Delivery work combines several high-risk activities: hours on the road, repeated lifting and carrying, walking onto unfamiliar premises and working under time pressure. Injuries can come from any of them, and who you claim against depends on what happened.
What accidents commonly affect delivery drivers?
Road traffic collisions; back, shoulder and knee injuries from loading and carrying parcels; slips and trips on steps, paths and driveways at delivery addresses; falls from vehicle load areas; dog bites; and assaults or robberies. Fatigue from long shifts and unrealistic delivery targets contributes to many of these.
What must the employer or operator do?
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the company you drive for must manage the risks of the work. That includes providing roadworthy, well-maintained vehicles; assessing lifting tasks under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and providing trolleys or two-person lifts for heavy items; planning routes and workloads that can be done safely within working time rules; and training you on safe loading and unloading. Using in-cab devices while driving must also be managed safely.
What if another driver caused the crash?
If another road user was at fault, the claim is normally against their motor insurer. Lower-value road traffic injury claims by vehicle occupants may have to go through the Official Injury Claim process rather than the standard work accident route. Your solicitor will advise which route applies. Where your employer's vehicle was defective or the schedule forced you to drive while exhausted, your employer may also be responsible.
What if I am classed as self-employed?
Many couriers are labelled self-employed even though the company controls their work. In Uber BV v Aslam [2021] UKSC 5, the Supreme Court held that drivers can be workers despite contract wording that says otherwise. Whatever your status, a company that controls how you work, or the premises you work on, can owe you a duty of care. See self-employed accidents at work.
What about dog bites and assaults?
Dog attacks are a known hazard of delivery work, and employers should share information about problem addresses and allow you to refuse unsafe drops. You may also have a claim against the dog's owner. See dog bites at work and workplace assault claims.
What evidence helps?
Photographs of the scene and any hazard, dashcam or telematics data, delivery app records showing your schedule and targets, vehicle defect reports, and the names of any witnesses. Ask for telematics and app data in writing quickly, as it may be overwritten.
Sources
Browse every plain-English guide in the work accident guides hub, or read the main guide to how a claim works.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every claim turns on its own facts. For advice about your specific situation, speak to a regulated solicitor.