Lorry & HGV Accident Solicitors

Lorry/HGV Accident Injury Compensation Claims Solicitors

PSR solicitors can help if you’ve been injured in an HGV accident that was caused by the negligence of someone else, be that your employer or the driver of the HGV. We understand that HGV accidents can often result in serious injuries with long-lasting implications.

We have an impressive track record of receiving the highest amount of compensation possible for our clients. This is down to our commitment to giving you the best service by only using fully qualified solicitors for your compensation claim – which is not necessarily true with other injury claims firms. This means we can build a strong case to achieve a successful outcome. You get peace of mind that any personal or financial losses are covered so you'll be able to move on with confidence.

About lorry/HGV accidents

Driving large heavy goods vehicles can involve safety risks and employers have a duty of care to protect lorry drivers and other logistics and haulage workers. According to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, the employer has to carry out risk assessments to reduce the dangers associated with driving and working with heavy goods vehicles.

This duty of care extends to drivers out on the road (where a lorry or HGV can be classed as a place of work as well as a piece of equipment) and to those delivering to their premises and the loading and unloading of trailers.  Adhering to Health and Safety best practices should mitigate the risks and help avoid any potential accidents, but sometimes, unfortunately, things go wrong. If you’ve been involved in an accident involving a lorry or HGV you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

What should I do if I’m involved in an HGV accident?

An HGV accident is always stressful, and you may not be able to focus on the correct procedure for dealing with it if you’re injured or in shock. Nonetheless, it’s worth doing your best to gather as much information at the time of the accident as you can. The more detailed information you have, the better chance you have of making a robust case which will lead to a successful claim.

• Things you can do to bolster your claim include:
• Swapping details with the HGV driver
• Photographing/videoing the scene of the accident
• Asking for any witnesses at the scene and getting their details
• Asking for a copy of any dashcam footage
• Reporting the accident to the emergency services
• Visiting A&E to have any minor injuries assessed

Taking any of these steps as soon as possible gives you proof of liability which could help improve your chance of being compensated. In addition, your medical records will help prove the extent of your injuries which is essential when assessing your claim.

How much compensation can I claim?

The amount of compensation that you can claim is based mainly on the level of physical and psychological suffering you endured as a result of the accident. The long-term impact, including ongoing medical treatment, loss of income and increased expenses, will be considered. It’s not possible to determine exactly how much compensation you could receive until after your case has been reviewed. Talk to our specialist solicitors today and we can advise on whether you potentially have a viable case.

How do HGV accidents happen?

Accidents with lorries/HGVs don’t just happen. Due to the risks involved with HGVs, there are strict health and safety regulations in place and both employees and employers are responsible for ensuring these are adhered to.

Driving an HGV is a dangerous job. It requires excellent driving skills, full training, strong awareness of your surroundings and fast reactions. Even if you have the right qualities and training there are additional factors that increase the risks involved.

These include:

• Tiredness and distractions that can result in bad driving
• Poor or inadequate transport routes
• Failure to report/repair mechanical issues
• Actions by other road users – which can be impossible to predict sometimes
• Complacency in health and safety procedures resulting in risks being taken by drivers and employers at haulage depots.

When risks are heightened due to negligence this might result in:

• Collisions with other road traffic
• Part of or the whole of an inadequately secured load falling
• Trips or falls when working at heights without proper safety equipment
• Accidents when manoeuvring the HGV in the depot.

The resulting injuries could be relatively minor to catastrophic. Even minor injuries can result in loss of income or increased medical bills which is why it’s important to find out if you may be eligible for financial damages.

Your questions answered

Why use a personal injury solicitor?

It’s possible to claim by yourself but you must understand that if you do so you will have to deal with the insurance company who will attempt to limit the amount of compensation as much as possible. A specialist injury claims compensation solicitor can shield you from the insurer’s questions and deal with the complex, technical legal questioning. We can keep you well-informed and up to date on the progress of your claim.

If the compensation offered seems too low, we won’t settle and will fight to secure the maximum available. PSR Solicitors uses qualified solicitors which is not always the case with other injury claims firms. This has resulted in a proven track record of securing the highest possible amount for our clients.

If you’ve been involved in a lorry/HGV accident in the last 3 years and someone else was responsible you may be eligible to claim compensation. The first step is to contact our personal injury team and let us know the details of the accident and any injuries you suffered as a result.

We offer our services No Win No Fee, which means there’s no financial risk to you. If your claim is unsuccessful, our No Win No Fee Solicitors will not make you pay legal costs.

You shouldn’t have to cope alone after an HGV accident. Our friendly, expert team can help you claim what you’re due and help with claiming any other benefits you may be entitled to. If your claim is successful, we’ll advise on how to protect your money to best support you and your family long-term.