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Can I Claim For An Accident In A Work Van?
If you have been injured while in a work van, we can help you claim compensation.
We pride ourselves on offering access to justice and a quality compensation recovery service. To help us achieve that, we offer No Win No Fee agreements in all cases that we take on.
£85 million in compensation
Can I Claim For An Accident In A Work Van?
If you have been injured while in a work van, we can help you claim compensation.
We pride ourselves on offering access to justice and a quality compensation recovery service. To help us achieve that, we offer No Win No Fee agreements in all cases that we take on.
AS SEEN ON
Being involved in a road traffic accident is stressful enough, but when it happens in a work van, things can quickly become confusing. You may be left wondering who is responsible, whether your employer’s insurance applies, and if you’re even allowed to claim compensation at all. Many drivers worry that making a claim could affect their job or relationship with their employer, which often leads to unnecessary delays or missed opportunities to seek justice.
If you’ve been injured while driving a company vehicle, you may be entitled to make a work van accident claim. Whether the accident was caused by another road user, poor vehicle maintenance, unsafe working practices, or long working hours, the law is designed to protect employees and self-employed workers alike. In this guide, we explain how work van accident claims work, who can make a claim, and what steps you should take to maximise your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve.
Key Takeaways
- Work vans play a vital role in many industries, from delivery to construction.
- Work van accident claims can be made either against an employer or against a road user.
- Employers have a legal responsibility to keep work vans in a good state.
- The Whiplash Reform Programme may apply when your work van accident claim is being valued.
- If involved in a work van accident, you should report the incident to your employer as soon as possible.
Contact us for free today to have your personal injury claim reviewed by an advisor. They can clearly explain your options, and connect you with an accident at work solicitor:
- Call 0151 375 9916.
- Check our Contact Us page.
Can I Make A Work Van Accident Claim?
Yes, you can make a work van accident claim if you can prove that you were injured because either an employer or road user was negligent. Essentially, you will have to show that you meet these criteria:
- An employer or road user owed you a duty of care.
- They were negligent and breached this duty.
- You suffered an injury as a direct result of this breach.
Below, we break down exactly who a work van accident claim can be made against.
Claim Against Your Employer
Employers owe a duty of care to all of their employees, meaning that they are obliged to take reasonable steps to ensure that employees are safe while working. Some of these reasonable steps include:
- Regularly checking the maintenance of all workplace equipment.
- Repairing reported hazards as soon as is reasonably possible.
- Providing the correct training.
This duty of care is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1957.
Claim Against A Road User
All road users owe a duty of care to one another, meaning that they are obliged to follow the rules in The Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988 to ensure that everyone on the road is safe.
Some of these rules include:
- Not using a mobile phone at the wheel.
- Never driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Sticking to speed limits.
So, if you believe either an employer or road user was negligent and caused you to be injured while in a work van, please contact us today. Our advisors can chat to you and confirm for free whether you have an eligible work van accident claim.
What Are Some Examples Of Accidents Involving Work Vans?
Specific examples of accidents involving work vans include:
Examples Of Work Van Accident Claims Against The Employer
- Faulty equipment and lack of maintenance – a repair technician’s van has faulty brakes that the employer was aware of but neglected to fix, which leads to a collision and multiple serious injuries when the technician couldn’t brake.
- A worker is involved in a van accident after being required to work long hours without adequate rest breaks. Fatigue plays a significant role in the crash. If the employer failed to follow working time regulations, the injured driver may be entitled to make a work van accident claim based on unsafe working practices.
- Improper training – work van accidents can also happen in a non-collision incident such as accidents in the workplace. For example, a new driver is not properly trained on the van’s specific features and loading procedures, leading to a back injury when an employee uses an improper lifting technique when unloading during deliveries.
Examples Of Work Van Road Traffic Accident Claims
- Speeding – a speeding driver cannot brake in time for the standstill traffic ahead, leading to a rear-end collision with a work van.
- Failing to check mirrors and not paying due attention – a lorry on the motorway fails to check their mirrors before moving into the left lane, leading to a sideswipe collision with a work van.
- Drink driving – a drunk driver, due to their impaired judgement, drives through a set of red lights, which leads to a T-bone collision with a work van.
If your work van accident happened in a similar way to any of the examples above, please contact today to see whether you can begin claiming compensation.
What Compensation Could Be Awarded In Work Van Accident Claims?
In a work van accident claim, compensation can be awarded to address the physical, psychological, and financial suffering that has resulted from the injury. These are split into two heads of claim:
- General damages – the physical and psychological suffering, covering factors such as loss of quality of life, the pain severity, and the treatment that’s needed.
- Special damages – the financial suffering directly resulting from the injury.
General damages are calculated by comparing your medical records to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is a publication that contains guideline compensation ranges for a variety of injuries and illnesses.
We have included some injuries, and accompanying guideline compensation ranges, from the JCG in the table below. These are just some examples of what can possibly be suffered in a work van accident:
| Injury | Guideline compensation brackets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries + special damages | Up to £1,000,000+ | More than one serious injury sustained with financial losses like medication costs, loss of earnings, and travel expenses. |
| Brain damage | £344,150 to £493,000 | Very severe (a) – such as ‘locked-in’ syndrome with a significant life expectancy reduction. |
| £52,550 to £110,720 | Moderate (c)(iii) – problems with concentration and memory, with a reduced working ability. | |
| Back | £111,150 to £196,450 | Severe (a)(i) – severe damage to nerve roots and spinal cord leading to very serious consequences. |
| £33,880 to £47,320 | Moderate (b)(i) – such as a crush fracture of the lumbar vertebrae with constant discomfort and pain. | |
| Ankle | £61,090 to £85,070 | Very severe (a) – such as a bilateral fracture that leads to joint degeneration in a young person. |
| £16,770 to £32,450 | Moderate (c) – fractures and ligament damage causing less severe disabilities. | |
| Shoulder | £23,430 to £58,610 | Severe (a) – damage to the brachial plexus that causes significant disability. |
| £9,630 to £15,580 | Moderate (c) – soft tissue injuries that last 2+ years. |
Please keep in mind that none of these ranges can be guaranteed, as each work van accident claim is unique. Also, the top figure is not from the JCG.
How Will The Whiplash Reforms Impact A Work Van Accident Claim?
The Whiplash Reform Programme was introduced to change how claims valued at £5,000 or less were made. As part of these reforms the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021were also introduced to provide fixed tariffs for whiplash injury and minor mental health impacts.
When claims are valued at £5,000 or less they are made through a different avenue than a traditional road traffic accident claim. These reforms apply to drivers and passengers, of road accidents in England and Wales. It is vital to have your claim valued accurately in order to establish which is the correct route to proceed.
You can find out a lot more information about whiplash by speaking to our advisors today.
Can Work Van Injury Compensation Cover Special Damages?
Yes, work van injury compensation can cover special damages if financial evidence of the expenses, such as receipts, payslips, bank statements, and invoices, are presented.
Examples of financial losses that can be reimbursed in a successful work van accident claim include:
- Loss of earnings, if you needed time off work to recover from the injury.
- Medical costs, such as prescriptions.
- Travel expenses to medical appointments.
- Physiotherapy costs.
Special damages can potentially have a huge value, as your future financial losses are also taken into account (such as future loss of earnings).
Contact us today to find out how much work van accident compensation you could potentially be entitled to.
The Process For Bringing A Claim For A Work Van Accident
The process for bringing a work van accident claim involves immediate post-accident actions, gathering evidence, and speaking with a specialist solicitor.
- Seek medical attention immediately – get treatment and urgent medical care to ensure your wellbeing and recovery.
- Report the incident – ensure the incident is reported to the police and to your employer (so they can record the incident and also inform their insurance company), as soon as possible after the accident.
- Gather as much evidence as you can – photos of the accident location and hazard, photos of your visible injuries, CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident, copies of your medical records, contact details from witnesses, and copies of the reports you made.
- Track how your injury is affecting you – keep a log of your day-to-day symptoms and treatment, and evidence of the money you’re losing as a result of the injury (such as medication and travel costs).
- Speak with a specialist solicitor – a personal injury solicitor, such as the ones that work with us at JF Law, can help you claim compensation and guide you through the work van accident claims from start to finish, doing all of the hard legal work for you while you focus on recovery.
- Be aware of the time limit – if you are aged 18+ and fully mentally capacitated, ensure that you speak with a specialist solicitor and begin a claim within 3 years of your work van accident, as per the time limit in the Limitation Act 1980.
To begin the work van accident claims process with one of our solicitors, please contact us today.
We pride ourselves
on providing the best service
possible for our clients.
We pride ourselves on providing the best service possible for our clients.
No Win No Fee Work Van Accident Claims With JF Law
Our solicitors at JF Law offer No Win No Fee agreements (specifically Conditional Fee Agreements) for work van accident claims, meaning you pay no upfront solicitor fees, no solicitor fees during the claims process, and no solicitor fees if the claim is unsuccessful.
If successful with your claim, your solicitor can take a small percentage (a ‘success fee’) from your compensation, which is capped by law.
On a No Win No Fee basis, our solicitors can do the following work for you:
- Collect dashcam footage, police reports, medical records, and other evidence to present your case.
- Negotiate for the highest work van accident compensation amount possible using their years of experience.
- Communicate with your employer, or any other parties, on your behalf.
- Present your case in court if required (don’t worry – most accident at work claims are settled out of court, so this is unlikely).
- Explain legal jargon and send you updates all throughout the claims process.
So, if you would like this help and guidance to make a work van accident claim, please contact us today
Contact Our Solicitors
Contact us today to see whether you can connect with our specialist No Win No Fee solicitors to help you make a work van accident claim. All accidents can be horrible, and you shouldn’t have to face the aftermath alone with no guidance. Our lines are open 24/7:
- Call 0151 375 9916.
- Check our Contact Us page.
Learn More
To learn more about personal injury claims, please browse our similar guides:
- How to claim against an uninsured driver.
- How to claim against a hit and run driver.
- Learn more about your employee rights after an accident.
Additionally, you may find this information helpful:
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – how an employer can manage risks at work.
- Gov.UK – how to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for time off work.
- NHS – access their online 111 service.
We hope that after reading this guide, you now feel confident in starting a work van accident claim guide. Please remember that our advisors work 24/7. So, they can answer any questions you have at all at any time for free.
Contact Us
Our helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
All calls are free and there’s no pressure whatsoever to proceed with a compensation claim.
If you write to us, we aim to respond within an hour or two, and no more than a few hours.
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