key Information
To build a strong case, we’ll need:
- How, when, and where the accident happened
- Details of your job and working environment
- Medical records and evidence of your injuries
- Photos of the scene (if available) and official accident reports
- Your employer’s health and safety procedures (or failings)
- Witness statements (if possible)
- Evidence of financial losses, such as lost income or medical bills
Once we’ve gathered the evidence, a solicitor with experience in lorry and workplace accident claims will manage your case on your behalf.
What If Your Employer Denies Liability or Has No Insurance?
If your employer disputes responsibility or doesn’t have insurance, that doesn’t mean your claim is over. Your solicitor can:
- Investigate who was at fault and whether safety procedures were followed
- Check if your employer had valid insurance at the time of the accident
- Collect supporting evidence, including witness statements and medical records
- Take legal action through the courts if necessary
Comprehensive records — like incident reports, hospital records, employment details, and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) complaints — can greatly strengthen your case.
Who Can Make a Lorry Accident Claim?
You may be entitled to claim compensation if your injuries were caused by:
- Faulty or poorly maintained lorries or equipment
- Unsafe loading and unloading areas
- Inadequate driver training
- Poor visibility, signage, or traffic management on site
- Falling loads or improperly secured cargo
- Lack of protective equipment (like hi-vis clothing or helmets)
- Breaches of HSE transport safety regulations
Claims can be made by:
- Full-time and part-time lorry drivers
- Self-employed or agency drivers
- Delivery drivers and warehouse staff
- Construction workers operating around site vehicles
- Former employees (if injuries emerged later as a result of previous incidents)
If negligence or unsafe practices contributed to the accident, you could have a valid claim.
What Can You Claim for in a Lorry Accident Case?
The value of your claim depends on how serious your injuries are, how they affect your life, and your long-term prospects. A successful claim can cover:
- Medical expenses — Ambulance costs, hospital care, surgery, medication, and physiotherapy
- Lost earnings — For time off work now and in the future if you can’t return
- Pain and suffering — Physical pain, emotional trauma, and psychological distress
- Care costs — If you need help with daily tasks, personal care, or mobility
- Travel expenses — Costs for hospital trips, appointments, and specialist visits
- Home adaptations — Ramps, stairlifts, or accessible bathrooms for long-term injuries
- Vehicle modifications — If your injuries require mobility changes
- Loss of future earnings — If your ability to work or earn has been permanently affected
Your solicitor will ensure all your financial, physical, and emotional losses are fully accounted for.
Can You Claim on Behalf of a Family Member?
Yes — if a loved one has been injured in a lorry accident at work and can’t claim for themselves, you may be able to act on their behalf. This applies if they are:
- Under 18
- Mentally or physically incapacitated
- Tragically passed away because of their injuries
Family members can also claim dependency or bereavement compensation if the accident was fatal.
How Long Does a Lorry Accident Claim Take?
The time it takes to settle a claim depends on several factors:
- Whether the employer accepts responsibility
- The severity and complexity of the injuries
- How long recovery and rehabilitation are expected to take
- Whether there are disputes about evidence, liability, or compensation amounts
Simple claims with clear evidence may settle within a few months. More serious, complex, or disputed cases — especially those involving life-changing injuries — may take a year or more, particularly while awaiting medical reports and future care plans.
We’ll keep you updated at every stage and handle everything on your behalf.
Are Lorry Accident Claims More Complicated Than Other Cases?
They can be — lorry accident claims often involve:
- Serious, multiple, or life-changing injuries
- Employer liability for vehicle maintenance, driver safety, and site management
- Long-term care, disability, and loss of earnings
- HSE transport safety breaches
- Legal and medical complexities around road and workplace safety
This is why it’s important to work with solicitors experienced in handling workplace lorry accident claims and serious injury cases.
We’re Here to Support You
A lorry accident can turn your life upside down — physically, emotionally, and financially. But you don’t have to face it alone.
Our specialist solicitors are here to:
- Support you through every stage of your claim
- Help you access medical care, financial support, and rehabilitation
- Fight for the maximum compensation you deserve
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation — and take the first step towards justice, recovery, and peace of mind.