Delivery Truck Accidents & Injuries: Holding Companies Accountable
Delivery truck drivers play a crucial role in today’s fast-paced economy, ensuring goods reach consumers in a timely manner. However, with the increase in delivery demands, accidents involving delivery trucks have also surged. Many of these wrecks are caused by negligence, often stemming from inadequate background checks, lack of supervision and training, and excessive company demands.
Below, we discuss the most common types of wrecks caused by delivery truck drivers, the underlying causes of driver negligence, and the role of an experienced personal injury lawyer in proving liability.
Common Types of Accidents Caused by Delivery Truck Drivers
Delivery trucks are large vehicles that are cumbersome to drive, with significant blindspots and top-heavy builds that make them prone to rollovers if handled recklessly. Drivers unused to delivery truck size or pushed by corporate leadership to rush deliveries are more likely to make mistakes or be unable to react and stop quickly enough. Types of delivery truck accidents include:
- Rear-End Collisions – Due to tight delivery schedules, drivers often speed or fail to maintain a safe following distance, leading to rear-end crashes.
- Blind Spot Accidents – Delivery trucks have larger blind spots than passenger vehicles, and inexperienced drivers often fail to check before changing lanes.
- Intersection Accidents – Rushing through intersections to meet deadlines can result in drivers running red lights or failing to yield.
- Backing-Up Crashes – Poor visibility and improper training contribute to accidents when drivers back into vehicles, pedestrians, or property.
- Fatigue-Related Crashes – Long hours and insufficient breaks can lead to drowsy driving, impairing reaction time and judgment.
- Improperly Loaded Cargo Accidents – Unsecured or unbalanced loads can cause the truck to tip or shift unexpectedly.
The Role of Inadequate Background Checks
One of the primary reasons for negligent driving behavior is the failure of delivery companies to conduct thorough background checks before hiring drivers. Some companies hire drivers with prior reckless driving records, DUIs, or histories of traffic violations simply because they need to fill positions quickly. When companies fail to vet their drivers properly, they put everyone on the road at risk.
Lack of Supervision and Ongoing Training
Even if a driver has a clean background, ongoing supervision and training are essential to ensuring safe driving habits. Many companies fail to provide refresher courses on road safety, defensive driving, and proper vehicle handling. Without proper oversight, inexperienced drivers can develop dangerous habits such as distracted driving, speeding, or failing to adhere to traffic laws. Companies must also enforce strict policies regarding the use of mobile phones and other distractions while driving.
How Company Demands Compromise Safety
Delivery companies often impose strict deadlines on drivers, pressuring them to complete multiple deliveries within unrealistic timeframes. This leads to drivers engaging in unsafe practices such as:
- Speeding through traffic and intersections
- Skipping necessary breaks, leading to fatigue
- Ignoring weather conditions or road hazards
- Forgoing pre-trip vehicle inspections
The pressure to meet quotas forces drivers to prioritize speed over safety, significantly increasing the risk of wrecks.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Investigates Delivery Truck Accidents
When a delivery truck accident occurs, an experienced personal injury lawyer must conduct a thorough investigation to establish liability. This process includes:
- Reviewing the Driver’s Background – Checking the driver’s history for prior accidents, violations, or lack of proper licensing.
- Obtaining Company Records – Investigating whether the employer conducted proper background checks, provided adequate training, and enforced safety regulations.
- Analyzing Truck Maintenance Records – Ensuring the truck was properly maintained and that mechanical failures did not contribute to the crash.
- Examining GPS and Log Records – Determining whether the driver was speeding, overworked, or deviated from required break periods.
- Interviewing Witnesses – Gathering statements from bystanders, passengers, or other drivers who may have observed the accident.
- Collecting Video and Photographic Evidence – Reviewing surveillance footage, dashcam videos, or traffic camera recordings.
- Consulting Experts – Working with accident reconstruction specialists to establish causation and fault.
Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer: Holding Companies Accountable
Delivery truck accidents can have devastating consequences, often caused by negligence at multiple levels. When companies fail to properly vet drivers, provide necessary training, or enforce reasonable delivery schedules, they contribute to dangerous driving conditions.
Amazon, Fedex, UPS, and other companies are huge, with unfathomable amounts of money and legal power at their disposal. However, that doesn’t mean they are above the law.
An experienced personal injury lawyer plays a crucial role in uncovering evidence, holding negligent drivers and their employers accountable, and securing fair compensation for delivery accident victims.
With a team of legal professionals at your back, you can get justice. If you or a loved one has been involved in a delivery truck accident, contact the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C. to learn your rights.
