Delivery Truck Accident Attorney Serving Indianapolis, IN

trucks tailgating

With more delivery trucks on the road than ever before, accidents involving delivery trucks have significantly increased in recent years. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a delivery truck in Indianapolis, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your medical bills and other expenses.

Like other truck accidents, delivery truck crashes are complicated. There could be multiple at-fault parties, and the insurance company representing the delivery company may deny liability. You will need the help of an experienced truck accident attorney to demand fair compensation for you.

The attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC have the knowledge and experience to investigate a delivery truck accident, determine liability, guide you through the claims process, and pursue a fair settlement. Our seasoned Indianapolis truck accident lawyers won’t hesitate to take your case to court if necessary to seek justice for you.

Contact us today for a free consultation. You can reach us by phone at 800-746-0226 or by filling out our online contact form.

Recent Delivery Truck Accidents Throughout the U.S.

With the surge in online shopping, the number of delivery trucks on Indiana roads and highways has risen significantly. Recently, several delivery truck crashes have made the national news in different locations.

In Melbourne, Florida, two individuals and a dog were killed in a crash involving a UPS truck. A car became wedged underneath the UPS truck during the collision.

In Renfrew, Pennsylvania, a portion of the road was shut down after two delivery trucks were involved in a crash, one FedEx and another UPS. One of the two trucks crashed into a pole, and the driver was unable to exit the vehicle because live electric wires fell on the truck.

In Morgantown, West Virginia, a FedEx delivery truck hauling multiple trailers was involved in a partial rollover accident. One of the two trailers flipped over a construction barrier.

Due to the increase in delivery truck accidents, it’s important to understand what to do if you are involved in one.

How Do Truck Delivery Accidents Occur?

There are many reasons why delivery truck accidents occur. In many cases, the delivery driver may be negligent. Delivery trucks are difficult to maneuver due to their large size. They have significant blind spots in which nearby vehicles may not be visible, leading to an accident if the delivery driver attempts to change lanes.

Some of the most common causes of delivery truck accidents include:

  • Inexperienced drivers who haven’t received sufficient training.
  • Distracted driving, which includes any activity that causes a driver to take their hands off the wheel, eyes off the road, or focus off the task of driving.
  • Fatigue, which frequently occurs when drivers are overworked. Fatigued drivers may be slower to react when they encounter road hazards.
  • Reckless driving such as speeding, running traffic lights and stop signs, and making unsafe lane changes.
  • Poor maintenance of a delivery truck.
  • Intoxicated driving, which impairs a driver’s ability to concentrate, judge traffic situations, and responds to hazards.

If you’ve been involved in a delivery truck accident caused by someone else, you may have a legal right to pursue compensation for any losses you have suffered. To develop a successful claim, you will need to gather evidence that proves the delivery truck driver or someone else was at-fault and is financially liable for your injuries. An experienced attorney knows the type of evidence to seek to build a strong case.

Evidence to Support Your Claim Against a Delivery Truck Driver

Commercial truck accidents are more complex to resolve because multiple parties may share liability. To identify who caused a delivery truck accident, our attorneys move quickly to investigate the accident and collect evidence that establishes negligence.

Some common types of evidence that can be used to prove liability in a delivery truck accident include:

  • The police accident reportPolice-writing-a-citation-at-a-vehicle-accident
  • Witness statements
  • Truck inspection records
  • Maintenance records showing the truck’s history of repairs
  • The truck’s black box recorder
  • Truck driver logs
  • Paperwork detailing the driver’s qualifications and training
  • The driver’s blood-alcohol test
  • Cell phone records
  • Traffic camera footage of the accident
  • Documentation related to the cargo the truck was carrying

Trucking companies may resist handing over evidence that could implicate them. It’s critical to hire an experienced truck accident attorney to handle your case. Our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience handling truck accidents. Two of our founding partners David Craig and Scott Faultless are among a small number of attorneys nationwide who have earned board certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy in commercial truck accident law. We have the knowledge and experience to preserve evidence to support your case.

Will I Get Compensation and What Damages Does It Cover?

If you were injured in an accident caused by a delivery truck driver, you may pursue compensation for the expenses and losses you incurred. Depending on the severity of your injuries and the types of losses you incur, you may seek compensation for:

  • Present and future medical expenses
  • Rehabilitative care
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced future earnings, if you are unable to perform the same job or resume regular job duties because of a permanent disability
  • Personal property damage, including vehicle replacement or repairs
    Other financial losses
  • Pain and suffering, including physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of quality of life, PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

In special cases, you also may pursue punitive damages, which are designed to punish the responsible party for outrageous behavior or acts of malice.

Large corporations like Amazon, Walmart, FedEx, and UPS have teams of attorneys who will fight to defend their interests. You will need an experienced personal injury attorney with litigation experience who isn’t afraid to hold accountable big companies and their insurers.

Your attorney will have the tools to negotiate a settlement on your behalf while you focus on treating your injuries. If the insurance company refuses to agree to a just settlement, we will be prepared to pursue a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our attorneys have answered some of the most common questions we receive regarding delivery truck accidents. If you have further questions, feel free to contact our office.

What Can I Do If I Was Hit by an Amazon Truck?

If you were hit by an Amazon delivery driver, you will most likely be able to file a claim with Amazon’s insurance provider. Amazon Flex drivers are covered by up to $1,000,000 in liability insurance, which covers property damage and bodily injury. The driver must have been at fault for the accident and must have been on the job at the time of the wreck.

However, if you were hit by an Amazon delivery truck or van, recovering compensation may not be as simple. Amazon employs third-party independent contractors to deliver most of its packages. That means that you will most likely need to file a claim with the third-party company’s insurance policy.

However, some individuals who have been injured by Amazon delivery drivers are pushing back against the company’s ability to avoid liability by employing third-party contractors. Per Business Insider, a man who was paralyzed in an accident with an Amazon van is attempting to sue Amazon, arguing that Amazon is liable for his losses because the company uses driver surveillance to monitor all of its drivers, even if it doesn’t directly employ them.

If you were involved in a crash with an Amazon delivery vehicle, a delivery truck attorney can help you determine your best option for seeking financial relief.

What Can I Do If I Was Hit by a UPS or FedEx Truck?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), FedEx drivers were involved in a total of 389 accidents from February 2020 to February 2022. If you were hit by a UPS or FedEx truck, you could hold the truck driver liable, but you could also potentially bring a claim against UPS or FedEx due to vicarious liability. Accident victims may hold a driver’s employer responsible for an accident as long as the driver was on the job at the time of the accident.

UPS and FedEx may try to claim that a driver is an independent contractor in order to avoid liability. Our experienced truck accident lawyers will ascertain the driver’s employment status, and help you determine who is responsible for compensating you.

What Can I Do If I Was Hit by a USPS Truck?

Because the U.S. Postal Service is a government agency, filing an accident claim with the USPS is a bit different than bringing a claim against FedEx, UPS, or Amazon’s insurers.

If you were hit by a postal carrier, you must take the following steps to file a claim against the agency:

  • Download a copy of Form 95 and fill it out.
  • Describe injuries you suffered. You should also document any property damage that occurred, as well as missed time from work.
  • State why the USPS driver was at-fault for the accident.
  • If any bystanders witnessed the crash, you should provide their names and contact information.
  • Include your car insurance details.
  • List how much you are claiming for property damage, personal injury, and/or wrongful death. You should consult with an attorney to determine the overall value of your claim.
  • Submit the completed claim form at your local post office.

You have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim with the USPS. It is crucial to speak with an attorney at your earliest convenience to start investigating the accident.

Who Is Liable When Hit by a Delivery Truck?

Delivery truck accidents can be complicated. In many cases, multiple parties may have contributed to an accident.

Some of the most common liable parties in a delivery truck accident include:

  • The delivery truck driver
  • The delivery truck driver’s employer, which could be a company such as Amazon or a third-party company
  • Delivery truck owner
  • Cargo loaders
  • Third-party maintenance companies
  • Defective part manufacturers

A seasoned delivery truck accident lawyer can conduct a full investigation of the accident and identify all potential sources of compensation.

Talk to an Indianapolis Delivery Truck Accident Attorney at Craig, Kelley & Faultless

Have you sustained serious injuries in an accident caused by a delivery truck? If so, contact the Indianapolis delivery truck accident attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC to discuss the details of your case and get a clear understanding of your legal options. The consultation is free.

Since 1999, our law firm has helped victims of truck accidents across the state of Indiana demand justice to rebuild their lives. We will work to help you pursue the settlement you need to get your life back on track. Reach out to us by phone at 800-746-0226 or visit our online contact form. We offer a free consultation to all potential clients.

Testimonial

“Krysten handled my personal injury case. She kept me well informed with regular updates throughout the entire process. I feel that she was very knowledgeable and worked hard to get me the best settlement possible. I would highly recommend Craig, Kelley, and Faultless.”

Review by: Michelle J.
Date published: February, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★ 5 / 5 stars