Things to consider when you claim for a HGV accident

  • You have 3 years from the date of your injury to begin your claim - but acting quickly can strengthen your case.
  • The seriousness of your injury and your financial losses will determine your compensation. Use our calculator to see how much you can claim.
  • Supporting evidence, such as photos of the scene, dashcam footage, witness statements, and police reports, will help your claim succeed.
  • You can still claim claim if the other road user was uninsured or you don't have their details.
  • You could still be entitled to compensation, even if you were partly responsible.
  • Claiming is risk-free with no win, no fee.

Helping you claim compensation after a commercial vehicle accident

Accidents involving HGVs and lorries can cause severe, life-changing injuries due to their size and weight.

If you've been affected by a commercial vehicle accident, we can help. Whether you were the HGV driver, operator, another driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian, you may be entitled to compensation if someone else's negligence caused your injuries.

We can help you make a No Win, No Fee road injury claim with the support of a personal injury solicitor.

With nearly 700 HGV injuries every year, you are not alone

Injuries involving lorries and HGVs are a significant concern on UK roads, often leading to serious and sometimes fatal injuries due to the size and weight of these vehicles.

HGV accidents are often much more serious than incidents involving smaller vehicles. Collisions often occur after overtaking or changing lanes, and can involve several vehicles.

In 2019, 251 people were killed, 1,111 seriously injured and 4,172 slightly injured in road accidents involving HGVs. (RoSPA)

In 2023, there were 53 HGV occupant fatalities and 4,487 casualties (gov.uk).

Left-hand drive HGVs

There is an increased risk of injury (per vehicle mile travelled) from left-hand drive, foreign-registered HGVs due to the driver's reduced visibility and possible lack of familiarity with UK road systems.

RoSPA's figures show that left-hand drive HGVs are 3.4 times more likely to be involved in collisions than right-hand drive HGVs when overtaking or changing lanes.

7 people were killed, 32 seriously injured and 146 slightly injured in accidents with left hand drive HGVs.

If you decide to make a HGV accident claim, your road accident solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.

See also:

Car accident injury claims

How much compensation can I claim for an HGV accident?

The compensation you can claim for an accident involving a lorry or other HGV will be determined by:

  • the nature and severity of your injury,
  • the limitations your injury imposes on your daily life and work,
  • the financial losses or expenses you've faced because of the accident.

HGV accident injury compensation calculator

Find out how much compensation you could claim in just a few minutes. Check your legal eligibility and see if you qualify for a No Win, No Fee claim.

Updated February 2025 Compensation Calculator v3.1

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

Special damages will be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.

These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your HGV injury such as pain medication and physiotherapy.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Am I eligible for HGV injury compensation?

Yes, you can claim for an HGV accident, if:

  • you were injured in the last 3 years, and;
  • someone else was responsible, and;
  • they owed a duty of care to prevent harm.

Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.

What if I was partially at fault?

Personal injury claims where both the defendant and claimant share some responsibility are relatively common.

In our recent 2025 Road Injury Claimant Survey, 5.24% of injured road users thought they could be partially to blame for their accident.

When fault on both sides caused a claimant's injuries, this is called 'contributory negligence'. In these situations, compensation may still be payable on the basis of a split liability agreement.

Read more:

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

How long do I have to claim HGV injury compensation?

In most cases, you have up to 3 years from the date of your accident or injury to start a claim.

For an injured child, the three-year limitation period begins on their 18th birthday, giving them until they are 21 to start a claim.

Common causes of lorry and HGV accidents

Common causes of HGV accident claims include lane changes when a driver has failed to properly observe the presence of other road users, due to a blind spot.

Tiredness and being under the influence of alcohol or drugs can also increase the risk of HGV accidents occurring, and these factors may amount to negligence in the context of a claim.

Other causes of road traffic accident claims involving lorries include cases where drivers have failed to allow a safe breaking distance or the vehicle has been badly loaded.

Claiming against the lorry driver's employer

As a general road user

If you are a pedestrian or other road user, you may be able to make a claim against the employer of the lorry driver, due to the employer's vicarious liability. Your solicitor will be able to confirm the process, and will identify the defendant in your case, after reviewing the facts.

As an employee

If you were injured when driving an HGV in the course of your employment, you may be able to make a claim against your employer. Your employer may be negligent if they are responsible for the cause of the accident, such as requiring you to drive with an unstable load, without adequate rest between shifts, or where the accident is due to poor vehicle maintenance.

Proving liability

If you have not already done so, you should report the accident to police as soon as possible. This will help to create a verifiable record of what has happened.

There are several other ways to prove the accuracy of your account of events, including:

  • Obtaining the contact details of any witnesses. Witnesses can help to corroborate your version of events, and prove that someone else was at fault.
  • Taking photographs of the scene of the accident, if possible. If you are able to take photographs at the scene, they can be used as evidence in a claim for compensation.
  • Taking photographs of your injuries. These can be used by your solicitor in support of other medical evidence.

What if the driver was uninsured or untraceable?

If the driver responsible for the injury is either uninsured or untraceable, a claim can be pursued through the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB).

The MIB is an independent that pays road accident compensation to the victims of uninsured or untraced (unidentified) drivers.

See also:

Claiming compensation through the MIB

Average hgv accident compensation payouts

The following hgv accident payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).

These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.

Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).

Ankle injury

Example Amount
Minor fractures, sprains, and ligament injuries with full recovery Up to £15,250
A fracture or ligament injury with mild ongoing symptoms £15,250 to £29,500

Elbow injury

Example Amount
Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms Up to £3,920
Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms Up to £7,210

Knee injury

Example Amount
E.g. dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus, that could cause future symptoms or weakness, or that exacerbated an existing injury Up to £15,250
More serious knee injuries with a greater risk of future symptoms, pain and weakness £16,460 to £29,050
E.g. a leg fracture that extends to the knee joint, or injuries that cause constant pain and restricted movement, and/or a risk of osteoarthritis or future knee surgery £29,050 to £48,210

Leg injury

Example Amount
Simple fracture with full recovery Up to £13,140
Simple femur fracture with no damage to articular surfaces £10,110 to £15,620

Pelvis and hip injury

Example Amount
Injury with no residual disability and complete recovery in under 2 years £4,380 to £13,970
Ongoing symptoms but no major disability £13,970 to £43,460
Including fracture of acetabulum and injuries with a risk of future hip replacement surgery or leg instability £43,460 to £58,250

Whiplash

Example Amount
Up to £220
£220 to £1,200
£1,200 to £3,830

Wrist injury

Example Amount
Relatively minor soft tissue injury or displaced fracture, with a full recovery within 12 months £3,920 to £5,260
Uncomplicated Colles' fracture Around £8,250
Fracture or soft tissue injury with complete recovery £6,750 to £11,480

Understanding the psychological consequences of an accident on the road

Road accidents can be shocking, traumatic events, often leaving a psychological impact alongside physical injuries.

Our 2025 Road Injury Claimant Survey highlights how common psychiatric injuries are, with 32.47% of road accident claims involving psychological harm. 78.53% of these were also associated with a physical injury.

Injuries involving heavy goods vehicles can lead to severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and amaxophobia (fear of driving or being a passenger).

Your solicitor will help to ensure you recieve suitable compensation for the diagnosed psychological harm you have suffered, to support your recovery and provide funding for therapies that may not be accessible on the NHS your area.

Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.

How your HGV accident happened will impact your claim

The steps for claiming an HGV accident will depend on where and how it happened. Click the icons below to find out more.

Can I make a no win, no fee HGV accident injury claim?

Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim HGV accident injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.

Find out more about how no win, no fee claims work

Get expert advice now

Interested in talking to a road accident specialist about your claim?

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Jenny Jones, Senior litigator

Author:
Jenny Jones, Senior litigator