Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer Louisville
Every day, Amazon, UPS, and FedEx trucks deliver packages to homes and businesses throughout Louisville, Kentucky. While timely deliveries are critical to the way these companies operate, some drivers rush to meet their schedules, resulting in a commercial vehicle accidents.
Unfortunately, delivery truck collisions often result in serious injuries to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. If your life has been changed because a delivery driver was reckless or negligent, you deserve a Louisville personal injury attorney who won’t hesitate to hold the delivery company and other parties accountable. The delivery truck accident lawyers at The Schafer Law Office have decades of combined experience handling cases involving large commercial vehicles and will negotiate or litigation for the compensation you need.
How Delivery Truck Accidents Happen
Online shopping surged during the pandemic, putting more delivery trucks on the road than ever before, and the trend has now become part of the way we purchase everything from furniture to groceries. A shortage of drivers and high demand for mail-order delivery cause some of these trucks to be involved in accidents caused by:
- Inexperienced Drivers: When companies hire new drivers quickly and contract out delivery services, you have novice drivers operating vehicles that can be unsteady when fully loaded. A single misstep can potentially cause a serious accident.
- Schedule Pressures: Drivers are faced with a limited amount of time to deliver an increasing number of packages every day. When under pressure to complete a route on time, they may speed, become inattentive, or drive recklessly, resulting in accidents with other motorists and pedestrians.
- Distracted or Intoxicated Drivers: Like passenger vehicle drivers, delivery drivers can indulge in irresponsible actions that endanger those around them. Examples include using a smartphone while driving and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Route Issues: An increase in routes and customers means that drivers are constantly having to deal with and learn the unfamiliar territory. Speeding, last-second turns, and anger-fuelled actions can all result.
- Cargo Problems: Improperly loaded cargo can contribute to delivery truck accidents. Poorly secured packages may also move during transit and create hazardous driving conditions.
You could be coming home from work or making a quick trip to the grocery store when a careless delivery truck driver blindsides you. Due to the size difference between the two vehicles, you are more likely to be injured than the delivery driver. If the accident was caused by the truck driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover damages from their employer’s insurer, but it’s not an easy process: insurance companies protect their bottom line by paying claimants as little as possible or denying legitimate claims outright.
When a driver for a company like UPS, FedEx, Amazon, or USPS leaves you seriously injured, don’t face the battle ahead alone. The Schafer Law Office has the experience, resources, and legal acumen you need to pursue the maximum compensation available by law.
UPS Delivery Truck Accident in KY
In Kentucky, UPS employs nearly 29,000 people in package delivery, aircraft operations, ground freight, health care logistics, and contract logistics. The company recently expanded its Centennial ground hub in Louisville, doubling its sorting capacity to 85,000 packages per hour in order to better accommodate eCommerce orders.
As of 2020, UPS has over 134,000 trucks on the road from coast to coast. While the company has a satisfactory safety rating with the FMCSA, the higher number of delivery trucks on the road has contributed to more traffic incidents: between February 2020 and 2022, the company’s vehicles were involved in 2,865 accidents, including 69 fatal crashes and 1,032 collisions that caused injury. If you or someone you love are hurt in an accident involving a UPS delivery truck, call The Schafer Law Office to discuss your options.
Amazon Delivery Truck Accident in KY
Amazon has fulfillment centers in Louisville, Hebron, Lexington, and a few other locations across Kentucky. As of April 2021, the eCommerce giant employs more than 18,000 workers at its various facilities in the state.
Amazon Logistics employs over 23,300 drivers for over 13,700 delivery trucks. It also works with Delivery Service Partners that supply vehicles and personnel to meet demand: in 2020, the company handled 4.2 billion parcel shipments, up from 1.9 billion in 2019.
Like a lot of other delivery services, Amazon’s trucks have been involved in accidents due to the increased number of commercial vehicles on the road during COVID: over the past two years, Amazon delivery vans have been involved in 44 crashes that caused serious injury. This average of 22 crashes per year exceeds the previous average of 15 yer year between 2015 and 2019. If you are seriously injured in an accident involving an Amazon delivery truck, a KY Amazon truck accident attorney can help.
FedEx Delivery Truck Accident in KY
FedEx has multiple locations across the state, including a 300,000-square-foot distribution facility in Louisville. Opened in 2016, this FedEx Ground location can process up to 15,000 packages per hour.
FedEx Ground currently has over 101,100 trucks on the road across the United States and 124,500 drivers to operate them. Although the company has a satisfactory rating with the FMCSA, its trucks are still involved in accidents: the past two years have witnessed a crash count of 2,711, 74 of which were fatal and 910 of which caused the injury. Anyone injured in an accident involving a FedEx Ground vehicle should discuss their next steps with a FedEx truck accident lawyer in KY.
USPS Mail Truck Accident in KY
The United States Postal Service (USPS) delivers over 167 million pieces of mail every day. It has a processing and distribution center in Louisville that manages a significant portion of this volume; during the holiday season in particular, it handles approximately 300,000 pieces of mail every day. During the 2020 holiday season, package delivery spiked by nearly 48%, driven by the surge in online shopping, and demand has yet to subside.
The USPS currently operates more than 200,000 vehicles across the United States and its territories, and each week, over 74,000 letter carriers drive to neighborhoods to deliver mail. With so many vehicles on the road, accidents happen: according to data from the USPS Delivery Management System, USPS trucks were involved in 29,000 accidents in 2019, with over half of these crashes involving newer drivers. Talk to a KY USPS truck accident attorney at The Schafer Law Office if you suffer serious injuries in a crash with a USPS mail truck.
Common Types of Injuries Caused by Delivery Truck Accidents
Accidents involving delivery trucks can result in minor to life-threatening injuries that include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Scarring and lacerations
- Head and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ damage and failure
- Amputations and limb loss
- Wrongful death
If you are injured in a delivery truck accident in Kentucky, seeking medical attention right away is essential. You’ll get the treatment you need, and the medical records are necessary for proving your injuries in a future claim. Even if you don’t believe you have been seriously hurt, consult your doctor as soon as possible, as not all injuries show symptoms right away.
Who Is Liable For a Delivery Truck Accident in Kentucky?
Delivery truck drivers are generally liable for damages if they cause an accident. However, UPS, Amazon, FedEx, and USPS may also be responsible for damages caused by their delivery trucks. Other parties may be responsible, such as other motorists, government entities, truck manufacturers, and maintenance or repair facilities.
The Schafer Law Office will investigate your KY delivery truck accident case to identify all liable parties and hold them accountable for your injuries. Our goal is always to get you the compensation you need to cover your medical bills and other losses and give you a degree of financial security while you recover.
Delivery Truck Accident Settlements in Kentucky
Your delivery truck accident settlement will depend on the circumstances of your case. In Kentucky, accident victims are generally able to recover compensation for the following:
- Medical bills
- Loss of income
- Decreased earning potential
- Disability and permanent impairment
- Pain and suffering
- Decrease in the quality or enjoyment of life
Corporation and government entities often make the claims process more complicated than necessary. They may dispute the value of your damages or allege comparative fault. They use these tactics to avoid paying you a fair settlement amount for your injury claim, but your personal injury attorney will advocate for the payout you need.
Hire The Schafer Law Office for Your Delivery Truck Accident Claim in KY
Accidents involving delivery trucks can be difficult to investigate and settle, as the company and its insurance provider may not always be cooperative or willing to compensate you fairly. At The Schafer Law Office, our truck accident attorneys know how to protect your best interests: if an insurer won’t offer a fair settlement, we are ready to file a lawsuit and argue your case in court.
When you hire our law firm, you can expect us to:
- Provide you with support and guidance throughout the legal process
- Maximize your chances of success by identifying all potential defendants
- Handle all matters related to the settlement of insurance claims
- Calculate the maximum claim value for your personal injury claim by documenting your damages
- Advocate for your best interests as we negotiate a fair settlement.
Get a Free Consultation with a Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer in KY Today
Delivery truck accidents involve complex legal rules, so you want to work with a delivery truck accident lawyer who has experience with these claims. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a crash, contact The Schafer Law Office today for a free consultation. We will provide you with legal advice and representation you can trust from the moment your claim is filed until your case concludes.