’TIS THE SEASON…FOR DELIVERY TRUCK ACCIDENTS

Increasing numbers of Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and other delivery trucks on the roads have altered the very fabric of major urban areas around the country. They have contributed significantly to congestion in high-traffic areas. Delivery truck drivers are under a great deal of pressure to make as many deliveries as possible as quickly as possible. Amazon, for example, expects that its delivery drivers make 999 out of 1000 deliveries on time or early, according to the New York Times. As shipments and deliveries surge around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, trucks crisscross the nation to transport goods and gifts from one end of the country to another. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the days leading up to Christmas day until New Years day tend to have many fatalities. 

In recent years, the number of deaths from Christmas Eve until New Years day is 799 according to the U.S Department of Transportation. Holidays are also often cause for celebration and festivities involving alcohol which plays a big factor to motor-vehicle crashes. To Learn more about how to spot a drunk driver on the road.  

STATISTICS

Some statistics regarding the biggest delivery services bring the issue into focus. During the two years of 2020–2022, FedEx drivers were involved in 1,160 collisions, with 109 resulting in fatalities. The company delivers 12 million packages daily in various vehicles. Between 2020 and 2022, UPS drivers were in 1,082 crashes resulting in 74 fatalities. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports truck accident deaths at 4,000 annually, 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

For many delivery truck drivers, the dollars they earn per hour, and their very jobs depend on rapidly delivering large numbers of packages to consumers. This factor creates a built-in incentive for drivers to exceed speed limits.

Distracted driving is also a big factor in delivery truck accidents. Delivery drivers are focused on navigating their routes, finding the next address, and dropping off the next package as quickly as possible. With the distractions and the pressures of the job, drivers may fail to register pedestrians, bicycles, or motorcycles in parking lots or roadways.

Driving while fatigued is another common cause of delivery truck accidents. Delivery truck drivers have long routes with hundreds of packages to deliver on any given day. They are overworked and under pressure from their employers to complete their routes as quickly as possible and to continue making deliveries as long as it takes to get the job done.

LIABILITY

Companies that employ delivery truck drivers are generally responsible for the actions of their employees. Corporations can take the blame for the wrongs that their employees do while on the clock. If you can prove that the driver who hit you was both on duty and a corporate employee, you may name the employing corporation responsible for your recovery.

A truck driver’s duty of care dictates that the driver must take reasonable action to protect you from undue harm. That means not getting distracted behind the wheel, obeying each state’s roadway laws, and forgoing reckless behavior. A driver or related party who breaches the duty of care owed to you may owe you damages based on your roadway losses.

That said, you can’t claim that a delivery truck driver violated the duty owed to you without evidence. If you want to file a civil claim against a delivery truck driver after an accident, make sure that you can prove their negligence with:

• Video footage of your accident
• Photos of your accident
• Debris from your crash
• Input from expert witnesses
• Statements from bystanders who witnessed your accident
• A truck’s black box data, if available

Like any other motor vehicle accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention if you suffered injuries. Next, call the police and obtain a police report. Remember to always exchange information with the other driver who was involved in the accident and take pictures of the damages. Lastly, call an experienced personal injury attorney to start your claim. 

CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY

If you or someone you know is involved in an accident with a delivery truck, contact Dave Thomas at The Thomas Law Firm for a free evaluation of your legal rights.