The holiday season is nearing its end. While that means that the number of delivery trucks that you see in your neighborhood might significantly decline, they certainly won’t disappear. And the increased volume of delivery truck seen over the holiday season likely took a toll on many innocent motorists in your area, perhaps including yourself or a loved one.
The harm caused by a delivery truck accident can be extensive, too. The sheer size of these vehicles can increase the amount of damage caused in a wreck, which in turn can result in even more severe injuries to unsuspecting motorists. Permanent disability is a real possibility in many of these crashes, but even those who aren’t disabled by their wreck can still face extensive amounts of pain and physical limitation. Their accident can also leave them with psychological scars that haunt them for years to come, not to mention the financial devastation that can accompany needed treatment and lost wages.
Fortunately, a personal injury claim against a delivery truck driver and their employer could lead to accountability and the recovery of much needed compensation. But before pursuing one of these claims, it’s imperative to understand how these wrecks occur in the first place.
Top reasons for delivery truck accidents
There are several factors that can contribute to a delivery truck accident. This includes each of the following:
- Tight delivery windows: Delivery drivers are on tight deadlines, oftentimes leaving them in a position where they have to rush to get packages delivered as quickly as possible. This can result in speeding, lack of attentiveness and even disregard for stop signs and traffic signals. This, in turn, can lead to a devastating collision.
- Distraction: As they’re looking for delivery addresses, many delivery drivers take their eyes off the road to look for house numbers or to consult with their GPS devise. Taking their eyes off the road for even a few seconds can be dangerous, and these drivers do this all the time. This can increase the chances that they’ll cause an accident involving a car, bicycle or pedestrian.
- Poor cargo securement: Packages within a delivery truck or van need to be secured properly not just to protect the contents of those packages, but also to ensure that they don’t fall out onto the roadway. Yet, delivery trucks are often seen cruising through neighborhoods with their side or back doors open. If a package falls out, then nearby vehicles may have to swerve to avoid hitting it, which can cause them to strike other drivers, pedestrians or objects, resulting in serious damage and injuries.
- Bad vehicle maintenance: Delivery trucks should be routinely inspected and repaired to ensure they’re in safe working order. But staffing shortages and tight timeframes, particularly during the holiday season, can cause delivery companies to cut corners. When they do this, they put you and other motorists in harm’s way.
Have you been injured in a delivery truck accident?
If so, then now is the time to find accountability and advocate for the compensation that you need and deserve. By thinking through the cause of your delivery truck accident, you might identify where evidence can be secured to support your claim. This could maximize your ability to win your case, impose liability and recover what you need to advance your recovery and make ends meet until you can reclaim your normal life. If you want to learn more about how to effectively pursue one of these cases, then please continue to read through our webpages.