Accidents with delivery trucks and the law.

Delivery truck accidents may seem harmless because every day there are more of these vehicles on the road, but in reality, almost all accidents with delivery trucks can be prevented.

These accidents derive from the negligence of someone: the driver, the delivery company, or a third party. With hundreds of thousands of trucks operating seven days a week, delivery companies are at great risk of causing and contributing to traffic accidents. Here is a brief description of the parties that may be responsible for an accident:

The truck driver.

If the driver is an independent contractor and not an employee of the company, you can file a claim against the individual driver. The driver’s insurance company might offer you a settlement or you could take your case to court to fight for the compensation that you consider fair.

The delivery company.

There is a theory of responsibility that makes a company responsible for the actions of its employees. If an employed driver commits a negligent or illicit act within the scope of work, the injured party can file a claim against the company itself. State laws determine the “scope of employment” in an accident.

A third person.

In some cases, a third party, such as a driver, or the vehicle manufacturer, may be responsible for a delivery truck crash. In this case, the injured parties could sue the third party and/or the driver or company of the delivery truck.

Accidents involving delivery trucks can be complex. If, for example, you hit a United States Postal Service truck, you have a case involving a government agency. These claims have different rules that an attorney at PMR Law can help you navigate.

The attorneys at PMR Law can help you understand the complicated laws related to delivery truck crashes. We will work with you to fight for the terms of a settlement, including compensation and reimbursement that your injuries deserve.

About claims from FedEx / UPS Claims

Getting into an accident with a FedEx or UPS truck means dealing with the insurers of these companies. FedEx has liability insurance for their vehicles with a combined single limit of $ 5 million. UPS has liability insurance with a limit of $ 1 million.

You may receive a phone call from a large insurance company as early as on the day of the accident. An insurance claims adjuster will ask for details about what happened. He or she can try to make a recorded statement. As attorneys, we recommend that victims of automobile accidents do not give statements to insurers until they have spoken with a lawyer.

The big insurance companies are not looking out for accident victims. They are taking care of themselves. In a crash with FedEx or UPS, a claims adjuster will try to make you settle for as little as possible in regards to your personal injury claim.

Truck accidents are terribly common

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration records vehicular accidents on US roads and provides statistical information on injuries and deaths. The administration’s most recent survey revealed alarming figures on truck accidents across the country. They showed that:

Truck accidents have increased

Large trucks such as 18-wheeler trucks and heavier trucks such as FedEx or UPS hurt more than 20,000 people nationwide in 2018, an increase of 18 percent compared to the average of the previous three years.

Light trucks cause a large number of injuries – These trucks caused more than 733,000 injuries across the country last year alone.

Truck accidents involving large trucks also took the lives of more than 3,600 people in 2018, an increase of almost 9 percent over the previous year.

The vast majority of these fatal accidents are caused by a simple driver error. In fact, a federal study revealed that 87 percent of large truck accidents were a result of driver error, such as making poor decisions or caused by fatigue and inattention.

A driver who commits a critical error, resulting in injury to another person, is often responsible for medical expenses and loss of income of the victim during lost work time.

A minor collision can cause serious injuries

Even a minor impact between a truck and a smaller car can produce painful injuries that require long-term care. The most common type of accident is the back collision, which commonly results in the following injuries:

Whiplash – Whiplash refers to damage to muscles and ligaments in the back and neck due to the sudden movement of a pull. The force of a large truck commonly causes the driver’s head to be struck back and forth during a collision. Damage to the muscles of your back or spine can have persistent effects that require expensive therapy.

Broken bones – Any accident is capable of producing a painful fracture that can leave you unable to work for a long period of time.

Lacerations – A laceration is a deep cut or scrape. Broken glass, metal and even a deployed airbag can cause serious damage to the arms, neck or face.

If you were injured in an accident with a delivery truck or other commercial vehicle, it is important that you understand your legal rights.

An attorney who has experience with truck accident claims will be able to consult with you about your legal rights and open an investigation into the full cause of the accident to help determine the true liability.  Get in touch with us so we can evaluate your case for free; call PMR Law at 832-481-3427 and a member of our team will get in touch with you immediately.

PMR Law is considered one of the Best Law Firms of America, by Rue Ratings.  Several of our attorneys have been given the honor of being named Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters.   The American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys has named our attorneys 10 Best in Client Satisfaction.    Speaking of personal injury, Attorney and Practice Magazine awarded our attorneys with Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney distinctions. The National Trial Lawyers, as well as the American Academy of Attorneys, have named two of our attorneys as Top 40 Under 40.  Our attorneys have been recognized as Best Attorneys of America, by Rue Ratings.   PMR Law is a proud member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Forum.