Delivery Truck Accidents
There are very few of us in today’s world who have not purchased goods online and seen them show up on our front doorstep a few days (or hours) later.
With so much convenience to the consumer, it’s easy to forget that the transportation of these goods is a billion-dollar, multi-level operation involving thousands of delivery trucks, an ever-growing pool of new drivers, and hundreds of thousands of miles covered every day.
What happens when one of these delivery truck accidents, like a T-bone crash, happens as they’re traveling to their next stop?
If you were hurt in a crash with an Amazon, UPS, FedEx, Walmart, Target, or another company driver, a lawyer in our office is ready to help in your recovery.
Our team at Trucking Injury Law Group is highly experienced in this complex area of the law, and we use our resources to defend the rights of crash survivors. Contact us for a free case review.
What Are the Top Causes of Delivery Truck Collisions?
Delivery truck drivers are under a lot of pressure to complete delivery routes on time—regardless of traffic, weather, or other factors. An individual delivery driver may be responsible for dropping off dozens of packages and covering multiple towns in a single shift.
Schedules can be tight, and hours can be demanding, leaving delivery drivers to operate vehicles while fatigued, stressed, exhausted, and on unfamiliar roads.
Tough working conditions are only one issue that can contribute to a delivery truck crash. A delivery company is also responsible for making sure that new hires undergo background checks, drivers receive adequate training, fleet vehicles are safe and road-ready, and assigned routes are reasonable.
Some of the most common issues that contribute to delivery truck accident cases include:
- Distracted driving
- Unfamiliar routes and frequent stops
- Improper fleet maintenance and mechanical failures
- Poor training for drivers
- Driver inexperience
- Not accounting for truck blind spots
- Speeding to meet delivery deadlines
- Truck driver cell phone use
- Violating right-of-way rules
- Failure to use turn signals
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Improper stopping or parking
Have You Suffered Any of These Injuries from a Delivery Truck Wreck?
If you or a loved one is hit by a delivery truck, the size and weight of the vehicle can cause serious injuries. You may need months or even years of rehabilitation to recover.
Unfortunately, there are a few cases where these injuries can change your life, requiring lifelong medical care and assistance. Other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians are susceptible to severe injuries, which can include:
- Whiplash injuries: Whether you have been hit from behind or on the side of the vehicle, the sudden impact can cause the head and neck to jerk forward and backward. In turn, you can be left with soft tissue damage in the neck and head area.
- Broken bones: Collisions with delivery trucks can cause fractures, especially in the arms, legs, or ribs.
- Cuts and lacerations: You may have suffered these injuries due to broken glass or sharp objects during the accident.
While those in a vehicle have some form of protection due to the car or truck safety features, pedestrians are not so lucky. Often, their injuries are more life-threatening. They may experience:
- Head, neck, and spinal injuries: Pedestrians hit by delivery trucks may suffer severe head trauma, neck injuries, or damage to the spinal cord.
- Broken bones: Pedestrians can experience serious broken bones in several parts of the body due to the impact of the accident.
- Soft tissue injuries: Bruises, cuts, and other soft tissue damage are common when a pedestrian is struck by a delivery truck.
- Internal injuries: The sheer force of the impact can damage the internal organs, such as the lungs, kidneys, and spleen. In some cases, the victims may have suffered internal bleeding, which needs to be treated immediately.
All of these injuries can put an accent victim’s life at risk, and they can lead to costly medical treatment and ongoing rehabilitation costs. If you or someone you know has been injured in a delivery truck accident, reach out to the team at Trucking Injury Law Group to learn more about your legal options. Meeting with our attorneys won’t cost you anything.
Can a Delivery Truck Driver Be Held Liable for a Crash?
Occupants of passenger vehicles who suffer personal injury through the actions of a delivery person or the company that employs them have the right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
Although the most obvious party in a crash is the driver, delivery drivers are not the only potentially liable party in a delivery truck collision claim. In most situations, it will be the trucking company that will need to take responsibility for damages.
Why You Need an Attorney After a Commercial Motor Vehicle Collision
You’ll often hear injury law firms say to make sure you lawyer up after a trucking accident that caused you to suffer injuries. Why do they recommend this? They do so, in part, because:
Delivery Truck Accidents Are Never Simple Cases
These wrecks are well known to be some of the trickiest types of ones to handle from a legal standpoint. Any accident involving an Amazon delivery truck driver or other company employee will require the expertise of an experienced truck accident attorney.
Corporations like Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and DHL are big companies that provide transport services across the country. These delivery companies employ thousands of delivery truck drivers who transport millions of dollars in consumer goods every day. Unfortunately, they can be involved in unsafe practices. For example, The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon hired unqualified trucking companies to operate their vehicles.
With roads overpopulated by big trucks rushing to ship out products at almost every hour of the day, there is huge potential for serious injury in a trucking accident.
Big Companies Are Powerful Defendants
When it comes to the American transportation and logistics industries, there is a great deal of profit at stake. A delivery company doesn’t build revenue by paying out claims to injured car accident victims.
Companies offering delivery services protect themselves and do so well.
Severe injuries sustained in a delivery truck crash cost a lot of money. Corporate entities like Amazon and Walmart don’t only have the insurance company to protect them but also a highly paid legal team that makes it very difficult to hold these big businesses accountable for serious injury or wrongful death.
The Issue of Independent Contractors
There is also the issue of independent contractors, a loophole many companies exploit to distance the business from the actions of the driver. Third-party contractors are frequently hired to deliver Amazon packages and other consumer goods. However, because they are not actual employees, the company will try to deny liability for any harm caused by the independent contractor.
These and other factors make seeking damages from a delivery company a challenging task. It takes a seasoned legal advocate to successfully handle a claim against a delivery driver and company. If you’re looking for an experienced attorney to assist you with your claim, we’re ready to speak with you. Reach out to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your case now.
Recovering Compensation After a Delivery Truck Crash
Delivery vehicles are usually box trucks that are much larger and heavier than passenger cars. When UPS, Target, or Amazon delivery truck drivers collide with smaller cars or pedestrians, any resulting injuries are most often severe.
Survivors may be left facing years of treatment and physical therapy, costly medical expenses, diminished earning capacity, loss of means of transportation, and pain and suffering.
A personal injury claim or lawsuit is the legal method for restoring justice after a preventable crash that harmed you or a loved one. This legal process ensures that the financial consequences of another party’s misconduct are not unfairly left with you.
A delivery truck accident claim can also help make business operations safer for everyone by highlighting problems in the industry, stopping negligent actions, and removing irresponsible parties from positions that allow them to perpetrate harm against others.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim?
The deadline to file a claim will depend on the state where the accident took place. Most of the time, it can range anywhere from one year to five years after the accident.
No matter your particular state’s statute of limitations, you will want to contact an experienced law firm to start working on your case. It can take time to secure evidence, talk to witnesses, and get expert opinions. By waiting, you could miss out on your chance of getting the compensation you deserve. So, take action now.
What Type of Compensation Is Available to Victims?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to compensation. The type and amount you can receive depends on the specifics of your accident. However, many victims can recover the following:
- Medical expenses for hospital stays, surgeries, medications, follow-up doctor visits, rehabilitation, and other types of treatment.
- Lost wages for the income lost due to your inability to work while recovering.
- Pain and suffering for any physical pain and emotional trauma caused by the crash.
If your case had an element of gross negligence or intentional misconduct, you could be awarded punitive damages. These additional damages act as a deterrent to others in the industry, and they also punish the responsible party for their egregious actions.
Our attorneys are ready to provide you with a consultation. We can help you gain a clear understanding of the potential damage awards that could be available for your case.
How Lawyers Help With Delivery Truck Accidents Cases
A car accident may be a straightforward case involving two vehicles owned by their drivers. However, a delivery truck wreck is much more complex.
It is not recommended that you attempt to handle something like a FedEx or Amazon delivery truck wreck on your own without legal counsel.
We can get started as soon as today on your case. So, reach out to schedule a free case consultation now to discuss how to achieve the best possible results in your case.
Trucking Injury Law Group is made up of a Super Team of experienced personal injury attorneys, each with their own proven track record in complex truck accident cases. We have combined our expertise to give you the resources, support, and advocacy you need in the aftermath of a serious truck collision.
On your behalf, our lawyers will:
- Begin with a free initial consultation to go over your legal options with you
- Analyze the circumstances of your case and determine liability
- Hold all liable parties accountable for the actions that harmed you or a loved one
- Gather evidence to fully support your claim
- Calculate the amount of financial compensation you are owed for current and future losses
- Help you obtain compensation through a settlement or verdict
- Communicate with and support you through every moment of the claim process
Our Delivery Truck Accident Attorneys Are on Your Side
Trucking Injury Law Group is a truck accident law firm that focuses an area of our practice on UPS, FedEx, Walmart, Target, DHL, GLS, and Amazon delivery truck accidents, along with crashes involving other delivery companies.
Not every personal injury lawyer handles delivery truck accidents. Pursuing compensation from an Amazon truck driver and their employer is a wholly different legal battle from filing a car accident claim. We currently handle Amazon truck accident cases nationwide, including in the following states:
We are confident in our understanding of the federal and state regulations that govern these types of cases, the legal process for obtaining compensation for crash victims, and the best ways to secure evidence that can build the strongest case.
We encourage you to avoid delay. Your delivery truck accident case is subject to a statute of limitations that dictates how long you have to take legal action. If you miss the time window, you will be barred from recovering compensation.
So, contact us now to discuss your case with a member of our team at Trucking Injury Law Group. Doing so quickly gives you the best chance of preserving your right to take legal action if you choose to do so. There is no cost or obligation to discuss your rights and legal options with a delivery truck accident attorney. We look forward to speaking with you.
