In today’s world, receiving packages at your doorstep is common practice. Indeed, whether receiving gifts from family or orders placed online, it’s not uncommon to see delivery trucks in your neighborhood on a daily basis. While delivery trucks certainly add to the convenience of our everyday lives and are a necessity in today’s modern world, they can also cause serious accidents. If you’ve been involved in a delivery truck accident in Massachusetts, our attorney can help. Call us today to learn more about your rights and options.
Delivery Truck Accidents Can Cause Serious Injury
While delivery trucks provide a great service, these larger-than-average vehicles can also cause serious injuries in the event that a crash occurs. Because force is a multiple of speed and mass, the faster that a delivery truck is traveling at the time an accident occurs, the more severe the damages will be. What’s more, if both a passenger vehicle and a delivery truck are traveling at the same speed at the time of an accident, the accident involving the delivery truck will be more severe because of the sheer size of the vehicle involved. Damages that may result from a truck accident include:
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Internal injuries
- External injuries, including abrasions and bruises
- Spinal cord injuries
- Facial injuries
- Psychological injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression
- Economic losses
- Loss of quality of life
Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents
Delivery truck accidents are typically caused by the negligence of one of the drivers involved in the crash. Actions like distracted driving, using a cell phone, speeding, driving aggressively, failing to signal, or performing illegal maneuvers can all increase the risk of an accident.
Of course, some accidents are caused by factors other than driver negligence, such as unsafe pedestrian behavior or poor road conditions. It’s important to review all evidence related to your case to make a determination about fault and liability.
Liability for a Truck Accident
If the actions of a truck driver are to blame for a crash, the trucking company (i.e. UPS, FedEx, etc.) could be held liable for the accident per the doctrine of vicarious liability. This theory holds that if an employee is acting in the course of their employment at the time of an accident, the employer is held liable for their negligent behavior.
The employer could also be held liable if certain factors outside of the driver’s control caused the accident, such as a vehicle malfunction due to inferior vehicle maintenance.
In cases involving the fault of a party not related to the truck delivery company, a claim can typically be filed directly against the at-fault party or the at-fault party’s liability insurance provider.
Call a Car Accident Attorney Today
To learn more about your rights following a delivery truck accident in Massachusetts, reach out to an experienced car accident attorney. Attorney Paul Tetzel will work hard to build your claim, advocate for you, and get you the largest settlement possible. Call (617) 742-1700 today or send us a message at your convenience online.