Our FL Accident Lawyer Explains What’s Causing the Increase in Parcel Truck Accidents
Approximately 70% of U.S. consumer goods are delivered by trucks, and package delivery has skyrocketed in recent years to meet the demands of online shopping. In 2021, United Postal Service (UPS) delivered over 6 billion packages, and FedEx makes 100,000 deliveries each day. It’s estimated that over 200 billion packages will be delivered in 2025. 
The reliance on delivery trucks has caused an increase in delivery truck accidents in the U.S. Due to the size and weight of these trucks, accidents carry a higher risk of serious or even life-threatening injuries. Our skilled truck accident attorneys at Spetsas Buist have experience dealing with parcel truck accidents, and we’re dedicated to protecting your legal when you’ve been injured. Here, we discuss the common causes of delivery truck accidents and how to determine the cause of yours.
Common Causes of Parcel Truck Accidents
There are many reasons a parcel or delivery truck driver or truck company may be responsible for an accident. Whether your injuries are minor or serious, it’s important to obtain legal representation to investigate and determine the cause of the crash. An accident with a delivery truck driver may occur because of the following:
Rushed, Inadequate Training
With an increased demand for drivers, some companies may push drivers onto the road too quickly and without proper training. Delivery truck drivers require specific training to help them understand how to maneuver their trucks with heavy loads and to drive safely in heavy traffic. A lack of proper training may lead to mistakes that trained drivers would not make.
Improperly Secured Goods
When a delivery truck leaves a packing facility, its load must be securely fastened and the weight evenly distributed in the cargo area. When a load becomes unstable and starts to shift, a driver faces a dangerous situation when making a wide or sudden turn. Moving cargo can cause a parcel truck driver to lose control and potentially cause an accident.
Safety Rules Violations
The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implement and enforce regulations for delivery trucks. These rules include driver training, hours of service, and vehicle maintenance. It’s important that delivery truck drivers and truck companies comply with the rules of the state they operate in. Often, when these rules are ignored or drivers and/or their trucks are noncompliant, accidents occur. This is particularly true for drivers who drive more hours than allowed in a single shift and are drowsy or fall asleep at the wheel.
Distracted Driving
Because parcel delivery trucks are larger than average passenger cars, they are more challenging to manage, and any distraction has the potential to cause a dangerous accident. If a car stops in front of the truck or an obstacle moves into the road while the driver is looking away, the driver may not be able to stop in time to avoid a collision. Because parcel truck drivers are on the road for long stretches of time, they may become tired, bored, or inattentive. Additionally, these drivers may be looking for a certain address or specific road, taking their attention off their driving. These types of distractions can cause a crash and leave accident victims with severe injuries.
Poor Maneuvering
Backing up poses a major risk for parcel truck drivers. Because these trucks are large vehicles, their blind spot is bigger than one for a passenger car. Consequently, truck drivers are at a greater risk of running over a child, running into a mailbox, or hitting another vehicle. It’s important that delivery truck drivers take the time to double-check the path behind them. While it may seem too time-consuming to do a safety check this way, it can be a critical step to help ensure the driver avoids an accident.
Mechanical Failure
Because a parcel truck is manufactured differently than a passenger car, there are a variety of parts that can fail. Generally, there are safety features in place to monitor and fix such problems, but accidents and oversight do occur. If tires blow out or brakes fail, the truck driver may lose control and collide with other vehicles. Additionally, smaller parts such as tail lights and windshield wipers that aren’t working properly can make it difficult to drive in inclement weather. Any mechanical problem can cause an accident that results in life-changing injuries.
Determining the Cause of Your FL Accident With a Parcel Truck
If you were injured in a parcel truck accident and want to pursue compensation, you’ll need to determine the cause of your accident and who’s liable so you can seek damages from the responsible party. This may be the truck driver, the truck company, or a third party. Types of evidence you can review include the following:
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Traffic camera or dashcam footage
- Black box data
