With more delivery trucks than ever on Minnesota roads, what do you need to know about delivery truck accidents?
It’s 2020, delivery trucks are on the roads more than ever. With more packages from online shopping to deliver to residents across the country. UPS, USPS, FedEx, and Amazon all have their own delivery trucks, and all of these trucks are subject to accidents when not operated properly.
Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents
In 2012 there were about 4,000 people killed in large truck accidents. That’s approximately 11 people every day. Also, between 2003 and 2017, almost 30,000 people died in work-related motor vehicle crashes. That includes drivers of delivery vehicles with companies like Amazon, FedEx, and UPS.
Delivery truck accidents can be the fault of a driver’s own negligence or error when driving, as well as the error/negligence of the opposing driver (often a passenger car or truck). According to the National Transportation Safety Bureau, about 80% of all delivery truck accidents are the fault of the driver of the passenger car.
Distracted driving is also a huge cause of delivery truck accidents, as many drivers believe texting while driving isn’t that big of a deal. Distracted driving can also include eating while driving, or generally being distracted/not paying attention to the road. Many delivery truck driver employees have regulated cell phones that track their usage while driving. Distracted driving could not only cause an accident but could expose the company to liability for not better enforcing their policies.
Accidents can also be caused by an improperly loaded truck. Delivery vehicles are designed to evenly distribute weight across long wheelbases. If a truck is not loaded properly, this could also cause an accident. In a case like this, this may be the fault negligence on behalf of the loader.
Safety and mechanical failure can also cause delivery truck accidents. If a driver ignores safety regulations or isn’t properly trained on how to operate the vehicle, this could make both them and the delivery company liable for an accident. Mechanical failure may occur because of improper maintenance or even failed safety checks, which would result in different parties being negligent as well.
Who’s Responsible for Delivery Driver Negligence?
There are a lot of different parties that could be negligent for a delivery truck accident. If the accident is caused because of distracted driving, speeding, driver error, or driver negligence, the party who committed this negligence would be held responsible. In this situation, it would be either the driver of the delivery vehicle or the driver of the vehicle they collided with.
If the accident occurs because of a mechanical malfunction, this may make the manufacturer of the vehicle, or the delivery company liable for the accident. The delivery company many also be liable in accidents where a driver hasn’t been properly trained, when a vehicle hasn’t been properly loaded, or when a vehicle has failed safety checks.
What to Expect When You Sue a Delivery Company
Getting into an accident with a large truck, like a delivery truck, can cause serious injuries. The more serious the injury, the more you’re likely to have in medical debt. It can be stressful to deal with medical debt while also trying to file a lawsuit against a delivery company. Having an experienced attorney who cares about your case can make all the difference in your fight against the delivery companies. As suing a delivery company can be a little trickier than suing another driver, your attorney will be there for you every step of the way.
For your case, you can expect that there will be a lot of investigation. Both sides will investigate what happened in order to determine who was negligent and therefore who should be held liable. If there were multiple parties involved, for example the driver as well as the company, this may make your case a little trickier.
There will be more insurance companies to deal with and more investigation to be done. When suing a delivery company you can expect them to try and lowball you when it comes to compensation. This is the main reason why it’s important to get an experienced attorney on your side. An experienced attorney can negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve.
How to Prove Negligence
Proving negligence is one of the most important steps in your lawsuit. You must be able to prove that negligence was not only involved, but caused your injuries directly. Your attorney will help to investigate negligence, as well as help determine exactly who is liable. In some cases, there may be multiple negligent parties.
Recovering Damages
Medical bills, car damages, and more can really pile up after an accident. We know that this can be stressful. That’s why we’re here to help you collect the most damages possible for your case. Damages can be collected for a variety of different things, including:
- medical bills (including surgery costs, doctors visits, therapy, prescriptions, and more)
- loss of future and past wages
- loss of consortium
- pain and suffering
- mental anguish
- and any other direct costs you may have incurred because of your accident
Contact a Lawyer
We know that getting into an accident and having to file a lawsuit can be a new and stressful situation for you. We’re here to ensure that the process is as easy and painless as possible. We will not only help you get the compensation that you deserve, but also relief and justice for your case. If you’ve been injured in a delivery truck accident, please contact us online or at 651-291-7263 for more information.