Driving is a risky business. Poor weather conditions, fatigue, other drivers, mechanical failure - there are any number of risks that the average driver will encounter over the course of a lifetime. Given the hours that they will spend on the road, these risks are even greater for commercial drivers.
If you are employed as a commercial driver, you can take some comfort from the fact that the usual health and safety rules will apply to you. Your employer must take all reasonably practicable measures – such as enforcing rest periods and maintenance schedules – to keep you safe on the road.
If your employer fails to do this, and you are injured as a result, then you may be able to claim compensation for your injuries.
I'm self-employed, can I make a claim?
If you are self-employed, you will be responsible for your own safety at work. Does this leave you unprotected if an accident occurs? Not necessarily, as you may be entitled to compensation in the following situations:
- If the accident was the fault of another driver then you should be able to claim compensation from him or his insurance company. See our road traffic accident section for more details.
- If the accident was caused by a mechanical failure, you might be able to take action against your maintenance company, or the manufacturer.
- If the accident occurred while you were visiting a site – for example, making a delivery to a warehouse – you might have a claim against the site owner or controller. Health and safety legislation does not only protect employees, but extends that protection to people who may be visiting business premises rather than working there.
It is a complicated area and expert advice is essential.
Driving for work - accident statistics
Of all 2,432 vehicles involved in fatal accidents reported by the Department of Transport in 2020, there are a number that were likely to have been being driven for work-related purposes, including:
- Heavy Goods Vehicles (209)
- Light Goods Vehicles (176)
- Buses or coaches (33)
- Agricultural vehicles (27)
- Taxis and Private Hire cars (25)
- Minibuses (6)
Compensation with Thompsons
If you have been injured in a workplace accident and are not sure whether you have grounds to claim compensation, why not give us a call on 0800 0891331 and talk things over for free with one of our work injury experts. Each week we secure around £1 million in compensation for our clients.
We have a no win no fee package available if you wish to take things further – this means you can move forward with your claim without incurring any financial risk. Call us today and we can discuss your circumstances - there is no obligation to proceed.