FedEx Truck Accident Lawyer

FedEx provides a vital daily service to homes and businesses, delivering goods quickly throughout the country. Like its most prominent competitors--UPS and Amazon--FedEx strives to complete deliveries in as little as one to five days and even offers an overnight delivery service.

But while customers receive packages at lightning speed, these standards push FedEx drivers to drive while tired or break traffic laws to meet deadlines.

Excessive fatigue and irresponsible driving are leading causes of truck accidents. And although many FedEx trucks are smaller than regular commercial trucks, they can cause significant injuries, property damage, and--in the worst cases--death.

If you or a loved one were injured in a FedEx truck accident, you might be entitled to financial compensation. The truck accident lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, can help you determine your legal options and hold negligent parties responsible for your damages.

Contact our law firm at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation.

Common Causes of FedEx Truck Accidents

A FedEx truck accident can arise from many factors, including:

Speeding:

FedEx promises to deliver goods within one to five days in the contiguous US. Hence, FedEx vehicle drivers must make deliveries as quickly as possible to meet deadlines.

Unfortunately, some drivers go above the speed limit to complete their daily deliveries, increasing the risk of accidents. At high speeds, large trucks are more likely to lose control, hit objects and pedestrians, run other vehicles off the road, etc.

Distracted Driving:

FedEx drivers cannot use hand-held devices while driving. However, some drivers disobey this rule and text, call, or use GPS apps in transit. Furthermore, many drivers eat or drink while driving instead of taking proper lunch breaks to complete their route on time.

Fatigue:

A FedEx truck driver usually works fifty or more weekly hours. Some work even longer to earn more money or make up for lost time due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., lost packages, heavy traffic, etc.), often beyond federal regulations.

Driving long hours increases the risk of causing an accident due to lack of concentration, poor coordination, or falling asleep at the wheel.

Aggressive Driving:

Some FedEx delivery truck drivers engage in aggressive driving behaviors (e.g., improper lane changing, tailgating, etc.) to make deadlines.This behavior may be due to a lack of training or supervision. Either way, reckless driving puts everyone at risk, including other motorists, pedestrians, and FedEx drivers.

Intoxicated Driving:

Driving while drunk can lead to poor concentration, coordination, judgment, and response time.

Improperly Loaded Cargo:

This factor can make a truck unstable and more prone to accidents, especially at high speeds.

Poor Maintenance:

A lack of regular maintenance can lead to mechanical failures in a commercial vehicle, such as tire blowouts, brake failures, and engine problems. These issues can lead to devastating truck accidents while in transit.

Inadequate Training:

FedEx has stringent requirements for its commercial truck drivers. However, training only takes five to ten days, which may not be enough time for all drivers.

Environmental Hazards:

Heavy rain, strong winds, snow, ice, fog, and other inclement weather conditions can contribute to a FedEx truck accident, especially when the driver does not adjust to the environment correctly (e.g., speeding in heavy rain).

Other environmental hazards include potholes, road debris, poor signage, malfunctioning traffic lights, and other issues under the care of the local government.

Incentives:

FedEx and its subcontractors offer drivers incentives for every additional mile they drive or package they deliver. Sadly, these incentives may lead to irresponsible driving, especially for entry-level drivers who make only $30,000 to $35,000 per year.

Common Injuries Sustained in FedEx Crashes

The size and mass of FedEx trucks make them prone to causing serious injuries, such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Neck injuries
• Spinal cord trauma
• Fractures
• Burns, lacerations, bruises
• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage
• Crushing injuries
• Mental health problems, e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder
• Coma
• Amputation
• Death

What to Do if You Get into a FedEx Truck Accident

Knowing what to do after a collision with a FedEx truck can help when seeking compensation later on. Here are the steps our FedEx accident lawyers recommend:

Get Off The Road.

If you can, pull off to the side of the road to avoid collisions with other vehicles. Otherwise, stay in your car and turn on your hazard lights. Avoid exiting your vehicle if you are on a busy highway.

Call Emergency Services. Call 911 if there are injured victims that need immediate medical attention. If not, call the police. Do not refuse an ambulance ride if the police deem you need one. Go to the hospital immediately if you have a head or back injury.

Document the Scene.

Unless you need to go to the hospital immediately, take pictures and videos of the accident scene. Pay attention to essential details, such as tire marks and environmental hazards that could have contributed to your accident (e.g., faulty traffic lights, a blocked stop sign, etc.). Exchange insurance information with the FedEx driver and write down the contact information of witnesses.

Go to the Hospital.

Seek medical treatment even if you feel fine. You need a doctor to assess your condition and apply treatment as soon as possible if required. You will also need a medical record to prove your injuries in your FedEx accident claim.

Contact a FedEx Truck Accident Lawyer.

FedEx employs lawyers and insurance professionals to minimize their liability in accidents involving FedEx truck drivers. You need an experienced personal injury attorney to help you recover the fair compensation you deserve.

Filing a FedEx Accident Claim

Filing a claim against an enormous company like FedEx is not easy, but it is possible. You can sue FedEx if you prove the following are true:

• The defendant (FedEx, the subcontractor, or the driver) owed a duty of care to you. FedEx and its subcontractors owe a legal obligation to maintain delivery trucks, train drivers, address negligent behavior, and take other measures necessary to avoid harm to others. Similarly, truck operators, like all other motorists, must act reasonably to prevent road accidents.
• The defendant breached this duty of care. A ‘breach of duty’ can be anything from failing to deploy the parking brake to hiring a truck driver with a bad driving record.
• You suffered a significant injury. You must prove that you suffered substantial physical, emotional, mental, or financial harm from your FedEx freight vehicle accident.
• The defendant’s negligence directly led to your damages. Additionally, you must prove that the defendant’s actions directly caused your losses, e.g., medical bills, lost income, property damage, etc.

During your free case evaluation, your FedEx truck accident attorney will determine if you have grounds for filing a case against the company, subcontractor, or driver.

Who is Liable?

FedEx may be liable for an accident involving its company truck, even if the driver is 100% at fault for the incident. Usually, large companies that operate commercial vehicles have liability insurance to cover damages in cases arising from driver negligence.

However, FedEx outsources most of its routes to subcontractors who hire their own drivers. Thus, if you get injured by a subcontractor’s delivery truck driver, you will have to file a claim with the FedEx driver or their employer instead of the company.

Depending on the accident’s circumstances, other liable parties may include:

• The manufacturer of faulty truck equipment
• The cargo loader
• Other drivers
• The local government

How Do You Prove Fault?

Most truck accident cases involving FedEx vehicles lead to a liability dispute between the plaintiff and the defendant. To increase your chances of filing a successful claim, our personal injury law firm will help you collect substantial evidence, such as:

• Documentation of the car accident scene
• Surveillance footage
• Police reports
• Incident reports
• Delivery truck maintenance records
• Witness accounts
• Medical records
• Photos of injuries
• Expert testimony

What Damages Can You Recover?

An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you claim compensation for the following losses:

• Medical Bills: Out-of-pocket costs for hospitalization, medication, surgery, therapy, emergency transportation, and future medical expenses.
• Disability: Mobility aids, physical rehabilitation costs, psychological therapy expenses, and other related damages if your accident leads to a temporary or permanent disability.
• Lost Wages: Compensation for income, benefits, and business opportunities lost due to the accident.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for emotional and physical injuries, e.g., physical pain, emotional trauma, or mental anguish.
• Loss of Quality of Life: Compensation for quality or enjoyment of life lost due to your injuries.
• Property Damage: Repair or replacement expenses for personal property damaged or lost in the crash.
• Wrongful Death: Funeral and burial costs, pre-death medical bills, loss of companionship and financial support, and other related damages if your loved one dies in an accident with a FedEx vehicle.
• Punitive Damages: Additional compensation used to punish a defendant for gross negligence and deter similar behavior in the future.

How Much is Your Claim Worth?

Settlements for trucking accidents vary and depend on several factors, including:

• The Victim’s Age: Compensation may be higher for a younger person as a more significant part of their life is affected by the accident 
• The Victim’s Profession or Occupation: The victim’s salary may affect the compensation for lost income and future earning potential.
• Disabilities: Settlements are typically higher for accident victims with severe injuries that lead to permanent disability.
• The Defendant’s Insurance Coverage: Your settlement may depend on how much coverage is available from the defendant’s policy. If you get into an accident with a FedEx freight vehicle, you will likely be able to get full compensation as the company has proper insurance coverage compared to a subcontractor or driver.

Your FedEx truck accident lawyer will calculate your potential compensation during your free case consultation.

How Do You Deal with The Insurance Company?

Unfortunately, the defendant’s insurance company will want to pay as little as possible for your claim. It is a common obstacle in many personal injury cases, especially with large trucking companies. Nevertheless, our legal team can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

When you receive a low settlement offer from the defendant’s insurer, have your truck accident lawyer negotiate. Our truck accident lawyers have a proven track record of recovering full and fair compensation for FedEx freight accident victims, no matter how complicated the process may be.

We will also help you file a lawsuit if the defendant refuses to accept liability or the insurer denies your claim without a valid reason.

What a FedEx Truck Accident Lawyer Can Do for You

If you get into an accident involving a FedEx truck driver, you will likely face the company or its subcontractor. Either way, recovering a fair settlement may be challenging without legal help. Our personal injury attorneys will take over your FedEx truck crash case. We will:

• Investigate how and why the collision occurred
• Identify responsible parties and establish their negligence
• Determine the extent of your losses
• Collect solid evidence to support your claim
• File your claim with the defendant’s insurance provider
• Negotiate settlement values
• Handle disputes from the trucking company and other liable parties
• File a civil lawsuit and represent you in court, if necessary

Learn more about the legal process with our injury lawyers during your free consultation.

Talk To a FedEx Accident Lawyer About Your Case Today

FedEx ground vehicles, including vans and large semi-trucks, have the potential to cause serious injuries, massive property damage, and death. Hence, FedEx and all its independent contractors are responsible for ensuring the general public's safety by taking proper measures.

Unfortunately, FedEx truck accidents are common. And even if the company or employer was not negligent, they hold liability for the actions of the FedEx driver that injured you.

Were you or a loved one injured by a negligent FedEx truck driver? If so, let the attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC help. Our lawyers will help ensure your FedEx truck accident case reaches fruition with a fair settlement or verdict.

Contact our personal injury law firm at (888) 424-5757 or use the contact form for a free case review. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team will remain private under an attorney-client relationship.

Our attorneys handle all accepted FedEx freight cases on a contingency fee basis. This agreement ensures you don’t have to pay our legal fees unless we win your case.

Resources:

• Truck and Bus Accidents Analysis | FMCSA
• Tragic Truck Crashes | NHTSA