Over 70% of the goods in the United States are transported using delivery trucks. Trucking companies are held to a higher standard than other motorists because they carry heavy cargo and operate difficult-to-maneuver vehicles. When delivery truck drivers are negligent while driving, it causes tragedy and devastation to everyone on the road.
Motorists assume delivery companies take extra precautions and promote safe driving, but the largest delivery companies promote the opposite. After a delivery truck accident, victims trust John Foy & Associates to build a strong claim and hold the appropriate parties responsible.
Delivery Fast Facts
Many delivery services are on the road, so motorists are in danger. Package delivery in recent years has skyrocketed, and delivery companies have taken advantage. They have upped their delivery trucks and hired more delivery drivers.
Some companies, like Amazon, have also tapped into the gig economy to get more deliveries completed in a day.
According to Parcel Pending, there were 87 billion packages delivered in 2018, and it is estimated that the number will be over 200 billion by 2025 if the trends stay consistent. The U.S. Postal Service also delivers 129.2 billion packages annually.
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FedEx Statistics
FedEx is a household name because they are one of the largest delivery companies with different subsidiaries. The company has over 160,000 drivers completing 100,000 deliveries through FedEx Ground and Freight daily.
During the two years of 2020 and 2022, these drivers were involved in 1,160 collisions, with 109 resulting in fatalities. The company delivers 12 million packages daily in various vehicles.
UPS Is Deadly
UPS is another major player in the delivery industry, and the numbers are similar to FedEx. The company employs 127,000 drivers and operates 134,000 delivery vehicles. Between 2020 and 2022, UPS drivers were in 1,082 crashes resulting in 74 fatalities.
In 2021, UPS delivered 6.4 billion packages which continues to increase annually.
Amazon Flex Delivery Truck Facts
Amazon Flex is a newer program that allows people to pick up extra income by making deliveries. Victims find it challenging to identify Flex drivers from regular motorists, which causes some confusion when filing a delivery accident claim. The drivers bid on blocks of time and are unfamiliar with the roads and are driving personal vehicles.
Amazon has various vessels on the road, including Amazon truck trailers, Embark driverless trucks, Mercedes-Benz sprinter vans, walk-in vans, Rivian Electric vans, and personal employee vehicles, increasing the probability of a collision.
Truck Accident Deaths Overall
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports truck accident deaths 4,000 yearly, with little change in reporting years. Their findings also show a 28% increase in fatalities since 2009. Most fatal accidents happen during the day before 3 p.m., with the peak being between noon and 3 p.m.
While many truck accidents happen on major roadways, delivery trucks can be in neighborhoods, opening the possibility for delivery truck drivers to cause more collisions.
Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents
It doesn’t take much for a delivery truck accident to lead to injury and death because the sheer size of the vehicle is enough to cause devastation. Delivery drivers must follow road rules and take regular breaks. Delivery trucks are just one of the vehicles making deliveries.
Passenger vehicles, large vans, and more are also on the road with inexperienced drivers. A minor error is sufficient for an accident in any vehicle. Commercial drivers undergo additional training, but some delivery drivers only have a standard license.
Delivery truck accidents happen from distracted driving, driver fatigue, poor training, speeding, improper cargo loading, and more. Distracted driving is prevalent in delivery truck accidents because delivery drivers always check their apps and follow the GPS. Amazon Flex drivers do not have regular routes and are often unfamiliar with where they are and how to get around.
What You Should Do After a Delivery Truck Accident
Calling the authorities and getting a police report is standard for every motor vehicle accident. Medical treatment is always necessary. Additionally, accident victims must protect themselves when making legal claims.
Accident victims should gather evidence and documentation of their injuries. When a collision occurs with a delivery truck, getting the driver’s and employer’s insurance information is vital.
Legal Options After a Delivery Truck Accident
Delivery companies like FedEx, UPS, and Amazon hire independent contractors to act as delivery drivers. While it helps these companies make deliveries faster and make a profit, they also use it to avoid liability during an accident. Victims of delivery truck accidents can sue the delivery driver, the contracting company, or the delivery company.
You have different legal options depending on the status of the delivery driver. Victims of delivery truck accidents can collect a monetary award for damages that compensate the harmed individuals to make them whole.
Punitive damages are available when the driver is egregious and is meant to punish their wrongdoing. Liability is rarely evident in delivery truck accidents, and you must speak to a local delivery truck accident lawyer for guidance.
Who Pays for Delivery Truck Accidents
Victims are under the assumption that the delivery company will pay for losses and damages after an accident, but it is rarely that simple. While it should be straightforward to get payments from employers, the employee classification makes claims challenging. If a delivery truck driver is an independent contractor, liability becomes complicated.
Victims often require a law firm that can sift through an insurance policy and hold the correct entity responsible. In some instances, three entities are named liable: the driver, third-party contractor, and delivery company.
Speak to a Local Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer Today
After a delivery truck accident, victims must get medical treatment and compensation. The delivery company knows they place unrealistic expectations on their drivers and uses various tactics to avoid liability after an accident. However, victims are not alone when they call John Foy & Associates.
Our firm is confident in our abilities to handle delivery truck cases. After a delivery truck accident, schedule an initial, no-risk consultation with our delivery truck accident attorney.
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