The aftermath of a truck accident can be scary and confusing. This is especially true when the other driver works for a delivery company and it’s unclear who is responsible for the injuries you suffered. If you were recently involved in a delivery truck accident, contact Fountain Law Firm, P.C. to speak to an experienced Indianapolis delivery truck accident lawyer. We can explain your legal rights and options during a free consultation.
Truck accidents are not uncommon. Here are some statistics regarding delivery truck accidents from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and other reliable sources:
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, vehicles from the United Parcel Service (UPS) were involved in 2,875 crashes between June 2021 and June 2023. 67 of these crashes were fatal, and 1,000 were injury crashes.
According to an exclusive from The Wall Street Journal, USPS trucks have been involved in 68 fatal vehicle accidents since 2020. 79 people died in these accidents. The publication found that USPS was under pressure to cut costs, so they hired third-party trucking companies at lower rates and pushed them to meet aggressive delivery schedules.
Amazon is one of the newer companies that offer deliveries to its global customers. Statistics for accidents involving this company’s drivers are more difficult to come by because it has contracts with more than 50,000 firms, providing insulation from liability for many accidents. Nonetheless, The Wall Street Journal reported that trucking companies that were delivering for Amazon have been involved in accidents that killed 75 people since 2015. Researchers studied Department of Transportation records from February 2020 to August 2022 and found that contractors who worked most with Amazon were more than two times as likely to receive bad unsafe driving scores, in comparison to all other similar companies.
Additionally, a report by the Strategic Organizing Center revealed that one in five Amazon delivery drivers suffered injuries in 2021 and that the company often sacrifices safety for speed.
FedEx trucks were involved in 355 crashes from June 2021 to June 2023. Eight of the crashes were fatal, and 121 involved injuries.
Now that you can see the glaring statistics involving delivery truck companies, you might be wondering what causes so many of these accidents. Here are a few common causes of delivery truck accidents:
Delivery services are competitive. Consumers want their products quickly, and companies compete to deliver them first. This can create dangerous expectations for drivers to get deliveries to customers. Some companies further incentivize fast deliveries by offering bonuses to those who make deliveries ahead of schedule. Unfortunately, some companies prioritize speed over safety.
One way that drivers get packages to their destinations faster is to speed. This may involve driving over the speed limit or failing to reduce speeds in poor road or weather conditions.
Speeding isn’t the only way delivery drivers get their packages to their destinations faster. Drivers may take other risks, such as:
Delivery drivers, potentially more susceptible to distractions than other motorists, often face a higher risk of involvement in truck accidents caused by driver error, as they:
Many drivers push themselves beyond their physical limits. They may drive even when they are tired to make extra money or meet tight delivery timelines. Fatigued drivers mimic some of the behaviors and effects of impaired drivers, including having slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and increased drowsiness.
Truck driving is a tough job, so many trucking companies fail to have enough staff to realistically meet their delivery demands. They can constantly be hiring new drivers who are inexperienced. Rather than properly training them, the trucking company may quickly release them to complete deliveries, putting other motorists at risk.
In some cases, the vehicle may malfunction, have an uncorrected mechanical issue, or be affected by a defect. This can cause the vehicle to have issues during operation. While commercial drivers are required to complete pre-trip inspections and trucking companies are supposed to maintain their vehicles in a safe condition, this is one other area where they may cut corners in the interest of speed.
One of the more complicated aspects of delivery truck accidents is determining who is liable for the crash. Some of the parties who may be responsible for a delivery truck accident could include one or more of the following:
An experienced delivery truck accident lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation to identify all potentially at-fault parties.
One of the best ways to secure compensation for an Indianapolis delivery truck accident is to build a strong claim with solid evidence. An experienced truck accident lawyer can help identify, gather, and prepare strong evidence, such as:
It is unlikely that trucking companies will willingly hand over this evidence to use against them. This is one reason why it’s essential to work with an experienced Indianapolis delivery truck accident lawyer who knows how to obtain this type of compelling evidence.
If you were injured in a truck accident caused by a negligent delivery truck driver or company, do not try to face the challenges ahead alone. You can expect them to be represented by aggressive insurers and legal counsel. You deserve to be just as fiercely represented.
Fountain Law Firm, P.C. was established by Merry Fountain, a personal injury victim who suffered a broken hand and scarring when she was hit by a business truck. She understands firsthand what you are going through and is ready to provide you with the aggressive legal representation you need and deserve. Call us today at (888) 242-4878 to take advantage of your free case review.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about delivery truck accidents and our answers:
You can pursue compensation for all your accident-related expenses, including:
These damages include those expenses you have already incurred, as well as those that you can reasonably anticipate for the future.
All states have statutes of limitations that provide deadlines by which certain legal action must be taken. In Indiana, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years. This means that, in most cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the negligent party. If this deadline passes and you have not filed your case, it can be barred from the court system.
There are some exceptions when you may have more time to file a lawsuit, such as if the victim was a minor, as well as times when you may have less time, such as when you are filing a case against the government like USPS. An experienced delivery truck accident lawyer can review your claim and explain the deadlines that apply to your case.
Some of the steps that you can take to protect your rights after being involved in a delivery truck accident are:
A lawyer can provide you with legal advice and support throughout your claim and beyond. Some of the ways Fountain Law Firm, P.C. can help are:
We provide a free, no-obligation consultation, so there’s no risk to call us today to learn more about how we can help.
You might wonder whether you should hire a lawyer at all. But keep in mind that the delivery truck company has its own team of lawyers and other professionals protecting their interests. Hiring an Indianapolis delivery truck crash lawyer can ensure that you level the playing field and have someone looking out for your interests. The sooner you hire a lawyer, the sooner you can have someone working on your case and protecting your rights.