What You Need to Know About Tennessee Delivery Truck Accidents

By Thomas Greer | June 23, 2014

Every day, you share the road with many kinds of vehicles, including delivery trucks like those that are driven by people who deliver packages for companies like UPS and FedEx. These vehicles, like every other vehicle on the road, are always at risk of being involved in an accident. While delivery trucks are smaller than eighteen wheelers, they can be rather heavy. For example, a UPS truck can carry up to eighty thousand pounds of cargo.

While many of us are aware that delivery truck drivers face immense pressure to deliver things on time during the holiday season, what you may not know is that the pressure to deliver packages on time is present all year long. While workplace safety policies from the companies who employ the delivery truck drivers state that safety should take a back seat to speed, drivers are still expected to make their deliveries on time.

Delivery trucks pose risks to their drivers, as well as to the drivers of other vehicles. Their size and weight cause more damage than ordinary vehicles do when they are involved in a crash. Also, the design features of delivery trucks which make it easy for their drivers to get in and out of their vehicles quickly and perform their jobs efficiently may make delivery truck accidents more dangerous for their drivers. Sometimes, the people who drive delivery trucks may be under qualified for the job, or they may not be properly trained in how to safely operate the truck that they are driving. The trucks themselves can pose a hazard to drivers, as accidents involving UPS or FedEx delivery trucks often result in the driver of the truck being ejected from the vehicle and being severely injured or killed.

The package delivery companies that own large fleets of delivery trucks understand and accept that accidents are a part of doing business. They have comprehensive plans for dealing with accidents involving their trucks. Often, their plan for dealing with accidents involve sending accident response teams out to collect information immediately after the crash, just like the trucking companies that own fleets of eighteen wheelers do. The insurance company that represents the package delivery company will also want to speak with the drivers who were involved in the accident right away. One reason for this is that the other drivers might provide information to the insurer that it can use to support its case.

Drivers who are involved in a delivery truck accident should also be aware that the delivery company’s insurance company is likely to try to settle your claim as soon as they can after the crash. They hope that you will accept a settlement that is less than what you need to cover your loss, so that they do not have to pay out as much money. For this reason, politely decline to speak with anyone from an insurance company until after you have consulted with an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney.

The knowledgeable Memphis trucking accident attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC know how to analyze delivery truck accident cases and present your claim for damages in a way which is most likely to be successful. When you tell us about the details of your case, we will answer your questions, explain your options and help you decide how to proceed. To learn more, call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a consultation.  At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.

Posted in Blog

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.