04 Sep, 2023/ by National Accident Helpline /News
Collisions with other road users
Road traffic accidents with other vehicles are a common cause of delivery driver accidents and injuries. Delivery drivers using motorcycles or bicycles are particularly at risk from these accidents.. A common cause of collisions with other road users can be due to defective road surfaces, for example, the presence of potholes.
Accidents involving pedestrians
Delivery drivers can have accidents involving pedestrians. This can occur due to the nature of the job where delivery drivers are in a hurry and regularly stop off to deliver packages, often at busy roadsides.
Falls from bicycle or motorcycle
It is very common for delivery drivers using a bicycle or motorcycle to experience an accident and injury due to falling from their vehicle. Vehicles can also turn over while you are driving because the goods you are carrying are not stacked or secured correctly.
Manual handling accidents
Delivery drivers often have to carry heavy packages and deliver these in a tight timeframe. Therefore many delivery drivers accidents and injuries are as a result of manual handling. For example, when loading and unloading heavy goods.
Manual handling accidents can be due to employers not ensuring safety precautions are in place. This includes, for example, training delivery drivers on how to handle heavy loads. Where employers do not take precautions, they are not carrying out their legal duty of care towards you, which means you could make a compensation claim if injured in an accident.
Warehouse and loading site accidents
Delivery drivers are susceptible to accidents and injuries in warehouses and loading sites where they go back and forth for various deliveries. For example, if parcels and loads are not stacked correctly, they can be hit by them falling.
Slips, trips or falls
Delivery drivers are at a great risk of suffering an injury from slips, trips and falls. This is because you often have to stop off and are in a hurry. This type of accident often happens in public, such as on a pavement or road, so you may be able to claim against your local council. Slips, trips and falls can also occur due to unsafe paving in private driveways, at properties where deliveries are being made.
Accidents involving moving vehicles
When you unload goods as a delivery driver it is possible that you can have an accident where you are hit by another car in the process, or perhaps by a warehouse or loading vehicle such as a forklift. As a delivery driver, you may make many deliveries in a shift, so the chances of this occurring are high.
Common delivery driver injuries
There are a variety of common delivery injuries which can occur for delivery drivers. These include:
- minor to serious back injuries due to manual handling
- minor to serious shoulder injuries due to manual handling
- repetitive strain injuries
- neck injuries
- whiplash
- serious arm injuries
- complicated leg fractures
- serious crushing injuries
Who is responsible for a delivery driver accident?
You may wonder who is responsible for a delivery driver accident. This can vary, but your personal injury solicitor will be able to tell you.
Where the delivery driver uses his or her vehicle or is a self-employed driver, the delivery driver is responsible, alongside their motor insurance company. However, it is not always the delivery driver who is responsible. Where the delivery driver uses a vehicle that their employer owns or leases, where the delivery driver is at fault, the employer is responsible. Employers have a legal duty to take care of your health and safety which includes:
- giving you the right safety equipment
- making sure the right amount of workers lift heavy goods
- carrying out risk assessments
- training you on how to correctly handle goods.
Other road users may also be responsible for delivery drivers' accidents where they behave negligently with their vehicles.
What to do if you have an accident as a delivery driver?
If you suffer the unfortunate experience of an accident as a delivery driver, you are potentially owed compensation. Therefore, in addition to seeking immediate medical advice, if you have an accident as a delivery driver, there are other things you should do. These include:
- keep any documentation about the accident
- take photos of the accident
- take photos of damage to to you and your vehicle
- take witness details
Could you claim for a delivery driver accident?
Where your delivery driver accident was not your fault you may be able to make a compensation claim. Your delivery driver's accident may be a result of another's negligence, such as your employer's failure to carry out their legal duty to keep you safe at work.
For example, you may be able to make a road traffic accident claim. Injuries due to road traffic accidents can be incredibly serious and potentially life-changing so it is essential you make a compensation claim. Making a compensation claim can help you make adjustments that are needed for your life going forward and help in terms of wages lost when you are unable to continue as a delivery driver.
How do I make a claim?
At National Accident Helpline, we can help you make a claim for your delivery driver accident and get the compensation that you deserve.
You have likely experienced much stress since your delivery driver accident, and we have no intention of adding to that. Firstly, our friendly and attentive advisors patiently listen to how your delivery driver accident occurred. They will then pass all the details to our team of experienced specialist solicitors who will complete your compensation claim.
You can even make your compensation claim for your delivery driver accident with us on a no-win no no-fee basis. Making a no-win no-fee compensation claim means that when you are not sure whether the accident was your fault, you risk nothing if you lose.
Let National Accident Helpline help you with your delivery driver accident claim. Call today. Alternatively, if it's easier, you can request a call back here or begin your claim online.
Last updated 04.09.2023