Paul Van Der WaldeDue to their enormous size and weight, all commercial trucks present a danger to California motorists, but because of how they’re used, delivery trucks are a unique hazard. If you’ve been injured in an accident with a FedEx delivery truck, you may be entitled to damages for your medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, and more.
Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys is a personal injury law firm that isn’t afraid to take on the major players like Federal Express. Since we charge on a contingency basis delivery truck accident victims don’t have to pay out of pocket to speak to an attorney from our firm. We only get paid if your case settles or we obtain an award in court, so call today.
FedEx Truck Accident Statistics
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration tracks information about all private fleets operating in the U.S. According to the FMCSA, there are 32,897 FedEx trucks in the U.S. and 42,218 FedEx drivers. In 2021 and 2022, they logged 1,031,791,949 miles. These FedEx trucks and truck drivers were involved in 372 crashes in 2022; 129 resulted in injuries, and 10 led to fatalities.
Common Causes of FedEx Truck Accidents
While the same causes of car or truck accidents pertain to FedEx and other delivery drivers, the unique characteristics of their jobs make them more susceptible to specific influences.
Distracted Driving
FedEx truck drivers are expected to adhere to a tight schedule, which means that the temptation to take care of personal business on their phones can be overwhelming. In addition, they must frequently refer to their apps to ensure they’re sticking to their route. This means that the drivers frequently take their eyes off the road.
DUI and Substance Abuse
FedEx and all other delivery companies have strict policies about drug and alcohol testing. This does not mean that employees do not still attempt to circumvent their company’s rules. Alcohol and drugs are sometimes the cause of trucking accidents, which means that there is a possibility that substances are involved in an accident. A California FedEx accident lawyer can subpoena medical records and past drug testing results.
Driver Fatigue
Working for a delivery company can be exhausting. There are numerous stops and short jogs to and from mailboxes and doorsteps. In addition, the job often requires the heavy lifting of larger packages. Tired FedEx Ground drivers are often exhausted, which slows reaction time.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
In their attempt to keep to a delivery schedule, FedEx drivers may exceed the speed limit, run red lights, come to rolling stops at intersections, etc.
Side-Swiping
The most common type of FedEx truck is 22-26 feet in length, which is smaller than large semi-trucks. This means a delivery truck has a much larger blind spot than other vehicles. Many FedEx trucks have been involved in accidents where the driver attempted a lane change when there was another vehicle occupying the space.
An experienced personal injury attorney can hire accident reconstruction experts to determine whether or not trucking company driver negligence was responsible for an accident.
Types of Injuries Sustained in FedEx Truck Accidents
FedEx crashes can result in minor injuries, serious injuries, and even death. Some of the common types of injuries are:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Internal Injuries
- Death
- Spinal Injuries
- Contusions
- Severed Limbs
- Sprains
- Burns
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic Injuries
- Lacerations
- Broken Bones
Your injuries don’t need to be severe for you to take action. If you’ve been involved in a FedEx truck accident, an experienced truck accident lawyer can determine what constitutes full and fair compensation for your injuries. Call today for a free case review.
Proving Liability in a FedEx Truck Accident Case
When it comes to an accident involving a FedEx vehicle, more than one party may be responsible for damages. The FedEx or other driver will be covered under the company’s insurance policy and the company is also responsible if it’s found that the truck the driver was at fault or that the truck was improperly maintained or inspected..
Before accepting a case, a FedEx truck accident lawyer must examine it to ensure all four of these elements are present:
1. The Defendant had a Duty of Care to the Plaintiff
A FedEx or other delivery truck driver has a duty of care to the other drivers on the road. That means operating their delivery truck in a safe manner in accordance with the law. The FedEx corporation also has a duty of care to drivers and pedestrians. The trucking company must ensure that both its vehicles and drivers are safe for operation.
2. Breach of Duty
A delivery truck accident lawyer will have to determine whether or not there was a breach of the duty of care. Did the truck driver violate a traffic law? Did the company know of a substance abuse issue with their driver? There are many possible breaches of the duty of care that may have contributed to the truck accident.
3. Causation
Causation means that the breach of duty somehow caused or contributed to the accident. In order for the victim of an accident with a FedEx or other delivery truck to collect a portion of their damages, they only have to prove that the defendant was partially responsible.
4. Damages
To receive fair compensation on behalf of their clients, FedEx truck accident lawyers must show that their clients suffered some sort of harm.
When you sit down with a FedEx truck accident attorney from Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys, during your free case consultation, we will determine whether all four elements exist. If they do, our law firm will immediately represent you in your FedEx delivery truck accident case.
What to Do if You’re Involved in a FedEx Truck Accident
If you’re involved in an accident with a FedEx truck, the steps you take after can affect your physical and financial recovery.
- Get to a position of safety – If you’re in danger, move your vehicle or get to a safe location. If it’s safer to remain in your car, wait until first responders arrive before exiting.
- Call 911 – Tell the dispatcher that you’ve been injured in a FedEx truck accident. They will want to know a description of your vehicle, the nature of your injuries, your exact location, etc.
- Talk to witnesses – Get contact information from anyone who saw the accident and other injured victims.
- Take pictures – Motor vehicle accidents are rapidly changing events. If you are able to do so from a safe position, take pictures. If your attorney needs to sue FedEx, these photos could provide crucial evidence. Since FedEx vehicles look similar to each other, try to capture the distinctive markings on the vehicles.
- Get medical attention – This will not hurt your case, and it can establish a baseline for your injuries.
- Talk to a truck accident lawyer – Within hours of being involved in an accident with a FedEx driver, an adjuster from the insurance company may reach out to you. They will offer you a rapid settlement if you sign a waiver of liability. This means you won’t be able to sue FedEx for more money if your injuries are worse than they initially appear. Before you take a fast settlement from an insurance company, one of the FedEx truck accident attorneys from our law firm can provide you with a free consultation. You’re under no obligation to hire us. Call now to speak to a California personal injury lawyer about your case.
FedEx Truck Accident FAQ
These are some of the most commonly asked questions that accident victims ask. If you want a FedEx truck accident lawyer to answer your questions, call Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys, for a free consultation.
How long do accident victims have to file a FedEx truck crash case?
Unless you are a minor, the state of California allows two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. While this may seem like a long time, it takes time for our legal team to build an effective case when commercial vehicles are involved.
Do FedEx drivers have a bad accident record?
When compared to the drivers of other vehicles, FedEx drivers have a pretty low accident rate. Delivery trucks have been responsible for devastating truck accidents over the years, but that does not mean that they have disproportionately high rates of accidents.
What kind of damages can I get for my accident?
This depends on the severity of your injuries, the type of medical treatment you require, and the degree of liability on the part of FedEx. You should be compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering. Our legal team of personal injury attorneys will review all of your expenses, as well as payouts for similar cases.
California Personal Injury Lawyers Representing FedEx// Accident Victims
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, contact Caputo and Van Der Walde – Injury & Accident Attorneys. If our personal injury attorneys believe you have a case, we can begin representing you immediately. All consultations are free, and you’ll never pay out of pocket for our services. Contact a FedEx truck accident lawyer today!