UPS Truck Accident Lawyer
Overall, the United Parcel Service (UPS) drivers and other major delivery companies like Federal Express are excellent employees and model citizens: hardworking, dedicated, and competent. However, some of those drivers cause costly and destructive accidents each year. That’s when you’ll need a UPS truck accident lawyer.
Survivors of these crashes often deal with serious problems, including:
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Anxiety, depression, and other emotional issues.
- Steep medical bills.
- Lost wages.
- Unemployment.
- Long periods of rehabilitation.
- Major damage to a vehicle or other property.
Making matters worse, issues of liability and insurance can be extremely complicated. Your insurance policy might pay some of your accident-related expenses, but that sum might be far from adequate. As a result, you could face severe financial hardship.
Indeed, on your own, you might not get anywhere near the compensation you deserve. That’s why it’s crucial to have a qualified truck accident attorney at your side, fighting for you at every juncture.
The Dangers of Delivery Trucks
For sure, delivery trucks are essential to society, constantly transporting vital goods. But they can also be dangerous. Such a truck can weigh as much as 24,000 pounds, and that weight can greatly intensify a crash’s impact.
In addition, these trucks are constantly on the road: heading down highways, turning onto quiet streets, and entering cul-de-sacs. Accidents will inevitably happen.
The federal government — primarily through the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — regulates the delivery industry to mitigate the risks. Drivers must be extensively trained, and their hours on the road must be carefully logged.
Also, these professionals are required to undergo special programs to help them avoid issues with alcohol and drugs. And the government sets high standards for maintaining and repairing trucks.
Over the years, these regulations have reduced road accidents involving UPS trucks and similar vehicles. Even so, delivery truck collisions are not uncommon.
Who Is at Fault?
UPS and other delivery company accidents frequently arise from driver error or negligence.
For example, a driver might:
- Fail to yield when required to do so.
- Reverse suddenly and without looking.
- Change lanes too quickly or without signaling.
- Brake abruptly.
- Make a left turn without clearance.
- Run a red light.
- Use a cell phone while driving.
- Speed.
- Tailgate.
A delivery company may also be partially or wholly at fault for an accident. For example, if a company has not maintained a truck rigorously, a mechanical malfunction could lead to an accident.
Likewise, if a company overworks an employee, that person could commit a driving infraction due to fatigue. Thus, the company could be held legally responsible to some extent.
Given today’s massive demand for product deliveries — a demand that has increased since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic — some drivers’ schedules have become more hectic. Therefore, they might feel pressure to drive faster and take more risks behind the wheel.
There may be other parties who bear some responsibility for a delivery accident. They could include the truck’s manufacturer, mechanics, or inspectors. Of course, other drivers might be to blame as well.
What to Do After a UPS Accident
If you’ve just gotten into an accident with a delivery vehicle, there are actions you can take immediately for the most robust possible legal case.
- First of all, call 911 or ask someone else to do so if you’re unable. And, if you’re injured, stay still and wait for help to arrive. Otherwise, you could worsen your injuries.
- If you were struck while driving a vehicle, pull over to a safe spot. Turn on your hazard lights if you’re stuck in the middle of a road.
- After calling 911, if you can take further action, approach the driver for a brief conversation. Takedown that person’s name, phone number, insurance information, and license plate. Try to keep calm and speak very few words here, as difficult as it might be. Do not say any more than you must.
- Above all, do not admit or accept any fault for the accident. Anything you say at this point could come up again in a legal proceeding.
- Next, take numerous photos and videos, from multiple angles, of the accident scene. Document your damage extensively, and get clear shots of the truck’s license plate.
- Then, see your doctor or go to the emergency room as soon as possible. That way, you can be confident that you’re not suffering from any internal injuries.
- Finally, call an attorney right away. Along with their team, this lawyer will advise you as far as your next steps and start building your case.
Seeking Help From a UPS Truck Accident Lawyer
An adept attorney can investigate a delivery truck accident thoroughly and effectively. This person can take witness testimony, examine physical evidence, and scrutinize the company’s data and records.
Equipped with all of that information, your lawyer can determine precisely what caused the collision, what transpired at the scene of the accident, and who is responsible under the law.
This attorney can then add up all of your damages and calculate a fair settlement amount. Some survivors are entitled to hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.
Without a lawyer, the delivery company will likely find a way to shortchange you. For instance, if a driver hits your car while on a lunch break, the company might claim that it bears no responsibility for the accident. Businesses often look for legal loopholes.
Benefits of Having a UPS Truck Accident Lawyer
If you need a Houston-area UPS truck accident lawyer, we at PM Law Firm can provide you with outstanding representation. We know the experience, the skills, and the tenacity to earn you the compensation to which you’re entitled.
In the end, we can all be grateful for the hard work that UPS drivers and other delivery professionals do for us every day. However, if a delivery company or driver ever harms you out of carelessness, you deserve an excellent attorney, someone who will stand up for your rights every step of the way.