Last Updated 28th November 2024. This guide offers information about lorry accident claims. We discuss who could be eligible to seek compensation after being injured in a road traffic accident involving a lorry. We will also look at the evidence that can be used to calculate a settlement in this kind of claim.
If you’re wondering how valuations are reached in compensation claims, then we have a section that could prove useful to you. Our guide will also explain what it means to be legally represented in a No Win No Fee capacity.
Please read the sections below to learn more. We also offer readers an immediate free assessment of eligibility for personal injury claims if they get in touch. You can access this service when you:
- Call 0800 408 7827.
- Contact us online.
- Use the Live Chat feature below.
Browse Our Guide
- Lorry Accident Claims – Are You Eligible To Claim?
- How Could A Lorry Accident Be Caused By Driver Negligence?
- Potential Compensation From A Traffic Accident Claim
- Evidence That Could Help With Lorry Accident Claims
- Use Our Panel Of No Win No Fee Road Traffic Accident Solicitors To Claim
- Learn More About Lorry Accident Claims
Lorry Accident Claims – Are You Eligible To Claim?
The eligibility criteria for making a personal injury claim after a lorry accident is as follows:
- You were owed a duty of care by another road user
- This duty of care was breached
- You sustained injuries in an accident caused by this breach.
Road users must operate in a way that does not harm themselves and others. They must not, for example, break any of the rules in The Road Traffic Act 1988 or Highway Code. All road users owe this duty of care to one another.
However, the hierarchy of road users means that those who have the capability to cause more harm (for example, lorry drivers) bear a greater responsibility to take more care and reduce the danger they pose to more vulnerable road users (for example, pedestrians).
We explore what evidence can support your claim in more detail below. Please speak to our team if you would like advice on lorry accident claims. If your case is valid, you could be connected with a No Win No Fee lawyer from our panel.
How Could A Lorry Accident Be Caused By Driver Negligence?
Lorry accident claims could be made after a range of accident circumstances. Below, we have included some examples:
- A lorry driver does not check their blind spot when turning and, as a result, knocks a cyclist from their bike when doing so. This causes the cyclist to sustain a broken nose and a broken rib.
- A lorry is involved in a rear-end collision because they failed to leave enough distance between themselves and the driver in front.
- A lorry driver fails to stop at a zebra crossing, and they hit a pedestrian as they are crossing. This causes a broken hip.
The specific circumstance of your lorry accident claim may differ. If you are unsure about the validity of your claim, speak to our team for free guidance on your options.
Potential Compensation From A Traffic Accident Claim
Two heads of damage can be awarded in a successful lorry accident claim. General damages consider the pain and suffering caused by the injuries. This can include physical and psychological pain and suffering.
Legal professionals can use medical evidence and compare it with brackets listed in a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). We have included some of these brackets in the table below for your reference:
| Area of Injury | Severity | Award Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Injuries plus Special Damages | Severe | Up to £1,000,000 or more |
| Back | Severe (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Moderate (i) | £27,760 to £38,780 | |
| Neck | Severe (i) | In the region of £181,020 |
| Moderate (i) | £30,500 to £46,970 | |
| Pelvis | Severe (iii) | £47,810 to £64,070 |
| Moderate (i) | £32,450 to £47.810 | |
| Wrist | (b) | £29,900 to £47,810 |
| Shoulder | Serious | £15,580 to £23,430 |
| Whiplash | For 18 - 24 months | £4,215 |
Our excerpt from the JCG above also includes two amounts specific to whiplash injury from the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. We discuss these more below.
Special Damages
The second head of damage compensates for the financial harm caused by the injuries. For example, you may be able to show:
- Loss of earnings.
- Medical costs.
- The need to pay for domestic care.
- Travel expenses.
Proof is an important aspect of claiming special damages. For example, you could produce invoices to show what you have paid for physiotherapy.
Claiming For Whiplash And Minor Injuries After A Road Traffic Collision
The Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 changed the claims method for whiplash and minor injuries valued at under £5,000. If you’re over 18 and a driver or a passenger in a car accident, your claim needs to be made differently. Furthermore, your injuries will be valued in line with the tariff from the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 and apply to all occupants inside a vehicle.
It’s important to note that these tariff amounts might still be applicable even if the claim is made in the usual way.
If you have questions about how settlements are reached in lorry accident claims, speak with our team today. You could be put in contact with a personal injury solicitor who can ensure that all areas of harm are fully considered in your claim.
Evidence That Could Help With Lorry Accident Claims
Evidence is a vital way to support lorry accident claims. For example, the following may help:
- CCTV and dashcam footage.
- A diary that details treatments needed and your mental state.
- Copies of supporting medical proof like X-rays and prescriptions.
- The contact details of witnesses who are willing to provide a supporting statement at a later date.
You may have other forms of proof that can strengthen your claim. For free guidance on evidence and an assessment of eligibility, speak to our advisors at the contact details above.
Use Our Panel Of No Win No Fee Road Traffic Accident Solicitors To Claim
We work with solicitors who offer their expert services under a form of a No Win No Fee agreement. They may offer a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) which typically means:
- The solicitor requires no upfront fees to start working with you and no fees as the claim progresses
- Should the claim fail, solicitors request no payment for work completed on your case.
- Your solicitor will deduct from any compensation for a successful lorry accident claim. The percentage they can take is capped by law, and the bulk of the award goes directly to the claimant.
If you would like to work with a member of our panel of solicitors, please get in touch. Our friendly team can offer an on-the-spot assessment to help. Simply:
- Call 0800 408 7827.
- Contact us online.
- Use the Live Chat feature below.
Learn More About Lorry Accident Claims
Below we have included several other resources from our website:
- How to sue for a cycling accident.
- Information if you were involved in a motorcycle accident.
- Read about how to sue an insurer for a car accident.
You may find these external links helpful as well:
- Advice for road users from road safety charity Think!
- Some road accident and safety statistics.
- NHS advice on when to call 999.
We hope that this guide on lorry accident claims has been useful. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.