More than 70% of goods in the United States are transported by delivery trucks. Trucking companies are held to higher standards than other motorists because they transport heavy loads and operate challenging-to-maneuver vehicles. When delivery truck drivers are negligent, it causes tragedy and devastation for everyone on the road.
Motorists assume that delivery companies take extra precautions and promote safe driving, but larger delivery companies often promote the opposite. After a delivery truck accident, victims rely on John Foy & Associates to file a strong claim and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Quick Facts about Delivery
With many delivery services on the roads, motorists face risks. Package delivery has surged in recent years, and delivery companies have capitalized on this by improving their trucks and hiring more delivery drivers. Some companies, like Amazon, have also utilized the gig economy to complete more deliveries in a day.
According to Parcel Pending, 87 billion packages were delivered in 2018, and this figure is estimated to exceed 200 billion by 2025 if trends remain constant. The United States Postal Service also delivers 129.2 billion packages annually.
FedEx Statistics
FedEx is a household name as one of the largest delivery companies with various subsidiaries. The company has over 160,000 drivers performing 100,000 deliveries through FedEx Ground and Freight daily.
Between 2020 and 2022, these drivers were involved in 1,160 collisions, 109 of which resulted in deaths. The company delivers 12 million packages daily using various vehicles.
UPS Fatalities
UPS is another major player in the shipping industry, and the figures 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 accidents resulting in 74 deaths.
In 2021, UPS delivered 6.4 billion packages, a number that continues to increase annually.
Amazon Flex Truck Data
Amazon Flex is a newer program allowing individuals to earn extra income by making deliveries. Victims find it challenging to identify Flex drivers from regular ones, leading to confusion when filing a delivery accident claim. Flex drivers bid for time blocks, are unfamiliar with roads, and drive personal vehicles.
Amazon has various vehicles on the road, including Amazon truck trailers, Embark self-driving trucks, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, unmarked vans, Rivian Electric vans, and personal vehicles for employees, increasing the likelihood of a collision.
Deaths from Truck Accidents in General
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports 4,000 deaths from truck accidents annually, with few changes in reporting years. Findings also show a 28% increase in deaths since 2009. Most fatal accidents occur during the day before 3 p.m., peaking between noon and 3 p.m.
While many truck accidents happen on major highways, delivery trucks can be in neighborhoods, increasing the potential for delivery truck drivers to cause more collisions.
Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents
It doesn’t take much for a delivery truck accident to cause injuries and death because the vehicle’s size is sufficient to cause devastation. Delivery drivers must obey traffic rules and take regular breaks. Delivery trucks are just one type of vehicle making deliveries; other vehicles include passenger cars, large vans, and other vehicles with inexperienced drivers. A small mistake can lead to an accident in any vehicle.
Delivery truck accidents occur due to distracted driving, driver fatigue, inadequate training, speeding, improper loading, and more. Distracted driving is common in delivery truck accidents as drivers often check their apps and follow GPS. Amazon Flex drivers have irregular routes and are often unfamiliar with their location and how to navigate.
What to Do After a Delivery Truck Accident
Calling authorities and obtaining a police report is standard in all car accidents. Medical treatment is always necessary. Additionally, accident victims must protect themselves by filing legal claims. Victims should gather evidence and documentation of their injuries. When a collision occurs with a delivery truck, it is vital to obtain the driver and employer’s insurance information.
Legal Options After a Delivery Truck Accident
Delivery companies like FedEx, UPS, and Amazon hire independent contractors to act as delivery drivers. While this helps these companies make faster deliveries and profits, they also use it to avoid liability during an accident. Victims of delivery truck accidents can sue the delivery driver, the contractor, or the delivery company.
Different legal options are available depending on the delivery driver’s employment status. Victims of delivery truck accidents can claim monetary compensation for damages to compensate those affected. Punitive damages are available when the driver is egregious and intended to punish their wrongdoing. Liability is rarely clear in delivery truck accidents, and you should speak with a local attorney specializing in delivery truck accidents for guidance.
Who Pays for Delivery Truck Accidents?
Victims often assume the transport company will pay for losses and damages after an accident, but it’s rarely that straightforward. While obtaining payments from employers should be straightforward, employee classification complicates claims. If a delivery truck driver is an independent contractor, liability becomes complicated.
Victims often need a law firm that can examine an insurance policy and hold the correct entity accountable. In some cases, three entities may be considered responsible: the driver, the external contractor, and the delivery company.
Speak to a Local Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer Today
After a delivery truck accident, victims should seek medical treatment and compensation. The delivery company knows it places unrealistic expectations on its drivers and uses various tactics to avoid responsibility after an accident.
