In our high demand society, almost anything can be delivered to your doorstep within 24 hours. The mechanisms in place to create a fast-paced system is stunning, but the negative implications can be surprising.
The delivery trucks that carry our packages throughout neighborhoods and towns across the country also bring an unexpected element of danger with them. Hundreds of truck accidents each year are caused by these ubiquitous vehicles.
With a great number of delivery trucks on the road making millions of deliveries every day, accidents are certainly inevitable.
What Is Causing so Many Delivery Truck Accidents?
There are several factors that can cause a delivery truck accident, including:
Driver behavior: Inexperience or distracted driving can cause an accident. Sudden maneuvers, such as unpredictable stops and unforeseen turns, can result in a crash. Accidents can happen if the driver reverses without noticing a person or vehicle behind them or if the driver fails to engage the emergency brake. Most often, wrecks occur when drivers do not obey traffic laws.
Truck trouble: An improperly maintained vehicle can cause an accident. Defective or poorly maintained mechanical components are also dangerous and lead to far too many truck crashes.
Cargo issues: An unbalanced load or cargo that is unsecured can become a problem for delivery drivers who can easily lose control of the truck. Also, others nearby can be struck by an object falling from the truck.
Who Is Responsible for These Accidents?
If you are injured in an accident with a delivery truck, it is natural to wonder who is responsible for your injury. The driver’s behavior may be a factor, but it also indicates that the driver was improperly trained or had reacted to equipment issues or cargo problems. In this case, the driver’s employer may be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries.
There may be more than one party who acted negligently resulting in your accident. In order to prove negligence, four elements must be present:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
In other words, any party that breached a duty of care that resulted in your accident may be held responsible for damages. Such parties may include the following:
- Truck driver: The truck driver has a duty to drive responsibly.
- Truck driver’s employer: Employers have a duty to hire, train, and supervise consistently.
- Truck maintenance company: Companies have a duty to service vehicles properly.
- Truck or parts manufacturers: These manufacturers have a duty to produce and sell safe products.
- Loading crews: Crews must properly load cargoes.
Virginia Beach Truck Accident Lawyers Represent Drivers Injured in Delivery Truck Crashes
If you have suffered damages in an accident with a delivery truck, our Virginia Beach truck accident lawyers will fight to hold all those accountable for your accident to ensure you receive compensation to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and other economic and non-economic losses. At East Coast Trial Lawyers, we will fight tirelessly to protect your rights. Contact us online or call us at 757-352-2237 to arrange a free consultation. Our offices are located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and we represent clients in Chesapeake, Eastern Shores, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk, Virginia, as well as North Carolina and nationwide.
