Delivery Truck Accidents
People are staying home and buying more online. We’re not going to stores as we have in the past because it’s so convenient to have what we want delivered to our homes or offices. This cuts down on the trips we make to stores but increases the number of delivery trucks on the road. One of them could cause an accident that severely injures or kills you or a loved one.
You may be entitled to compensation if you or a family member is injured or killed in a crash involving a delivery truck. Satterley and Kelley, PLLC, represents truck accident victims in insurance claims and litigation, so they’re fairly and fully compensated for what they’ve endured.
There were about $1 trillion in online sales in 2021, according to CNBC. That’s almost seven times the sales Home Depot rang up in their roughly 2,000 stores that year. Not only are trucks delivering purchases, they also bring back approximately 16% of sales that are returned. Just FedEx, UPS, USPS, and Amazon have about a half million trucks.
Delivery truck accidents, like all vehicle crashes, are usually the result of driver error or a mechanical defect. Road conditions, weather, and lighting can all play a role too.
Why are Delivery Trucks Dangerous?
They May Be Difficult to Maneuver and Stop
Delivery trucks may be vans or box trucks. They are heavier and bigger than passenger vehicles, with wide turning circles and large blind spots. Stopping takes a longer distance, especially if the truck is fully loaded. As the day goes on and the truck empties, the lighter weight may mean less traction on wet, icy, or snow-covered roads, making the truck harder to control.
They May Not be Maintained or Repaired Correctly
Repairs and maintenance on a heavily used delivery truck can be expensive. All those miles and the constant stopping and starting put a lot of wear and tear on the vehicle. Tires, brakes, suspensions, steering, and starters will need attention. This expense makes the company less profitable, so they may delay this work for as long as possible. Parts may fail sooner than the company expects and cause an accident.
If a truck isn’t on the road, it’s not making money for the company. They may need to rent a truck while it’s in the shop, increasing the cost and giving them another reason to put off needed vehicle work.
Why are Delivery Truck Drivers Dangerous?
They Frequently Stop
The more delivery drivers are on the road, the more likely they’ll make mistakes. They may drive hundreds of miles daily, repeatedly stopping at homes and businesses. They may not use turn signals as they should, nor might they look in their rearview mirrors every time before driving into traffic. Given how frequently they stop and start, they may take simple safe driving steps for granted.
They’re in a Hurry
If they can’t do all their deliveries in a day, they may not keep their jobs. The longer it takes them to complete their route, the longer their day, and the later it’ll be when they get home.
This can lead to speeding, aggressive and sloppy driving. They may take turns when it’s not safe. Running a stop sign can cause a t-bone accident. Speeding:
- Can result in tailgating
- Leaves less time for drivers to make decisions in emergencies
- Results in drivers not noticing essential things like a pedestrian crossing a street or a car pulling out of a parking lot
- Will make the truck more difficult to stop or steer out of an accident
Drivers in a hurry may focus on getting their job done as quickly as possible, not as safely as possible.
They’re Distracted
In addition to focusing on completing tasks in a hurry, they may:
- Change the radio
- Look at their GPS to get to the next stop
- Think about their route instead of the traffic ahead of them
Each delivery truck is not only a mobile store room but a portable office for the driver. They may be behind the wheel using a smartphone to contact their family, talk to their boss, or use a work-related app.
Every driver is obligated to stay focused. The moment a driver is distracted could be the instant they cause an accident.
Speak To a Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a family member is injured in a delivery truck accident in Kentucky, our law firm can and will help you handle legal matters with confidence. Put boots on the ground with help from Satterley & Kelley, PLLC.
To schedule a free initial consultation at our Louisville office, call 502-589-5600 (toll-free at 855-385-9532) or complete our contact form today.