Accidents With Delivery Trucks
Delivery vehicles crisscross our roadways each day. With the rapid increase and continued expansion of online shopping, delivery vehicles will remain a part of our everyday driving landscape for a long time to come. This means that there will be accidents involving these vehicles. Here, we want to discuss the implications of delivery vehicle accidents in North Carolina. Specifically, we want to look at who could be held responsible for these incidents because crash victims need compensation for their injury and property damage expenses.
What the Data Says
According to information available from the National Safety Council, we can see that there were nearly 5,000 deaths as a result of large truck accidents in the US during the latest reporting year of data supplied. However, what this does not tell us is how many accidents occur involving delivery vehicles. Over the last two decades, the number of delivery vehicles has significantly increased on the roadways throughout the United States. As citizens of this country increase their online shopping, with everything from personal entertainment items to food, delivery truck accidents are likely to occur more often.
Who is Responsible for Delivery Truck Accidents?
FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, Amazon, and more. All of these companies deliver products to our households. Additionally, there are various carriers that most people are unaware of that help get our products from point A to point B.
When an accident involving a delivery truck occurs, it is crucial to examine the incident just like any other vehicle accident, which involves the police. Law enforcement officials must investigate the incident when it happens. Additionally, anyone involved in a delivery truck accident must seek medical treatment as soon as possible. This helps establish a solid link between the accident and any injuries and also ensures that the victims receive the medical care they need.
Every delivery company has insurance carriers for situations like this. When an accident occurs, if the investigation uncovers that the delivery driver or delivery company was somehow responsible for the incident, then their insurance carrier should be responsible for paying compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage expenses, and more.
The good news is that these vehicles, as opposed to independent traditional vehicle delivery drivers, are typically driven by employees of the company. There are some situations where the “last mile” delivery is done by independent contractors who own their own vehicles and deliver packages on their own schedule, much like Uber drivers, but for packages.
Compensation Available After a Delivery Truck Accident
Any person injured as a result of the careless or negligent actions of a truck driver or a trucking company in North Carolina should be able to recover various types of compensation for their losses. This includes compensation for all medical expenses related to any injuries, lost wages if a person cannot work while recovering, property damage expenses, pain and suffering losses, and more.
It is crucial to work with a skilled truck accident lawyer in Raleigh, NC who has experience handling these claims and can help you through the process. An attorney will fully prepare your case for trial if that is what it takes to recover the compensation you need.