It’s not uncommon to see delivery trucks zipping and zooming through neighborhoods in the St. Cloud area. The drivers of these vehicles, whether they work for Amazon, FedEx, or UPS, are on tight timelines given the number of packages that they’re expected to deliver in a given day, which means that they’re rushing around to meet their deadlines.
Their haste can lead to some dangerous driving behaviors that can leave you and your loved ones at risk. This week on the blog, let’s look at some of the most common ways that these delivery truck accidents occur.
- Distracted driving: This might be the most common cause of delivery truck accidents. Drivers of these trucks are often looking for streets and addresses, and they’re often seen taking their eyes off the road as they glance down at navigation devices. It only takes a split second of distraction to cause a driver to veer into oncoming traffic, blow through a stop sign, or fail to yield for a pedestrian.
- Quick turns: When delivery truck drivers spot a road that they need to turn onto or an address that they need to stop at, they oftentimes make abrupt movements. These quick turns can take other drivers by surprise, and it may lead to an otherwise avoidable accident.
- Abrupt stops: The same hold true for sudden braking. A delivery truck that slams on the brakes to stop at an address can cause a rear-end collision.
- Improper reversals: Delivery trucks have to back up pretty regularly in order to turn around or to maneuver out of the street. In too many cases, though, these drivers fail to take notice of their surroundings before throwing their truck in reverse and gunning the gas. This can result in other vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians being struck.
- Failure to use the parking brake: In many instances, delivery trucks have to stop on a hill in order to make a delivery. If the driver fails to properly utilize the parking brake, then the vehicle may start to roll away. These runaway trucks can cause extensive damage and harm to unsuspecting motorists and pedestrians who may be in the way.
- Poorly secured cargo: Have you ever seen a delivery truck driving away with its door open? It happens more often than you may think. And when the packages within the vehicle aren’t relostined very well, they can become lose and fall out of the truck. This, in turn, can result in vehicles swerving to avoid the packages, which can result in a serious accident.
- Inadequate training: Delivery truck drivers have to know how to operate their vehicles safely. Unfortunately, though, sometimes these drivers don’t receive proper training. This means that they might not know how to safely drive their vehicle and restrain the cargo that they’re carrying. This puts everyone around them in danger of being involved in a severe collision.
Building your personal injury case
A delivery truck accident can result in severe, even catastrophic injuries. Coping with the realities of one of these accidents can be tough enough, but the financial implications of one of these wrecks can make it even more unbearable.
But you might be able to find the accountability and relief that you want and need by pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. This claim can be filed against the negligent delivery truck driver as well as his or her employer, which may help you maximize your chances of recovering compensation for the full extent of your damages.
The process can be quite complicated, though, especially when you’re going head-to-head against a big company. That’s why you might want to secure the legal assistance of a competent ally before entering this arena for your fight.
