Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers — Scotland

Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Commercial vehicle accident claims

Involvement in a road traffic accident can be traumatic and stressful for you and your loved ones, especially if it wasn’t your fault. You may be driving a commercial vehicle like a truck or a lorry and suffer a collision which could entitle you to a replacement hire vehicle or even compensation.

Through our supply partners, Watermans can organise a replacement lorry or truck hire and recover the hire costs directly from the at-fault party’s insurance company on your behalf.

Because we deal with the at-fault party’s insurer directly, there is an alternative to a claim on your own insurance policy and so your No Claims Discount should remain intact.

You may also be suffering from injuries as a result of your accident, and find yourself out of work and experiencing a loss of earnings. This means you may be eligible to seek compensation for your financial losses following the accident.

At Watermans, our road traffic accident solicitors are here to offer straightforward legal advice to help you to seek the resolution that you deserve.

Causes of commercial vehicle accidents

Here are some of the main causes of commercial vehicle accidents:

• Driver error – The most common cause, including distracted driving, fatigue or poor decision-making. An experienced commercial vehicle accident attorney can help determine if driver error played a role in your case.
• Inadequate maintenance – Poorly maintained vehicles can lead to mechanical failures, causing a serious accident on the road.
• Overloading – Exceeding weight limits can affect a vehicle’s handling and braking, increasing the risk of a crash and the probability of a truck accident case.
• Weather conditions – Rain, snow or ice can make roads treacherous, especially for larger vehicles.
• Road design issues – Poor signage, inadequate lighting or badly designed intersections can contribute to truck accidents.
• Other drivers – Sometimes, the actions of passenger vehicles around commercial vehicles can lead to car accidents involving trucks.

These factors can lead to different outcomes, from a minor-injury accident to cases involving traumatic brain injuries or even fatalities. In some truck accident cases, victims may face long-term effects.

If you’re seeking truck accident compensation for a more serious injury, we can help you build a strong claim.

What Counts as a Commercial Vehicle?

Commercial vehicle accidents often involve more complex legal and insurance issues than typical car accidents. These cases are challenging due to the sheer size and weight of the vehicles involved, the potential for greater injuries, and the number of parties that may be held liable.

For example, in a truck accident lawsuit, you might be dealing not just with the driver, but also with the trucking company, vehicle manufacturers, or even cargo loaders. This is why it’s important to work with an experienced commercial vehicle accident lawyer who understands the nuances of commercial vehicle crash cases.

Let’s break down the key information you need to know about these accidents.

Types of commercial vehicles

Here are some of the common types of vehicles involved in these incidents: 

• Large commercial vehicles – This includes semi-trucks, commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and other heavy goods vehicles used for long- or short-distance transportation.
• Delivery trucks – These are smaller vehicles used for deliveries. They’re often seen making frequent stops in urban areas and can experience truck accidents through negligence.
• Buses – Commercial buses include public transportation buses, school buses, charter buses or other large passenger vehicles. Bus accidents often lead to serious injuries or wrongful death for the driver — for which you can pursue a claim.
• Cars used for commercial purposes – While we often think of larger vehicles in commercial accidents, cars can also be considered commercial vehicles when used for business. This includes taxis, rideshare vehicles and company cars. These road accidents may require our specialised car accident lawyers to handle the legal intricacies.

Making a Claim

How do I make a commercial vehicle accident claim?

If you have been involved in a collision in your truck or lorry, and it wasn’t your fault, you are entitled to make a claim.

These are some of the steps you’ll need to follow to file a lorry or truck accident claim:  

• Contact a personal injury lawyer – Reach out to our experienced legal team who specialise in commercial vehicle road accidents. We’ll guide you through the legal process and protect your rights.
• Gather evidence – An experienced lawyer on our team will help you collect all the relevant information, including photos of the accident scene, medical records, and police reports.
• Identify at-fault parties – We’ll help determine who may be liable for the accident. This may be the driver, the trucking company, or even vehicle manufacturers.
• Submit the claim – Our lorry and truck accident lawyers will submit the necessary paperwork to initiate your claim within the required timeframe.
• Arrange vehicle repairs and replacement – Watermans helps thousands of road users every year by arranging quality accident repairs and hire vehicles including lorries and trucks. Our commercial vehicle accident attorneys will discuss your requirements and do our very best to source the size and type of lorry or truck you need.
• Seek compensation for injuries and losses – Apart from damage to your vehicle, you may have also suffered injuries in the collision, and could be entitled to financial compensation to cover the costs of your medical expenses and loss of earnings. We will help you secure maximum compensation.

At Watermans, we understand that making a claim can seem like a daunting task, but that is where we come in. We are here to help you and offer straightforward legal advice to guide you through the claims process.

Remember, we are here to take the hassle out of the legal side of things for you and seek the resolution that you deserve for your suffering. Speak to one of our expert road traffic accident solicitors today.

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How Much Compensation?

How much compensation can I claim for a commercial vehicle accident?

Compensation for commercial vehicle accidents in Scotland are awarded on a case-by-case basis. The amount you could receive depends on the severity of your injuries, as well as other factors, like loss of wages.

You may be able to claim substantial compensation for:

• Medical bills – This covers the cost of your immediate treatment and any ongoing care needed. An experienced truck accident lawyer on our team will also ensure that all your future medical expenses are considered.
• Lost wages – If the injuries sustained prevent you from working, you can claim for lost income. This includes both current and potential future earnings if your ability to work is permanently affected.
• Physical pain and suffering – Compensation can be awarded for the pain you’ve endured due to the accident. This amount typically depends on the severity and duration of your pain.
• Emotional trauma – Accidents can have a huge psychological impact. You may be compensated for anxiety, depression or PTSD resulting from the incident.
• Property damage – This covers the repairs or replacement of your vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the accident.

Our personal injury lawyers fully investigate each case and negotiate with insurance adjusters to make sure that we get the maximum amount of compensation possible for you.

Why Watermans?

Why should I choose Watermans to pursue my personal injury claim?

Watermans makes legal services look and feel easy so people can move forward in life.

Watermans is your modern personal injury law firm in Scotland. Our expert team is committed to doing everything to make the claims process straightforward for our clients following an accident.

We take the hassle from you and fight each case to secure the maximum level of compensation. We also provide access to a range of additional services, such as physiotherapy and psychological treatment to ensure you recover from your injuries as soon as possible and get your life back on track.

Trusted Personal Injury Solicitors in Scotland

Our expertise in personal injury covers a wide range of areas, including:

• Accidents at work
• Public liability claims
• Road traffic accidents
• Fatal and serious injury claims
• Cases relating to abuse

We represent thousands of clients throughout Scotland each year, securing millions of pounds in compensation for our clients. Our truck and lorry accident solicitors work on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means that if your claim is unsuccessful, you won’t end up out of pocket.