Delivery trucks like FedEx, UPS, Amazon, and DHL are everywhere these days – on the road, around the corner, and in your neighborhood. While it’s great to have packages delivered to your doorstep, it’s another thing altogether if delivery trucks cause injury accidents because drivers are hurrying to stay on schedule. If you’ve been in a crash, you may be wondering what to do if a FedEx truck hits your car. Read on to learn more about your legal rights.
In the 24 months prior to December 7, 2021, FedEx drivers were involved in a total of 405 accidents, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes 10 fatal collisions and 159 crashes involving injuries. Of the 405 accidents, 236 required one or more vehicles to be towed. FedEx employs more than 42,000 drivers who log over a billion miles a year on the road.
These statistics demonstrate that FedEx truck crashes are serious and can result in severe injury or death. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a crash with a FedEx or other delivery truck, you may be entitled to financial compensation. You don’t have to face mounting medical bills, time off work, and other setbacks all alone. A skilled and experienced truck accident lawyer can fight for your rights.
7 Steps: What to Do if a FedEx Truck Hits My Car
Car accidents and truck accidents resulting in injury must be taken seriously even if you think you haven’t been badly hurt. Sometimes severe symptoms arise hours or days later. The most important thing to do immediately after a FedEx truck hits your car is to ensure your own safety and seek medical attention. Following are seven steps to take if you’ve been injured in a vehicle accident:
- Call 911 and ask for emergency vehicles and police to respond right away.
- Seek medical attention – whether this means riding in an ambulance to a hospital emergency room or going to see your family doctor within days of the accident. This not only ensures you get the medical treatment you need, but it also creates documentation and test results showing your injuries.
- Get the name and delivery truck number of the driver who hit you.
- Get names and contact info of people who witnessed the accident so your attorney can interview them later.
- If you are able, take pictures of the crash scene and your injuries with your cell phone.
- Answer police officer’s questions accurately and succinctly, but do not elaborate or try to explain things in greater detail. And do not acknowledge fault for the accident.
- Hire a personal injury attorney to represent you.
Potential Injuries If You’re Hit by a FedEx Truck
Delivery drivers have strict schedules and delivery quotas every day, which can cause them to hurry and sometimes cut corners. Drivers who are more concerned with speed than safety can cause accidents. Following are some common injuries suffered in delivery crashes:
- Concussions
- TBI
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Internal bleeding
- Cuts, bruises and lacerations
- Neurological injuries
- Organ damage
- Paralysis
- PTSD
- Wrongful death
Nationwide in 2019, there were more than 19,800 fatal light truck crashes. Light trucks include delivery trucks, pickup trucks, and other lighter trucks but excludes semi-tractor trailers. Typical drivers in Alabama have a greater than 1 in 3 chance of being involved in a motor vehicle accident in their lifetime resulting in injury or death, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation. In 2019, there were 11,243 truck accidents on Alabama roadways involving all kinds of trucks. That year, a person was injured in a traffic accident every 11 minutes and 19 seconds in Alabama.
Delivery truck accidents can be caused by many different things. Some of these include:
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Texting while driving
- Distracted driving
- Driver impairment due to alcohol or drugs
- Delivery trucks with manufacturer defects
- Poorly maintained delivery vehicles
- Roadways with potholes, debris, and missing traffic lights and signs
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Alabama?
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Alabama is two years. ( Ala. Code. Sec. 6-2-38) This means if you want to sue a party that caused you harm in a FedEx delivery truck accident, you must file your lawsuit promptly. The clock begins on the date of your accident in most cases, unless there are exceptions that apply.
- A skilled and experienced delivery truck accident lawyer at Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana can file a legal claim on your behalf. We can also:
- Evaluate the damages you have suffered because of the accident and determine what your case should be worth
- Prepare a “demand letter” that states what compensation you are seeking from FedEx or their insurance company
- Find all responsible parties and possible defendants
- Interview witnesses, police and first responders
- Gather evidence, such as videos from traffic cameras
- Obtain police and medical reports
- File all necessary paperwork
- Consult and hire expert witnesses
- Handle all correspondence and negotiating with insurance companies and other attorneys
- Take your case to court and litigate it in front of a judge or jury if necessary
Contact a FedEx Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a FedEx truck accident, you don’t have to face this tragedy alone. The skilled and experienced attorneys at Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana can assess you situation and determine if you may qualify for financial damages. Delivery truck accidents can be caused by a myriad of things including driver error, poor maintenance, roadway impediments, and negligence. These crashes result in mounting medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and a great deal of uncertainty for you and your family. If this describes your situation, we are prepared to fight for your legal rights. Our accident lawyers will hold FedEx accountable and aggressively go toe-to-toe with insurance companies to get the justice you deserve. To find out more about how we can help, call us at (251) 444-7000. The initial consultation is free.
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