QUICK ANSWER
If you were injured in a collision with a lorry, HGV or van in Scotland, you can claim against the driver and, in most cases, the business that employs them or operates the vehicle, whose insurer pays the claim. Tachograph, telematics and camera data often show exactly what happened. Compensation ranges from £1,000 for minor whiplash to £150,000+ for serious injuries, and more for life-changing injuries, plus lost earnings. You have 3 years to claim. Scottish Claims Helpline works on a no win no fee basis — complete the short form for a free, no obligation assessment.
Hit by a Lorry or Van? The Claim Is Against the Operator.
A fully laden HGV can weigh many times more than a car, so even a low-speed collision can cause serious injuries — and for cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians the consequences are often life-changing. The good news for your claim is that commercial vehicles come with a paper trail. Most lorries and vans are driven by someone working for a haulage firm, courier or other business, and an employer is legally responsible for the negligence of its drivers while they are working. That means your claim is usually against the operator's insurer, which is well able to pay.
Scottish Claims Helpline connects you with specialist Scottish solicitors who handle large vehicle claims on a no win no fee basis, so you pay nothing unless your claim succeeds.
Common Causes of Lorry and Van Accidents
- Blind spots and left turns. Large vehicles turning left at junctions are a leading cause of serious injuries to cyclists and pedestrians alongside them.
- Driver fatigue. HGV drivers are subject to strict drivers' hours rules, recorded on the tachograph. Breaches are strong evidence of fault.
- Unsafe or overloaded vehicles. Operators must keep their vehicles roadworthy. Brake failures, tyre blowouts and loads that shift or fall are often traced back to missed maintenance.
- Delivery pressure. Van drivers working to tight delivery schedules may speed, use phones or stop in dangerous places.
- Lane changes and overtaking on motorways and dual carriageways where the driver failed to check mirrors.
The Evidence in Large Vehicle Claims
Commercial vehicles often carry far more evidence than private cars. Tachograph records show a driver's speed, driving time and breaks. Many fleets also fit telematics, forward- and side-facing cameras, and blind-spot sensors. Operators must keep maintenance and inspection records for their vehicles. Your solicitor can ask for this material to be preserved and disclosed, alongside police reports, witness accounts and your own dashcam footage. If the lorry was registered abroad, the Motor Insurers' Bureau can help identify the insurer, so a foreign vehicle does not prevent a claim.
How Much Could You Receive?
Collisions with large vehicles are valued in the same way as any road traffic claim in Scotland, but the injuries tend to be more serious.
| Injury Type |
Typical Award |
| Minor whiplash — resolves within 3 months | £1,000 – £3,000 |
| Moderate soft tissue injuries — 3–12 months | £3,000 – £6,000 |
| Significant injuries — lasting 1–2 years | £6,000 – £10,000 |
| Simple fractures (wrist, ankle, ribs) | £5,000 – £12,000 |
| Complex fractures requiring surgery | £12,000 – £20,000+ |
| Serious injuries (head, spinal, multiple fractures) | £20,000 – £150,000+ |
| Catastrophic injuries (brain, spinal cord, amputation) | £150,000 – £1,000,000+ |
Based on the Judicial College Guidelines as applied in Scotland. Solatium (pain, suffering and loss of amenity) only — special damages are additional.
That's not all. The figures above cover the injury itself. Your settlement also includes special damages: lost earnings now and in the future, care and rehabilitation, treatment costs, travel to appointments, and vehicle repair or replacement costs. In serious lorry collisions, future losses and care are often the largest part of the claim, and interim payments can be sought while it is ongoing.
Who Can Claim?
Car drivers and passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians hit by a lorry or van can all claim. If you were driving a van or lorry for work and another driver caused the crash, you can claim against them; if your own vehicle was unsafe or you were pushed into breaking drivers' hours rules, you may also have a claim against your employer — see accident at work claims. If the driver who hit you drove off or had no insurance, see hit and run and uninsured driver claims.
Van and HGV Claims — Frequently Asked Questions
Usually the insurer of the business that employs the driver or operates the vehicle. An employer is legally responsible for the negligence of its drivers while they are working, so the claim is against the operator's insurance rather than the driver personally.
You can still claim. A self-employed driver must have their own insurance, and for foreign-registered lorries the Motor Insurers' Bureau can help identify the insurer so the claim can proceed in the UK.
Commercial vehicles often carry tachograph records showing speed, driving time and breaks, telematics data, forward- and side-facing cameras and maintenance records. Your solicitor can ask for this to be preserved and disclosed, alongside police reports, witness accounts and dashcam footage.
Compensation ranges from around £1,000 for minor whiplash to £150,000 or more for serious injuries, and over £1,000,000 for catastrophic injuries such as brain or spinal cord injuries. Lost earnings, care and treatment costs are added on top.
Yes. Large vehicles turning left at junctions are a leading cause of serious cycling injuries. The lorry driver must check for cyclists and pedestrians alongside before turning, and a failure to do so is strong evidence of fault.
You have 3 years from the date of the accident to claim under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. Tachograph and camera data can be overwritten, so it is important to start promptly.
How Do I Start My Claim?
Contact Scottish Claims Helpline for a free, no obligation assessment. We will review the collision, identify the operator and its insurer, and connect you with a specialist Scottish solicitor who handles road traffic claims on a no win no fee basis. It takes 2 minutes and you pay nothing unless your claim succeeds.
About this page: Written by
David Gildea, Claims Manager and qualified Scottish paralegal at Scottish Claims Helpline. Last reviewed: September 2026. Scottish Claims Helpline is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (
FRN 830381).