Truck Accident Lawyer Explains Compensation

Issa Rabaya

Written by

Issa Rabaya

Principal Lawyer and Director · Last updated 7 July 2026

Key Takeaway: If you were injured as a driver or passenger in a truck accident in NSW, suffered non-threshold injuries and were not mostly at fault, you may claim compensation for medical costs, lost income and pain and suffering. One client with back and neck injuries settled for $105,000.

Truck Accident Claims: Quick Answers

Who is eligible to make a truck accident claim?
In general you can claim if you were involved in a truck accident as a driver or passenger, suffered non-threshold injuries as a result, and were not mostly at fault. Claims can arise from crashes with commercial and privately operated semi-trailers, 18 wheelers and other heavy vehicles.
Is there a time limit to make a claim?
Yes. Time limits apply to making a CTP claim, so it is always safer to consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Lodging your Application for Personal Injury Benefits Form early lets you receive statutory benefits from the date of the accident.
How much compensation could I receive?
It depends on whether you were mostly at fault, whether your injuries were threshold or non-threshold, and the severity of your losses. In one example a rear-ended truck driver with back and neck injuries was awarded a settlement of $105,000 for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.
truck driver with a new truck after a truck wreck claim

As an experienced truck accident lawyer, helping clients injured in a truck accident, I will explain your compensation entitlements, how to claim them and invite you to consider having us acting on your behalf.


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What are Truck Accident Injury Claims?

Truck accident injury claims refer to the legal process through which passengers and drivers involved in a truck accident claim compensation for injuries resulting from the incident. When a truck accident occurs, injuries may occur resulting in compensation and a pay-out necessary. Claims can arise from accidents involving both commercial and privately operated semi-trailers, including 18 wheelers and other heavy vehicles.

Are You Eligible for Truck Accident Injury Claims?

In general, if you have:

  • Been involved in a truck accident as a driver or passenger.
  • Suffered non threshold injuries as a result.
  • And not been mostly at fault.

Then you may be eligible to claim a payout in addition to the income support benefits available regardless of fault and injury.

Finding out your eligibility can be confusing sometimes. If this is the case for you do not hesitate to benefit from our free claim eligibility check. Our experienced truck wreck lawyers will evaluate your truck accident claim explain if you are eligible, process and tell you how we can act on a No Win No fee basis.


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I have been injured in a truck accident – what compensation can I claim?

truck wreck passenger

If you have been involved in a truck accident, you may be entitled to statutory benefits such as income support payments, medical expenses, funeral expenses, vocational rehabilitation, and compensation by way of a lump sum payment for loss of income/opportunity and compensation for pain and suffering.

Medical expenses

You may also be entitled to reasonable medical expenses including dental and pharmaceutical expenses, physiotherapy, and home care. You can make a claim for funeral expenses if you are the legal personal representative of a person who died in a truck accident.

Income support

Income support payments are available if you, because of the accident, lost income. The payments will cease after 52 weeks if you were wholly or mostly at fault or if your injuries are minor.

Lump sum payment

Lump sum payment for loss of income/opportunity relates to the loss of income and/or opportunity you have lost as a result of the accident. Our personal injury lawyers would work with you to calculate how much lost income and opportunity you may have lost and may lose into the future because of the accident and claim that loss. Lump sum payment for pain and suffering is a payment to consider the pain and suffering you have experienced as a result of the accident. Our personal injury lawyers will be able to inform you how pain and suffering is taken into account to ensure you understand the full extent of your compensation entitlements.

The benefits and compensation you may receive because of your truck accident depend on whether you were mostly at fault and whether your injuries were considered threshold injuries or not. The extent of compensation also depends on your personal situation prior to the accident, the severity of your injuries and extent of your potential losses. So, if you want to find out exact compensation you are entitled to, we advise you to contact our truck accident lawyers.


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Can I make a claim for modified common law damages?

driver of 18 wheeler commercial truck after making a truck wreck compensation claim

If you were not the driver mostly at fault and your injuries are not minor, you will also be entitled to make a claim for modified common law damages which include claiming damages for economic loss, both past and future including superannuation, that you suffered because of the injuries sustained in the truck accident. You may also be able to claim damages for pain and suffering if your injuries are assessed at being greater than 10% whole person impairment.

What is a threshold injury?

Threshold injuries relating to physical injuries are soft tissue injuries that are typically those in muscles, tendons, and ligaments but do not include injury to nerves or a complete or partial rupture of tendons, ligaments, meniscus or cartilage. Whiplash injury is one of the most common types of injury to be classified as soft tissue injury. Minor psychiatric or psychological injuries, on the other hand, include adjustment disorder and acute stress disorder. You can contact our truck accident personal injury lawyers for information about whether your injury would be considered a threshold injury or not. It is important because the difference of whether you will be able to claim income support payments beyond 52 weeks and damages for loss of income/opportunity and pain and suffering is dependent on your injury not being a threshold injury.

I have been injured in a truck accident – how do I claim compensation?

For truck accidents you need to report the accident to the police within 28 days and obtain a Police Event Number which will need to be included in your Application for Personal Injury Benefits Form. You are also required to complete the Application for Personal Injury Benefits Form and request your GP complete a Certificate of Capacity form.

You are required to lodge both forms with the CTP insurer of the truck at fault within 3 months. However, if you are claiming income support payments for loss of income, you are required to lodge both forms within 28 days of the truck accident, so that you can receive statutory benefits from the date of the accident. Our personal injury lawyers will be able to advise you on the requirements of these forms and will be in some instances, able to complete and lodge the Application for Personal Injury Benefits Form on your behalf.

orange truck on field

Truck Accident Claims Examples

Here are 2 examples of successful truck accident compensation claims.

Example 1: Truck Driver Rear-Ended by Negligent Driver

A truck driver was driving on the highway when he was suddenly rear-ended by a distracted driver who failed to notice the truck slowing down. The impact causes significant injuries to the truck driver, including back and neck injuries, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. The truck driver makes a truck accident injury claim against the negligent driver and their insurance company. After a thorough legal process, the truck driver is awarded a compensation settlement of $105,000 to cover medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering incurred because of the accident.

Example 2: Truck Driver Injured in a T-bone Collision

While driving through an intersection, a truck driver was involved in a T-bone collision with a passenger vehicle that ran a red light. The impact caused significant injuries to the truck driver, including spinal injuries and internal trauma, requiring surgeries. The truck driver, with the assistance of our dedicated truck accident lawyer, made a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver seeking compensation for medical expenses, ongoing rehabilitation, lost wages, and pain and suffering. After a thorough legal process, the truck driver was awarded with a $220.000 lump sum payout to cover his damages.

Truck Accident Lawyers FAQs

I have been injured in a truck accident โ€“ do I need a lawyer or attorney?

Yes, if youโ€™ve been injured in a truck accident, itโ€™s strongly recommended that you speak with a lawyer or attorney. They can help you understand your rights, gather evidence, deal with insurers, and ensure you receive the full compensation youโ€™re entitled to.

Do I need a commercial truck accident lawyer for my truck wreck claim?

Having a commercial truck accident lawyer is highly recommended for your truck wreck claim due to the complex legal and insurance issues involved. A lawyer with experience handling commercial truck accidents can help you navigate the process, prove liability, and maximise your compensation.

How much does a lawyer charge for a truck accident compensation claim?

Our personal injury lawyers work on a no win no fee basis, which means you do not pay upfront for our legal costs as it is deducted from your compensation settlement. During our free claims assessment our personal injury lawyer will be able to tell you how much we estimate our costs to be depending on the extent the work required and depending on your individual case.

When do I call a lawyer after a truck accident?

If you were injured in a truck accident, you can consult our personal injury lawyers at any point in your claim process. It is important to note that there are time limits that apply to making a CTP claim and as such it is always safer to consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

How much compensation can I get for my truck accident injury?

The benefits and compensation you may receive as a result of your truck accident depend on whether you were mostly at fault and whether your injuries were minor or not. The extent of compensation also depends on your personal situation prior to the accident, the extent of your injuries and extent of your potential losses. It is important to tell our personal injury lawyers everything about your injuries and losses for our personal injury lawyers to be in a position to give you the clearest possible answer.

How can Withstand Lawyers help with my truck accident claim?

The process of claiming compensation can be stressful and in some cases, it can make your existing suffering from your personal injury worse. Having our passionate, friendly and sympathetic personal injury lawyers acting on your behalf, we hope, will alleviate that burden for you. That is because we pride ourselves in being able to navigate the process for you in a way that allows you to understand the law, entitlements and process. Our personal injury lawyers costs are also clear cut in that you do not pay upfront for our costs and that our costs are no win no fee.

Can I claim if I was a passenger in a car hit by a truck?

Absolutely. If you were injured as a passenger, you can still claim compensation, and a truck accident attorney can help you get the best outcome.

What does a truck accident attorney do?

We handle everything from investigating the accident, gathering evidence and medical reports, proving fault to negotiating your payoutโ€”so you donโ€™t have to face it alone.

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Truck Accident Claims FAQ

What are truck accident injury claims?
Truck accident injury claims are the legal process through which drivers and passengers involved in a truck accident claim compensation for injuries resulting from the incident. Claims can arise from accidents involving both commercial and privately operated semi-trailers, including 18 wheelers and other heavy vehicles.
Am I eligible for a truck accident injury claim?
In general you are eligible if you were involved in a truck accident as a driver or passenger, suffered non-threshold injuries as a result, and were not mostly at fault. If you are unsure whether you qualify, our personal injury lawyers can assess your circumstances at no cost.
Is there a time limit to make a truck accident claim?
Yes, there are time limits that apply to making a CTP claim, so it is always safer to consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Lodging your Application for Personal Injury Benefits Form promptly means you can receive statutory benefits from the date of the accident.
How much compensation can I get for a truck accident?
The compensation you may receive depends on whether you were mostly at fault, whether your injuries were threshold or non-threshold, your situation before the accident and the extent of your losses. In one example a rear-ended truck driver with back and neck injuries settled for $105,000.
What can a truck accident settlement cover?
A settlement can cover medical expenses, lost wages and a lump sum for pain and suffering. In one successful example, a truck driver rear-ended by a distracted driver and left with back and neck injuries was awarded $105,000 to cover treatment, rehabilitation and lost income.
Can I make a claim for modified common law damages?
You may be able to claim modified common law damages for lost earning capacity, including opportunities you have lost and may lose into the future because of the accident. Our personal injury lawyers can explain how these damages are assessed and how they apply to your circumstances.
How is pain and suffering compensation calculated?
A lump sum for pain and suffering considers the pain you have experienced as a result of the accident. Our personal injury lawyers will explain how pain and suffering is taken into account so you understand the full extent of your compensation entitlements before you proceed with a claim.
What is the Application for Personal Injury Benefits Form?
It is the form that starts your CTP claim so you can receive statutory benefits from the date of the accident. Our personal injury lawyers can advise you on the requirements of these forms and, in some instances, complete and lodge the application on your behalf.
Issa Rabaya, Principal Lawyer and Director at Withstand Lawyers

About the author

Issa Rabaya · Principal Lawyer and Director

Admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW and High Court of Australia   LLB   IRO-approved   Law Society of NSW

Acts for injured people in CTP, workers compensation, TPD and public liability claims.

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Why Choose Withstand Lawyers for Your Truck Accident Claim?

Being injured in a truck accident is overwhelming, and the claims process can add stress at a time when you are already trying to recover from serious injuries. Our personal injury lawyers take that pressure off you. We assess your eligibility, explain whether your injuries are threshold or non-threshold and how that affects your entitlements, and where possible complete and lodge your Application for Personal Injury Benefits Form so you can access statutory benefits from the date of the accident. We keep you informed in plain language and work to maximise your lump-sum payout, just as we did for the truck driver who settled for $105,000. Over $47 million recovered, 99% success rate, no win, no fee.

Call Withstand Lawyers on 1800 952 898 for your free claim check today.

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