Lorry and commercial vehicle claim
A lorry or commercial vehicle hit you, and the size of what happened is now sinking in.
A lorry or commercial vehicle claim follows the same basic rule as any road accident claim. The at-fault party’s insurer pays for your injuries.[2] What often differs is who that party actually is.
A lorry is usually driven by an employee on someone else’s behalf. A deadline can also be shorter than most people expect.
Who can be responsible
A company can share responsibility for its driver’s crash. This rule is called vicarious liability, and it applies if the driver caused the crash while doing their job.[3]
The claim then usually runs against the employer’s insurer as well as the driver. The driver stays in the picture, and the employer is a second party who can be made to answer.
The injuries a lorry claim usually involves
The size and weight difference in these crashes tends to produce more serious injuries than a car-to-car collision.
- Spinal injury from the force of impact
- Multiple fractures across the body
- Permanent or long-term disability requiring ongoing care
- Injuries requiring extended hospital stays and later surgery
See spinal cord injury claims and permanent disability claims for how these are documented.
The evidence a lorry claim relies on
- The lorry’s registration, ownership and company details
- A job docket or delivery record showing the driver was working
- Dashcam or nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, since lorry blind spots are a common cause
- The police report and sketch plan
- A specialist medical report covering the full extent of the injury
If the lorry belongs to the government
Some lorries, such as certain council or agency vehicles, belong to a government department rather than a private company. A claim against the government or a public authority must generally be brought within 36 months, not six years in Peninsular Malaysia.[4]
Check ownership early so you do not lose time. Where this does not apply, the general deadline is six years from the accident in Peninsular Malaysia.[1]
What to do next
Get treated. Where injuries are severe, ask early about future care needs as well as immediate ones.
Multi-vehicle pileup covers lorry accidents involving more than two vehicles. Do you need a lawyer is worth reading, since a lorry claim can involve two responsible parties.
An independent lawyer can take the claim on against the driver and the company. For first contact, send only the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the police report status.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
Do I claim against the lorry driver or the company that owns it?
Often both are relevant. If the driver was working at the time, the employer can share responsibility for the crash alongside the driver, and the claim usually runs against the company's insurer.[3] [A company vehicle accident](/company-vehicle-accident/) explains how this is established.
Is a lorry driver automatically at fault because of the vehicle's size?
No. Size alone does not decide fault. The court looks at whether the lorry driver checked mirrors, signalled and kept a safe distance, in the same way it would for any other driver.
Does it matter if the lorry belongs to a government department?
Yes, this changes your deadline. A claim against the government or a public authority, such as certain council or agency vehicles, must generally be brought within 36 months rather than six years in Peninsular Malaysia.[4] It is worth checking vehicle ownership early for exactly this reason.
Are lorry accident injuries usually more serious?
They often are, given the size and weight difference involved. This makes a thorough medical report and a realistic view of long-term care even more important than in a smaller collision.
How long do I have to make my claim?
The general deadline for your own injuries is six years from the accident in Peninsular Malaysia, unless a government-owned vehicle shortens it to 36 months.[1] Either way, starting early protects evidence that a slower claim can lose.
Sources
- Limitation Act 1953, s.6(1)(a) (Government of Malaysia) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Road Transport Act 1987, s.96 (Ministry of Transport) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Donovan & Ho, on GMP Kaisar Security (M) Sdn Bhd v Mohamad Amirul Amin Bin Mohamed Amir [2022] 6 MLJ 369 (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Public Authorities Protection Act 1948, s.2(a) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.