Road accidents
Injured while making a delivery: a traffic claim, a work claim or both?
Delivery riders can face overlapping traffic, employment and insurance questions. Start with the accident and your actual working arrangements.
Explain both sides of the incident
Record how the collision happened and which delivery you were carrying out. An ordinary traffic claim may be possible against another road user. Separately, the role of an employer or contracting business may need investigation, particularly where equipment, instructions or work-related insurance are relevant.
Keep the order details, shift records and messages about the job. Information stored in an app may become harder to access if an account closes. Save relevant records lawfully while you still have access.
Employment status is a factual question
A written contract is useful, but it may not provide the whole answer. Who set your hours, supplied the vehicle, gave instructions and controlled how the work was performed? These questions help an adviser understand the relationship without assuming every rider has the same rights.
Read our guide to injury without a written employment contract if the arrangements were informal. For genuine independent businesses, see self-employed contractors and workplace injury.
Lost earnings may not equal missed app turnover
Delivery income can fluctuate. Preserve records from before and after the accident, including payments, cancellations and work-related costs. For a self-employed claim, net business loss needs to be distinguished from gross receipts. For an employee, continued wages and any remaining loss must be identified separately.
A broken telephone or bicycle may be dealt with before the injury claim. Avoid treating payment for the equipment as a complete settlement of bodily injury unless the agreement expressly and properly addresses that issue.
A local example without assuming the outcome
If a delivery rider is hit while crossing a junction, the road layout, right of way and vehicle category may be disputed. Work instructions do not automatically decide traffic liability. Our Amsterdam West support can assess the local incident, while the work injury guide explains the wider employer questions.
What to keep or ask for
- Order, shift and app records relevant to the accident.
- Contract, payment statements and work instructions.
- Vehicle details and insurance information.
- Evidence of the collision and income before and after injury.
Questions you may still have
Can I claim twice for the same lost income?
No. Different parties or insurance policies may be relevant, but the same loss should not be recovered twice. Payments need to be recorded and coordinated.
Should I sign a platform’s incident form?
Provide accurate factual information, but check any statement about fault or final settlement. Ask for a copy and do not confirm wording you do not understand.
Sources and legal context
General information about Dutch personal injury claims. Some source material is in Dutch. Your circumstances may require a different assessment.
This guide explains general principles. It is not a decision on liability or the value of an individual claim.