What To Do After A Delivery Truck Accident in 2023
More and more individuals are making online purchases, increasing the number of delivery vehicles on the roadways. Because of this, the number of incidents involving delivery trucks has skyrocketed in recent years.
Having packages delivered by a delivery truck is a huge convenience. However, the destruction is devastating when one of these big rigs runs into another vehicle or a person.
An accident involving a delivery truck often entitles the victim to financial compensation. If you’ve been injured and need help filing a claim against the responsible party, contact PM Law Firm now.
Common Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents
Being involved in an accident with a delivery truck is always stressful. Waiting for insurance providers to pay for repairs to your car is stressful, regardless of whether you suffered any injuries. To what extent you may seek compensation, and how much, depends on what caused the accident.
Common causes of delivery truck accidents in Texas include the following:
- Fault of the driver: The majority of accidents still occur because of human mistake.
- Distracted driving: this includes offenses including speeding, texting, driving recklessly and failing to yield.
- Extreme weather: Extreme weather is common in Texas, from raging thunderstorms to slippery highways. Collisions are more likely to occur when delivery truck drivers fail to keep control of their vehicles due to inclement weather.
- Mechanical malfunctions: Despite their longevity, delivery vehicles need consistent upkeep. Accidents may occur as a consequence of putting off maintenance and repairs, such as brake changes, tire rotations and engine work.
- Fatigue: Driver tiredness is a real risk while working long hours or juggling a heavy workload. The risk of an accident increases because drowsy motorists are slower to react.
- Inadequate education: Drivers of delivery trucks need specialized training because of the special handling requirements of these vehicles. Those without the proper licensure are more likely to end up in an accident.
- Dangerous driving: Collisions with other cars or pedestrians are a real risk when drivers disrespect traffic signals.
- Impaired vision: Large blind areas are a common problem for delivery vehicles. Driving in conditions with poor visibility makes it more difficult to see pedestrians, bicycles and other cars.
- State of the roads: Delivery drivers are vulnerable to risks such as broken pavement, trash and construction sites. Loss of control or vehicle damage are both possible outcomes of driving on roads with uneven surfaces.
Delivery truck drivers are at a much higher risk of crashing if they experience even one of the above-listed factors. When these factors come together, the danger level skyrockets. For instance, a tired delivery truck driver is especially hazardous on snowy roads.
What to Do If You Get in an Accident With a Delivery Truck
It’s important to remember a few things in the immediate aftermath of a delivery truck accident to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being. All parties involved in a delivery truck collision should immediately notify their insurance providers. However, you should only attempt to do this if you don’t need immediate medical attention. The driver of the delivery truck will also notify his or her employer about the incident. The insurance firms will conduct an investigation to establish who was at fault.
Once the initial shock has worn off, you and the other parties involved will greatly benefit from taking the time to record what happened and collect any necessary information, such as witness testimony. You’ll also benefit from having a police officer document all of the traffic laws that the truck driver violated.
Call 911
Before trying to document any evidence of a delivery truck accident, you must make sure no one needs any medical attention. Call 911 immediately if you or someone else appears injured or requests medical treatment.
Exchange Contact Information
After verifying whether anyone needs medical attention, you should put your focus on sharing contact information with all parties involved. This includes all drivers, passengers and witnesses. Not only should you share contact information, but it’s also wise to ask for insurance policy numbers to expedite filing a claim with the at-fault party’s carrier.
Take Photos and Videos
Receiving compensation for an accident with a delivery truck is easier if you take pictures and/or video at the site of the accident as evidence. An attorney can help you figure out if there is any relevant surveillance film that may have recorded the accident.
Go to the Doctor
Even if you don’t feel hurt, it’s a good idea to visit a doctor after an accident with a delivery truck. Adrenaline may dull the pain of automobile accident injuries, and certain injuries may not show signs for days. Keep any receipts and medical documents related to your injuries, and try to stick to your doctor’s prescribed treatment as best you can to fulfill the needs of a personal injury claim.
Reasons to Work With an Accident Lawyer
Damage from an accident with a delivery truck can be both extensive and long-lasting. The delivery truck company and its insurance provider will do their best to minimize their losses by trying to get you to settle for a ridiculously low amount. One of the best ways to improve your chances of winning compensation for your injuries is by working with an accident attorney who has years of experience with Texas law.
Accident Reporting
In the event of an accident involving a delivery truck, a lawyer can help you by notifying the relevant authorities. This guarantees that you will receive a comprehensive, highly detailed report to use for filing a claim. An experienced attorney can also handle all correspondence with the delivery truck company and its insurance carrier on your behalf.
Preparing Your Claim
Your lawyer will prepare your claim in a way that helps you get the fullest amount of compensation for hospital bills, automobile repairs and mental anguish. The claim process begins with the lawyer meticulously looking over the details of the incident. Accident reports, witness accounts and photographic evidence are just some of the key items that your attorney will gather. When required, your lawyer will consult with accident reconstructionists to get a full picture of what happened.
Receiving Compensation
Your lawyer will evaluate the facts and then negotiate with the delivery truck company’s insurance company to ensure you get fair compensation. They’ll lay out the case and show how the truck driver directly contributed to your losses. If the insurance carrier doesn’t want to settle your case with an offer, your attorney will take your case to trial. Taking a dispute to court is an option in certain circumstances. A lawyer will take care of the difficult details of preparing for and conducting a trial on your behalf. They’ll argue on your behalf and prove that the delivery truck driver is to blame for the damages you suffered.
Delivery Truck Damages You Can Receive Compensation For
Delivery truck vehicles pose a substantial risk of injury and property loss in the event of an accident. Your attorney can advise you on whether or not you have a case and whether or not you should pursue damages.
Medical Expenses
An injury lawyer works to get victims of accidents the money they need to pay for their medical care when it’s the fault of someone else. They deal with the insurance companies and court system, taking the stress and hassle out of having to deal with the legal processes yourself, which allows you to focus on your recovery.
Lost Wages
A delivery truck accident attorney can assess how the accident affected your work. He or she will compile the proper paperwork to guarantee you receive all compensation owed to you for lost wages.
Property Damage
Your lawyer will determine the financial loss you incurred as a result of the accident and fill out the necessary documentation to guarantee you get reimbursement. The goal is to make sure you get enough money to pay for the total cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any damaged property.
Pain and Suffering
Having legal representation to help you get pain-and-suffering damages after an accident is essential. Your lawyer will collect evidence, evaluate the mental and physical toll of the incident and then negotiate with insurance or take legal action to make sure you receive compensation for all intangible losses.
Wrongful Death
In circumstances of wrongful death, legal assistance from an accident lawyer is invaluable to the remaining family members. Holding the negligent parties liable can help you get compensation for the mental anguish, social isolation and financial hardship caused by the accident.
When Should I File an Accident Claim?
After receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a collision with a delivery vehicle, you should immediately make a compensation claim. Acting quickly is essential since deadlines, known as statutes of limitations, differ from one jurisdiction to the next. For help on whether and how to submit a claim after an accident, it’s a good idea to speak with an attorney.
How Long Do I Have to File a Delivery Truck Accident Lawsuit?
You have two years from the day of an accident with a delivery truck driver to file a claim for compensation. If you sue after this deadline, the court may throw out your claim. This is why it’s so important to contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident.
How Do Delivery Truck Accidents Differ From Other Ones?
There are certain unique aspects to accidents involving delivery trucks. First of all, truck drivers are under close scrutiny from their employers. Many companies even require their truck drivers to have a video camera running at all times to ensure they document any accidents. Knowing whether the truck driver involved in your accident has one of these cameras is very helpful for any claims you make.
Tips for Delivery Truck Accident Victims
You can increase your chances of getting compensation owed to you after a delivery truck accident by following these guidelines:
Hiring an Accident Lawyer
The legal processes involved in getting compensation after a vehicular accident are both tedious and complex. If you miss even one deadline or fill out a paper wrong, you may forfeit any money owed to you. This is why it’s so helpful to hire an experienced lawyer who can walk you through the entire process of filing a claim and receiving compensation.
Carefully Preserving Evidence
The evidence used in court cases for receiving compensation after a delivery truck accident is crucial to the amount you end up getting. You should do all that you can to preserve any evidence you collect, including paperwork, photos and video. If you need to submit evidence in court, your lawyer can advise you on how to best store and protect it.
Sending All Communications to Your Lawyer
You can best protect your legal interests by having your lawyer handle any correspondence with insurers after an accident. They know their way around tricky talks and can shield you from danger while also guaranteeing you receive fair compensation. Having your lawyer handle conversations with insurance companies also protects you from getting bullied into accepting insufficient settlements.
Contact a Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer Now
Don’t let an accident with a delivery truck take precedence over your life. Instead, get the medical care and support you need to make a full recovery by hiring an accident lawyer. Contact the PM Law Firm right now if you’ve been involved in an accident.