Common Causes of Delivery Vehicle Accidents in Alabama

Most of us enjoy the convenience of having heavy bags of dog food or the latest electronics delivered to our doorstep. Whether FedEx, UPS, an Amazon truck, or a large semi-truck, because of the growth of the supply chain movement of goods, we save on gas and don’t have to spend time-fighting traffic just to haul items home.

But as with many things, there is a downside.

Let’s face it, today, there are more large trucks on the roadways that we share. An estimated 15 percent of highway travel and 20 percent of rural interstate highways in Alabama are delivery trucks. 

It might not surprise you then that we are seeing an increase in the number of fatal crashes with large trucks in Alabama. 

In fact, a nonprofit study recently found that Alabama leads the nation in fatalities involving large trucks.

Large Delivery Vehicles 

The research was conducted by TRIP, A National Transportation Research Nonprofit concerned with the future of the nation’s freight delivery system. In 2020 alone, Alabama saw 590 million tons of goods move across the state at a value of $448 billion. 

At the same time, from 2017 to 2021, 130 individuals were killed in collisions with large trucks on Alabama roads. 

Nationwide, during the same time period, the number of large truck-involved crashes increased 18 percent. Five out of six killed were occupants of the smaller vehicle or pedestrians, or bicyclists.

While the trucking industry employs more than 125,000 Alabamians, it is expected to continue growing. The value of freight moved by trucks in Alabama is predicted to double by 2050.

So, we can predict that the number of accidents will continue to grow.

Delivery Vehicle Accidents

What are some of the common causes of delivery vehicle crashes?

• Inexperienced Drivers – Due to the need for more drivers in recent years, many behind the wheel are inexperienced in driving and operating a truck safely. Add to that, the push to deliver more packages quickly. One more layer of safety was erased when in 2020, the Alabama state legislature lowered the ability for drivers as young as 18 to obtain a commercial driver’s license, down from the age of 21.
  
• Sudden Stops– Imagine searching an unfamiliar neighborhood and looking for a number on a house to deliver a package. Sudden stops confuse the car in the rear, often causing a collision.
  
• Distracted Driving – Texting, following a GPS, and trying to drive at the same time, can result in distracted driving, a leading cause of vehicle collisions.
  
• Improperly Loaded Truck – A vehicle that has a load that has been placed without regard to balance in the back of a truck, can lead to erratic driving and the load shifting while driving. 

Your Alabama Delivery Vehicle Accident Attorney

Attorney Chip Nix reminds you that drivers for Amazon may be working as independent contractors and not an employee of the shipping giant. That means they can avoid liability for accidents caused by a driver delivering Amazon goods. Even those driving an Amazon truck may be employees of a local delivery company. 

This means the deck is stacked against you, the victim of a negligent Amazon driver when you are injured in a collision.  

We may have to explore legal action not only against Amazon but with the Flex driver’s commercial liability insurance policy.

Attorney Nix has spent four decades filing and winning vehicle accident cases. He understands the insurance industry and what tactics it will use to fight your claim. 

He will launch a thorough investigation to determine the at-fault party and explore the coverage of both the driver and the commercial liability policy. There may be some avenues to hold the third-party employer responsible when seeking compensation.

Mr. Nix understands the value of your claim and what recovery you will need to move forward with your life. 

Whether negotiating with the insurance companies or taking your case to trial, Personal Injury Attorney Chip Nix offers you a complimentary review of your case to see how he can help you at this critical time. Under state law, you will be barred from recovery if you do not file your case within two years from the accident date. Do not delay if you plan to seek compensation.

Call his Montgomery office at (334) 279-7770 to begin the conversation.