Truck Accident Lawyer Liverpool

Truck accident claims are more complex, take longer to settle, and typically result in much higher compensation than car accident claims. There are a few key reasons for this.

The injuries are far more severe. A B-double can weigh up to 68 tonnes. When that strikes a car, the occupants often suffer catastrophic injuries: spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, amputations, or internal organ damage. These aren't soft tissue injuries that heal in a few months. They're life-changing conditions requiring years of medical care.

There are usually multiple parties at fault. In a car accident, you're typically claiming against one driver. In a truck accident, the driver, the trucking company, the loading operator, and even the vehicle maintenance provider may all share responsibility. Each carries separate insurance, which means more sources of compensation.

The insurance companies fight harder. Trucking companies carry commercial policies worth $10 million or more. Their insurers employ specialist defence teams, accident reconstruction experts, and medical assessors to challenge your claim. You need a lawyer who knows how to match that level of preparation.

Regulatory breaches add extra liability. Truck accidents often involve breaches of Heavy Vehicle National Law, fatigue management rules, or Chain of Responsibility requirements. These breaches are strong evidence of negligence that simply don't exist in standard car accidents.

Settlement takes longer. Car accident claims often settle within 6 to 12 months. Truck claims typically take 18 to 36 months because the injuries are more severe, the evidence is more complex, and the insurers contest harder.

If you've been injured in a truck accident on the M5, Hume Highway, or around Moorebank, call us on 1300 011 149 for a free assessment of your claim.

Truck accident compensation is typically much higher than car accident payouts because the injuries are more severe. The exact amount depends on your injuries, age, earning capacity, and how many parties were at fault.

Here are the typical ranges:

• Moderate injuries (broken bones, minor head injury): $50,000 to $150,000.
• Severe injuries (spinal cord damage, permanent disability): $300,000 to $1,000,000+.
• Catastrophic injuries (paraplegia, quadriplegia, amputation, brain damage): $1,000,000 to $5,000,000+.
• Fatal injuries: $500,000 to $3,000,000+ (plus dependants' claims).

Your compensation covers several categories:

• General damages for pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life. For catastrophic injuries, this alone can reach $500,000 to $2,000,000+.
• Lost wages and earning capacity. If you can't return to work, this covers your lost income for the rest of your working life.
• Medical and rehab costs. Surgery, physio, specialist visits, and ongoing care.
• Home changes and care. Wheelchair ramps, accessible bathrooms, and personal care attendants.
• Lifetime care. The Lifetime Care and Support Scheme (run by icare) pays for treatment and support for life. For young, severely injured people, these costs alone can total $2,000,000 to $5,000,000+.

Multiple parties at fault means more money. Trucking companies, loading operators, and maintenance providers each carry insurance. We find every party at fault and claim against each one.

We've recovered $350 million for injured clients, with many truck accident settlements exceeding $1 million. Call 1300 011 149 for a free case assessment.

No Win No Fee means exactly what it says. If we don't recover compensation for you, you don't pay us a cent. It's that simple.

Here's how it works in practice:

1. You pay nothing upfront. We cover all costs while your claim runs, including our legal fees, expert medical reports, accident reconstruction analysis, court filing fees, and investigation costs.

1. If your claim fails, you owe us nothing. We absorb every cost. We only take cases we genuinely believe will succeed.

1. If your claim succeeds, our fee is a percentage of your compensation. Typically between 25% and 33%, depending on claim complexity. This is agreed before we start, so there are no surprises.

Here's an example:

• Settlement: $500,000.
• Legal fees (30%): $150,000.
• Disbursements: $25,000.
• Your net recovery: $325,000.

Why this matters for truck accident claims specifically:

Truck claims are expensive to run. You need accident reconstruction experts, medical specialists, vocational assessors, and sometimes life care planners. These reports cost thousands each. Without No Win No Fee, most people couldn't afford to pursue a legitimate claim against a well-funded trucking company insurer.

For longer claims (18 to 36 months), we can arrange:

• Litigation funding to cover expert fees during the claim.
• Disbursement loans repaid from your settlement.

These keep you from being financially strained during a lengthy process.

Our 99% success rate and $350 million in recovered compensation reflects our confidence in the cases we accept. Call 1300 011 149 for a free consultation.

You have three years from the date of your accident to start court proceedings. But there are earlier deadlines you can't afford to miss.

The 28-day deadline: You must report the accident to police within 28 days.

The 3-month deadline: Under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017, you must submit an Application for Personal Injury Benefits to the truck driver's CTP insurer (their Green Slip provider) within three months of the accident. If you miss this window, your compensation can be reduced by up to 100%. Once accepted, you receive statutory benefits covering treatment and lost wages regardless of who was at fault.

The 3-year deadline: You have three years to file court proceedings for common law damages. To claim for pain and suffering (non-economic loss), your injuries must meet the 10% Whole Person Impairment threshold.

Exceptions to the three-year rule:

• Children. The three-year clock doesn't start until they turn 18.
• Severe incapacity. If your injuries prevent you from managing your own affairs, the deadline may be extended.

Why acting early matters for truck accidents:

Evidence in truck cases disappears fast. Electronic logbook data can be overwritten. Dashcam and CCTV footage gets deleted after 30 to 90 days. Trucks get repaired, wiping out evidence of mechanical defects. Witness memories fade. The sooner we start, the more evidence we preserve.

Don't wait. Call us on 1300 011 149 as soon as possible after a truck accident so we can protect your rights and secure critical evidence.

Yes. NSW uses a system called contributory negligence, which means you can still recover compensation even if you partly caused the accident. Your payout is reduced by your percentage of fault.

Here's how it works:

If a court finds you 20% at fault and the truck driver 80% at fault, you recover 80% of your total damages. So on a $500,000 claim, you'd receive $400,000.

There's an important threshold to know about. Under the CTP scheme, if your contributory negligence exceeds 61%, your entitlement to certain statutory benefits may be reduced or excluded.

Common scenarios where drivers share fault:

• You were speeding when the truck hit you.
• You failed to give way at an intersection.
• You were distracted (on your phone, not watching the road).
• You crossed lanes unsafely near the truck.

Even in those situations, the truck driver's fault usually outweighs yours. Truck drivers are held to a higher standard because of the weight and size of their vehicle. A professional truck driver is expected to maintain safe following distances, manage fatigue, check blind spots, and drive defensively.

When multiple parties share fault, your recovery increases. If the truck driver was 50% at fault, the trucking company 30% (poor maintenance), and the loading operator 20% (overloading), you can claim against all three. Each carries separate insurance, creating multiple recovery sources.

We build strong evidence to minimise your fault percentage and maximise what you receive. Call 1300 011 149 for a free assessment.

Truck accident claims need more evidence than standard car accident claims. The insurers fight harder, so your case needs to be built properly from the start.

Evidence you should collect at the scene:

• Photos and video of the accident scene, vehicle damage, skid marks, and your injuries.
• The truck driver's name, licence number, and employer details.
• The truck's registration number and CTP insurer.
• Contact details for any witnesses.

Evidence we gather for you:

• Police crash report. Report the accident on the Police Assistance Line (131 444) within 28 days.
• Driver logbooks and electronic work diaries. These prove whether the driver exceeded fatigue limits.
• Truck maintenance records. These show whether brakes, tyres, or steering were defective.
• Weighbridge records. These prove whether the truck was overloaded.
• Load securing documentation. Inspection reports showing how cargo was restrained.
• Black box data. Electronic systems in modern trucks record speed, braking, and steering inputs.
• Accident reconstruction analysis. We engage specialists who use physical evidence to determine exactly how the accident happened.
• Medical records and specialist reports. From Liverpool Hospital and treating specialists, documenting your injuries and long-term prognosis.
• Life care plans. For catastrophic injuries, experts calculate your lifetime care costs.

Why truck evidence matters more:

Trucking companies routinely destroy evidence. Logbooks get overwritten. Maintenance records go missing. Trucks get repaired before anyone inspects them. We act fast to preserve this evidence, sometimes using court orders to prevent destruction.

Yes, and in most cases the trucking company is the more important defendant. They carry larger insurance policies and are often directly responsible for the conditions that caused the accident.

There are two types of company liability:

Vicarious liability means the company pays for what its driver does on the job. If the driver was speeding, ran a red light, or fell asleep at the wheel, the company is on the hook. They can't avoid this by saying "the driver acted on their own."

Direct liability means the company itself did something wrong. This happens when they:

• Pressure drivers to meet unrealistic delivery schedules, forcing them to skip rest breaks.
• Fail to maintain brakes, tyres, or steering systems.
• Hire drivers with poor safety records or skip proper training.
• Ignore driver fatigue complaints.
• Break Heavy Vehicle National Law rules on load limits, axle weights, or fatigue management.

Why the company matters more than the driver:

• Trucking companies carry commercial liability insurance worth $10 million or more. Individual drivers may have minimal personal assets.
• The company's insurance is designed to cover exactly these situations.
• Holding companies accountable creates industry pressure for safer practices.

Chain of Responsibility laws spread liability across the transport chain. The company, the loading operator, the freight scheduler, and anyone who controls how the truck operates can all be held to account. We trace fault through the entire chain.

Call 1300 011 149 to discuss your claim. We always identify and pursue every responsible party.

Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of truck accidents, and it creates a strong negligence claim. If the driver who hit you was tired or had exceeded their legal driving hours, that's powerful evidence in your favour.

Fatigue rules are strict. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator sets clear limits under Standard Hours (the default fatigue management option for most operators):

• Maximum 12 hours of work in a 24-hour period.
• A 15-minute break every 5.25 hours of work.
• 7 continuous hours of rest in each 24-hour period.
• Maximum 72 hours of work in a 7-day period.

Breaking these rules is a criminal offence with penalties over $10,000 and potential licence cancellation.

How we prove fatigue:

• Logbooks and electronic work diaries record exactly how long the driver was on the road. If they exceeded legal limits, the records prove it.
• Black box data shows driving patterns, speed, and braking that indicate fatigue (drifting, sudden corrections, inconsistent speed).
• Police reports often note fatigue as a contributing factor.
• Expert fatigue specialists can calculate whether the driver's schedule left enough time for proper rest.

The trucking company is usually liable too. Companies are responsible for monitoring driver hours and enforcing rest breaks. If they scheduled unrealistic delivery times, ignored fatigue complaints, or failed to monitor compliance, they're directly liable for the crash.

Fatigue-related truck accidents are common on the M5 and Hume Highway near Liverpool, where long-distance drivers push through tight delivery windows. If you suspect the driver was fatigued, call 1300 011 149 so we can secure the evidence before logbook records are overwritten.

When cargo shifts and causes a truck to lose control, multiple parties in the transport chain can be held responsible. This is common around Moorebank Intermodal Terminal and Liverpool's industrial precincts, where containers are constantly being loaded and transferred.

How load shifts cause accidents:

• Cargo that isn't properly tied down slides during braking or cornering.
• Uneven weight distribution raises the truck's centre of gravity, causing rollovers.
• Overloaded trucks experience brake failure because the brakes can't handle the extra weight.
• Defective restraint equipment (broken straps, worn chains) fails under stress.

Who can be liable:

• The loading company. They packed and secured the cargo. If it wasn't done properly, they're primarily responsible.
• The truck driver. Drivers must inspect load security before departing. If they skipped the check or drove too fast for the cargo type, they share fault.
• The trucking company. They're vicariously liable for their driver and directly liable if they failed to maintain securing equipment or enforce safety procedures.
• The container owner. If the container itself was defective, they're liable.

Chain of Responsibility laws mean every party in the transport chain shares accountability for safe loading. This is set out in the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which has general mass limits of 42.5 tonnes for standard trucks and 62.5 tonnes for B-doubles (up to 68 tonnes with higher mass limit permits). Exceeding these limits is a criminal offence.

Evidence we collect:

• Weighbridge records proving the truck was overloaded.
• Load inspection reports and cargo securing documentation.
• Photos and video of scattered cargo at the scene.
• Expert evidence from load securing specialists.

Call 1300 011 149 to discuss your claim.

Yes. You can still claim compensation even if the truck had no CTP insurance or wasn't registered. NSW law has a safety net to protect people in exactly this situation.

The Nominal Defendant scheme under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 is a safety net. It acts as the insurer when none exists. If the truck that hit you was uninsured, or the driver fled and can't be found, the Nominal Defendant pays your claim.

To use this scheme:

• Report the accident to police as soon as you can.
• Lodge your claim with the Nominal Defendant within three months.
• Give as many details as possible: vehicle colour, make, model, partial registration, and where it happened.

Why unregistered trucks are extra dangerous. Driving an unregistered truck is a criminal offence. These trucks often skip safety checks. Their brakes, tyres, and steering may be faulty. The operator chose to dodge the cost of registration. That alone shows they put profit ahead of safety, which is strong proof of fault.

If the driver fled the scene:

You can still claim even if you can't name the truck. We work with police and chase leads through CCTV footage, witness statements, and traffic camera records. If the driver is found, your claim moves to their CTP insurer for full payout.

Don't assume you have no options because the truck was uninsured. Call 1300 011 149 and we'll explain exactly how to proceed.

Most truck accident claims settle in 18 to 36 months. That's longer than car accident claims (6 to 12 months), and there are good reasons for it.

Here's the typical timeline:

• Months 0 to 3. Medical treatment and stabilisation. We report the accident to the CTP insurer within three months and begin gathering evidence.
• Months 3 to 12. Specialist medical assessments. You see surgeons, neurologists, or psychiatrists as needed. We gather police reports, logbooks, maintenance records, and engage accident reconstruction experts.
• Months 12 to 18. Expert reports are finalised. For catastrophic injuries, life care plans and vocational assessments are prepared. This is the evidence that determines your claim's value.
• Months 18 to 24. Negotiation with insurers. We submit the full claim and push for settlement. Many claims resolve at this stage.
• Months 24 to 36. If the insurer won't settle fairly, we proceed to dispute resolution through the Personal Injury Commission (PIC) or court litigation.

Why truck claims take longer:

• Catastrophic injuries need time to stabilise before doctors can assess your long-term prognosis.
• Multiple liable parties mean separate investigations and negotiations with each insurer.
• Trucking company insurers hire aggressive defence teams that challenge every aspect of your claim.
• Accident reconstruction and life care planning are time-intensive specialist processes.

We manage the timeline so nothing stalls unnecessarily. You'll receive regular updates throughout.

You can claim compensation for any truck accident caused by someone else's negligence. The specific type of accident doesn't matter as long as another party was at fault.

Common types we handle:

• Rear-end collisions. The truck driver was following too closely or their brakes failed.
• Head-on crashes. The truck drifted across lanes, often caused by driver fatigue.
• Rollover and jackknife incidents. Excessive speed, poor road conditions, or improperly secured loads.
• Cargo shift accidents. Unsecured or unevenly loaded cargo caused the truck to lose control.
• Loading dock accidents. People struck by trucks at warehouses or distribution centres around Moorebank and Prestons.
• Multi-vehicle pile-ups. A truck triggers a chain reaction on the M5 or Hume Highway.
• Pedestrian strikes. Truck drivers failing to see people during turning or reversing.
• Hazardous material spills. Trucks carrying chemicals or fuel causing injury through leaks or explosions.

You can claim against multiple parties:

Depending on the circumstances, you might have claims against the truck driver, the trucking company, the loading operator, the vehicle maintenance provider, or even the road authority. Each may carry separate insurance.

The sheer weight of trucks (up to 68 tonnes for B-doubles) means even low-speed collisions can cause catastrophic injuries. Whatever type of truck accident you were involved in, call 1300 011 149 for a free case assessment.

Yes. Mental health injuries matter just as much as physical ones in truck accident claims. Being hit by a heavy vehicle is a traumatic event. Many people develop real mental health conditions that need proper treatment.

You can claim for:

• PTSD. Flashbacks, bad dreams, being on edge all the time, and avoiding roads or vehicles.
• Depression. Feeling flat, losing interest in things you used to enjoy, pulling away from people.
• Anxiety. Panic attacks, constant worry, fear of driving or even sitting in a car.
• Driving phobia. Not being able to get behind the wheel again, even as a passenger.
• Adjustment disorder. Struggling to cope with the changes the accident brought to your life.

What your claim needs:

• A diagnosis from a psychiatrist or psychologist.
• Medical evidence that links the condition to your truck accident.
• Records of your treatment (therapy, medication, specialist visits).
• Proof of how the condition affects your work, your relationships, and your daily life.

What you can recover:

• Costs of therapy, medication, and hospital stays.
• Lost wages if your mental health stops you from working.
• Pain and suffering for the harm itself.

For severe PTSD or depression after a truck accident, this part of the claim alone can reach $100,000 to $500,000+.

Insurers often try to push back on mental health claims. They call them "normal stress" or "not serious." We fight back with expert evidence and detailed records that prove the condition is real and caused by the crash.

If a faulty truck caused the crash, the people who should have kept it safe are on the hook. This covers brake failure, tyre blowouts, steering problems, and broken speed limiters.

Who's at fault for mechanical problems:

• The trucking company. They must keep their trucks in safe working order. If they skipped servicing, cut corners, or put a faulty truck on the road, they're at fault.
• The mechanic or workshop. If a third-party repairer missed a defect or signed off the truck as safe when it wasn't, they're liable.
• The maker. If a part was poorly designed or built and failed despite proper upkeep, the maker can be liable under product liability law.

Common mechanical failures in truck accidents:

• Brake failure. Worn pads, overheated discs, failed air brake systems. Overloaded trucks make this worse.
• Tyre blowouts. Bald or under-inflated tyres, especially on B-doubles at highway speeds.
• Steering defects. Failed power steering or loose components causing loss of control.
• Speed limiter failure. Trucks are legally required to be speed-limited to 100 km/h. Tampered or malfunctioning limiters allow dangerous speeds.

How we prove mechanical failure:

• Vehicle inspection reports from crash investigators.
• Maintenance and service records showing missed or overdue inspections.
• Expert mechanical analysis of failed components.
• Black box data recording speed, braking, and driver inputs.

We act quickly because trucks are often repaired or scrapped soon after an accident. Preserving the physical evidence is critical.