Company vehicle accident claims

Yes, an employee hurt in a company vehicle, or as a passenger on a work errand, can claim in the same way as anyone else on the road. The at-fault driver’s insurer pays a valid injury claim, whichever vehicle you happened to be in at the time.^[1]

Say you are driving a company van between sites when a lorry runs a red light and hits you. Your first call may be to your supervisor, but your claim is a separate matter.

Where your employer fits in

Tell your employer quickly. The vehicle or the errand may need to be logged internally, and they may deal with the vehicle’s damage separately. That internal report is not your injury claim.

Your injury claim runs against the driver who caused the crash, through that driver’s insurer, whoever owned your vehicle.^[1]

Passengers on work trips are covered

If you were a passenger, being on a work errand does not weaken your position. Compulsory cover has been confirmed to extend to passengers travelling for work who are injured in the insured vehicle.^[2]

Does it matter whose fault the crash was?

Your claim depends on who was negligent. That may be the other driver or, less often, the driver of the company vehicle. Being at work does not change how fault is worked out.

If the company vehicle’s own driver caused the crash, a colleague who was a passenger can still claim, like any injured passenger.

What to do, alongside reporting to work

1. Get treated and keep every medical record.
2. Lodge a police report naming both vehicles.
3. Tell your employer what happened, separately from your claim.
4. Keep any dashcam footage from the company vehicle if fitted.
5. Get a specialist medical report once your injuries are clearer.

Where a lawyer can help

Your claim and your employer’s internal process are two separate tracks. An independent lawyer can take on the injury claim while you deal with work. Company vehicle accident covers shared responsibility in more depth, and accident while commuting to work covers your daily commute.

For the first contact, share general dates, location, case status and a short summary only. Keep documents private. Only after an identified lawyer or law firm contacts you and specifically asks for them should you provide that identified lawyer or firm with the accident date, where it happened, your injuries, the employer name, who was driving, and the police report if you have one.