Delivery vehicles, such as those your local businesses employ to deliver goods and services, are an essential part of United States commerce. They’re highly necessary, which is why there are so many of them on the roads. Unfortunately, delivery trucks can also be dangerous for others. At Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers, we have helped clients who have suffered injuries in collisions. Our track record shows that we have been able to recover millions of dollars in settlement and jury awards for our clients, and we can help you, too. Call our our Colorado delivery truck accident lawyers today to get started.
What Makes Delivery Trucks and Vans Dangerous?
Human error is, by far, the most common cause of collisions. Delivery truck drivers who don’t have proper training or are inexperienced can put others on the road at risk. They might enter one-way streets without realizing it or might not know how to make safe maneuvers with a vehicle larger than a passenger car.
Unlike larger trucks, delivery vans are often traveling through residential neighborhoods looking for addresses. They could be distracted and not watch for pets or small children who might dart onto the road. They might not see vehicles backing out of driveways. All of these actions can lead to catastrophic injuries and even fatalities.
Can You Sue an Amazon Delivery Driver?
Maybe. With the help of an truck accident lawyer, you can file a lawsuit against an Amazon driver if they breached their duty of care to drive safely and lawfully and their conduct led you to suffer losses. Whether you can sue Amazon itself is more complicated.
Amazon often employs independent contractors. Amazon might not be liable based on the tenet of vicarious liability because its drivers are not technically employees. However, you might want to consult an attorney to understand any potential legal exceptions that could impact liability.
What Happens if You Are Injured by a Mail Truck?
If you’re hit by a mail truck, you’d be filing a claim against a federal employee, which is a more complex process than a regular personal injury lawsuit. One of the reasons for this is that the government has sovereign immunity, which protects it from being sued by individuals.
This doesn’t mean you can’t hold the driver responsible, though. The Federal Tort Claims Act allows individuals to file a claim if they suffered losses in an accident that a government employee caused while they were acting within the scope of their official duties. Negligence or wrongful conduct must be a part of the accident.
Because these cases are even more complex than other personal injury claims, we urge you to call our Colorado delivery truck accident lawyers for help. Trying to sue the federal government on your own is no easy task. We can assist you.
How to Sue FedEx for a Truck Accident
If you were injured in a FedEx truck accident, you may be able to sue the company. If you can establish negligence, the company might be vicariously liable if the driver was an employee performing their job when the accident occurred. However, you should know that FedEx operates a little differently than other companies, in that it sells its routes. So it is possible that the route owner may be liable in the event of an accident. Our truck accident lawyers can help you pursue a claim against all potentially liable parties.
Most Common Accidents With Delivery Trucks in Colorado
Our Colorado delivery truck accident attorneys see a number of accident types throughout the state. (In 2022, there were 1,946 truck crashes throughout Colorado.) A significant number of these occur in residential areas as a result of distracted driving. Drivers who are looking at their GPS systems or scanning for house numbers may be less likely to notice stop signs, cars backing out of their driveways, cyclists, or pedestrians. At particular risk are small children, who are harder to see even when you are paying attention.
Residential roads, too, can be less well maintained than we like. Potholes and crumbling asphalt can affect the truck’s wheels, potentially leading to tire blow-outs. Drivers who serve to miss debris in the road may accidentally hit other drivers.
Delivery companies want their customers to receive what they have purchased as quickly as possible. That can lead truck drivers to speed to make better time. They may run through stop signs or engage in reckless behavior like tailgating.
Most Serious Injuries From Delivery Truck Accidents
Our Colorado delivery truck accident lawyers have seen all manner of injuries as a result of these collisions. The most serious ones tend to be:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Broken bones
- Organ damage
A collision with a delivery van or truck can lead to permanent scarring or disfigurement. In some cases, it could be fatal.
Who Pays the Bills After a Colorado Delivery Truck Accident?
Your bills should be paid by the insurance company of the at-fault driver, but it can get complicated.
Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule when it comes to liability. What this means is that as long as you are not equally or more at fault for the crash, you can sue for damages – but your award could be reduced.
For example, say you are hit by a delivery truck on a highway. A jury determines that the delivery driver was speeding, but that the reason he was speeding was because the trucking company told him he wouldn’t get paid unless he finished his deliveries within a certain time. The jury says you share no fault, and they award you $1M in damages, to be paid by the trucker and the company.
But if you swerved to avoid hitting a pothole and that swerve put you in the delivery driver’s lane, that jury might say you contributed to the crash – so they find you 20% at-fault. In this case, your $1M award is reduced by 20% to $800k. And if you were speeding, the jury might say you were equally to blame: a true 50/50 accident. In this last example, you could be denied any compensation at all.
Issues of fault, negligence, and liability can be incredibly complicated, especially when there are commercial vehicles involved. Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers in Colorado can help. We know what it takes to build a case for liability, and have secured millions on behalf of injury clients throughout the state.
How to Reduce Your Risk of a Collision With a Delivery Van or Truck
You cannot control how other people drive or behave, but there are a few steps you can take to reduce your risk. These are:
- Always use signals near delivery vans or trucks.
- Provide extra space for trucks to move.
- Be patient as they maneuver.
- Stay alert to any changes in the driver’s behavior.
If you are involved in a collision, turn to our experienced truck accident lawyers in Colorado for help.
Do You Have a Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me?
Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers proudly serves people throughout Colorado. The firm maintains offices in Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Greeley, Grand Junction, Lakewood, Littleton, Longmont, Pueblo, and Thornton.
Injured by a Delivery Truck in Colorado? Our Lawyers Are Ready to Help
If you have suffered injuries in a collision, you need to hire a lawyer for truck accidents. Our team at Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers can help. Contact us to schedule a free consultation at any of our Colorado offices.
