Car Accidents and Delivery Trucks
According to recently released numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 36,750 people were killed in fatal collisions in 2018. The types of accidents that occurred could vary, given that crashes can happen at any time and anywhere. If the crash was the result of another person or party’s negligence, the Oklahoma City, OK auto accident lawyers of Tawwater Law Firm can help.
Ever since Amazon and other online retail outlets became a part of daily life, we’ve notice that there seem to be many more car accidents involving delivery trucks. Let’s consider some facts about these collisions and who is legally liable when they happen.
Numbers on Mail Delivery Fleets
While there are no dedicated statistics on mail delivery truck crashes readily available, we did note two telling sets of numbers that explain why these kinds of crashes are an issue. Keep in mind that these numbers don’t even take into account FedEx and other common or local parcel carriers.
According to 2018 figures from the United States Postal Service (USPS), there were 232,372 USPS delivery vehicles in their fleet. These vehicles traveled 231,843 delivery routes to drop off packages and pieces of mail.
A piece published in Automotive Fleet notes that in 2017, United Parcel Service (UPS) had a vehicle fleet of 119,000. At the time of that article, UPS had an average of 8.95 vehicle accidents for every 100,000 hours of driving.
Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents
There are many different causes of delivery truck accidents. Some of the most common our Oklahoma City attorneys have noticed include:
- Driver Fatigue - With long hours spent on the road as well as lifting packages, it should come as no surprise that the drivers may become tired. This can increase the risk of crashes.
- Volume of Delivery - Online commerce had led to increased volume for package and mail delivery. This overwhelming volume could lead to drivers making mistakes due to stress.
- Vehicle Blindspots - Mail delivery trucks are larger than commuter vehicles and consequently have major blind spots. This makes collisions much more likely.
- Vehicle Maintenance Issues - With such large fleets, there’s always a risk of vehicle problems causing or contributing to crashes. Tire changes, brake service, and regular maintenance must be a priority for mail delivery vehicles.
- Poor Weather - Bad weather can lead to dangerous roads for all drivers. While driving in rain, snow, and fog, a driver’s traction and road visibility are seriously impacted.
- Bad Road Conditions - Potholes, debris in the road, broken traffic signals, and tight turns mean unsafe conditions for everyone.
Cases in Which a Driver Is Negligent
In some delivery vehicle crashes, the driver is negligent. These are instances of drivers speeding, making reckless decisions behind the wheel, and endangering others with their actions while operating a vehicle. It’s important the these negligent delivery drivers be held accountable for harming others.
Cases in Which a Company Is Negligent
While drivers of delivery vehicles are often responsible for crashes, there are instances in which the delivery company must hold some of the blame. In these cases, the delivery company may have hired a negligent driver despite warning signs of problems behind the wheel. The company may have also kept a defective vehicle in their fleet or pushed their drivers beyond reasonable working hours and expectations, making crashes more likely.
Contact Our Auto Accident Attorneys
For more information about your legal options following a delivery vehicle accidents, be sure to contact a skilled auto collision lawyer. The team at Tawwater Law Firm is here to help. You can reach us by phone at (405) 607-1400.