Road Accidents and HGVs

In 2003 there were 28,864 road accidents where at least one of the vehicles was a van or truck.  These accidents resulted in 9,958 van or truck drivers suffering serious personal injury and tragically 1,119 fatalities.

These accidents involve professional drivers and because of this the process of claiming road accident compensation can be very complex.  For instance, in the more complex cases the employer of the driver can be held liable for the accident.  This is due to the fact that the driver and other road users have certain road safety rights for which the employer can be held responsible.  This means that in certain cases two area of compensation law merge – accident compensation and compensation for work related accidents.

An employer has an obligation to carry out regular safety checks on the vehicle and to maintain it to a certain standard.  It is also essential that they are aware of any relevant medical issues which may affect their driver’s ability to carry out their work safely.

The employer also has an obligation to perform regular vehicle safety checks, monitor weather conditions and to drive safely and appropriately.

If you have been involved in a car accident involving a van or truck which was not your fault you may be entitled to make a personal injury claim.  You should seek the advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer.