Changes in consumer habits have led to a steep increase in the need for delivery trucks on the road every day. While FedEx and similar delivery companies enjoy the benefits of this increase in business, they also have to contend with the issues that these volume increases bring. Unfortunately, this can often lead to heavier demands on the delivery drivers who may feel pressured to drive faster or more recklessly in order to meet their new timelines.
This situation has led to more accidents involving delivery trucks. In turn, lawsuits involving trucking accidents are on the rise. If you have been involved in an accident with a delivery truck, you should know that cases surrounding delivery companies can get far more complicated than a typical car accident.
You will be sure to need the services of an experienced truck accident attorney to help you navigate the legal details of your case. Contact one of our knowledgeable Decatur car accident lawyers at Marks Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.
FedEx Truck Accident Statistics
FedEx alone has over 40,000 drivers on roads across the country. In 2020 alone, the company saw its trucks cover over one billion miles. With these numbers, FedEx has a rather impressive safety record.
Over a two-year period, FedEx reported 418 crashes involving their trucks. Less than half of these crashes caused an injury, with just 8 leading to fatalities. During the same time period, drivers for FedEx had 436 maintenance violations according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Their drivers also received almost 900 violations of local traffic laws.
If you are involved in an accident involving a FedEx truck, know that an experienced truck accident lawyer can help you get compensation for your damages, including your medical bills.
What to Do if You Are Hit by a FedEx Truck
Crashes between commercial trucks and non-commercial vehicles can result in substantial damages. You could find yourself having to deal with property damage, lost income, medical bills, and other costs.
You are able to take legal action to recoup your costs if you have been in an accident involving a FedEx truck. Follow the steps we have laid out below to give yourself the best chance to move forward with your case.
Call 911
This is especially true if you were in a severe accident. If you or anyone else a the accident scene are injured, you should request emergency services to get medical attention as quickly as possible. Do not refuse medical treatment after your accident. At a minimum, you should be sure to get a full physical after an accident, as they can often cause injuries that may not make themselves fully apparent until days or even weeks after the initial event.
Wait For the Police to Arrive
If the accident has not resulted in any injuries, you should still call for a police response. A police officer will analyze the accident scene, and interview witnesses as well as each driver before writing their incident report. Be sure to get a copy of the officer's crash report, as this will have information that is vital to your case.
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The report will include the officer's review of what happened leading up to the accident as well as contact information for the drivers and witnesses and insurance information for the different parties involved. If you choose to file a lawsuit, the police report will likely be one of the most important pieces of your case.
Collect Information From the FedEx Driver
You should at a minimum have contact and insurance information for the driver before you leave the scene of the accident. While you will be able to obtain this information from the police report, it may take you time to get a copy, and being able to submit it to your attorney immediately will allow the to begin work on your case more quickly.
Document the Accident Scene
If you have not been injured in your accident, make sure you record as much as you can about the accident. Write down or make a note on your phone of your immediate recollection of what led up to the crash and record contact information for the other driver or drivers as well as any witnesses on the scene.
You should also take pictures or video at the scene to capture anything relevant to the case including property damage to any vehicles involved, injuries to anyone involved in the accident, skid marks or other evidence that a driver lost control of their vehicle, other factors that may have contributed to the accident such as stop lights or traffic signs. You can never have too many pictures of the accident so take plenty to make sure you get as much information as you can.
Collect Witness Statements
To put it simply: people are busy. It is extremely common for accident witnesses to leave before the police are able to arrive and interview them. If you have not been injured in your accident you should take time to any witnesses yourself. Review their story and get their contact information if you are able. This will allow your attorney to talk to them while developing your case.
Follow Medical Advice
Injuries sustained in an accident can be life-altering. Following the advice, you receive from doctors after your accident will not only be beneficial for your health but can be beneficial for your case as well. By being medically compliant you will be able to show FedEx that you are committed to your recovery and will have plenty of medical records to document your financial damage.
FedEx is a national delivery company, so it should come as no surprise that they employ lawyers with considerable experience negotiating and litigating truck accident cases. If you have been in an accident with a FedEx delivery truck, you will need the help of a talented truck accident attorney. They will be able to negotiate with FedEx or focus on building your case to get compensation for your financial and non-economic damages, while you can focus your attention on getting better.
Proving Liability After an Accident With a FedEx Vehicle
Employers may be held legally responsible for actions taken by their employees as long as they are performing their business duties. At first, this seems like it would make liability questions regarding FedEx truck accidents simple. The driver is performing work duties for FedEx, so FedEx can be held liable for the accident, right?
Unfortunately, it is rarely that simple. Many delivery drivers actually work as independent contractors, meaning that FedEx is not actually their employer. Suppose an independent contractor hits you. In that case, they may be individually liable for your damages, or if they work for a company that accepts FedEx contracts, that company could be found liable.
To further complicate matters, many trucking companies contract their maintenance work to third-party entities. This means that the company responsible for servicing its fleet of commercial vehicles can be held liable in the event of a mechanical malfunction leading to an accident. To take it a step further, a manufacturing error could lead to parts breaking unexpectedly. The company producing the part in question could be held responsible for a truck accident.
This should help to drive home the main point: proving liability in a FedEx truck accident can be an incredibly complicated process. There will likely be a number of different parties attempting to assign blame to one another, which can cause major delays in you receiving the financial compensation you are entitled to. Whether it is the individual driver, FedEx, or a combination of liable parties, you will be able to file a personal injury claim to recoup your medical costs and other damages suffered in the accident.
What Makes Accidents With a FedEx Truck More Complex?
When FedEx drivers who are employees of the company are involved in an accident, FedEx is usually quick to build a legal defense for their driver and counter any claims made in your case. The amount of experience the company and its attorneys have in dealing with these cases can make them more difficult than an average car accident.
If a delivery truck accident involves a delivery driver who is working as an independent contractor, you should expect it to be far more complex. While the delivery company itself may be liable in some way, the independent contractor will likely have independent insurance for such a situation. Knowing the responsible parties in your case and which to name when filing your claims can be difficult, but is important to move your case forward.
It should be clear that accidents involving FedEx trucks can be legally complicated ordeals, and it is not in your best interest to try taking it on by yourself. Working with an experienced Decatur personal injury law firm can help you succeed in your legal claims and get compensated for lost wages, medical care costs, property damage, and more.
How Our Lawyers Can Help
If you have been involved in a Georgia FedEx truck accident, call a talented truck accident attorney with Marks Law Group. Delivery trucks can cause catastrophic crashes that may leave you covering out-of-pocket costs for medical bills and property damages. We are able to help you file a compensation claim to cover these costs, as well as get compensation for loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress resulting from the accident, and more. We will work on your behalf to negotiate a beneficial settlement with the insurance companies and provide you with legal representation during your court battle if your case goes to trial. Call us today or book an appointment online for a free initial consultation.