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Gulfport Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer

With e-commerce, there are more delivery trucks on the road today than at any other time.  Crashes involving two major carriers, UPS and FedEx, have gone up substantially since 2012.  UPS crashes are up 38 percent, and FedEx accidents have risen 254.5 percent.

If you or your loved one suffered injuries in a delivery truck accident through no fault of your own, you might be entitled to compensation for your medical care and other losses.  At Haug, Farrar & Franco, PLLC, we use our decades of experience to help delivery truck accident victims receive compensation and closure for their injuries. Contact our Gulfport personal injury lawyers today by calling (228) 872-8752.

At Haug, Farrar & Franco, PLLC, our attorneys are:

  • Dedicated;
  • Knowledgeable in state and federal trucking laws; and
  • In possession of the resources necessary to take on even the most prominent commercial carriers.

You deserve excellent representation in your Gulfport delivery truck accident case.  Contact Haug, Farrar & Franco, PLLC today and schedule your complimentary delivery truck accident claim review.

How an Experienced Delivery Truck Accident Attorney Can Help

The experienced Gulfport delivery truck accident attorneys at Haug, Farrar & Franco, PLLC will meet with you, review your claim, advise you of your legal options, and begin building a trial-ready case for your delivery truck accident claim.

Building the strongest case possible on your behalf involves the following:

  • Obtaining witness statements, CCTV footage, and photographic evidence;
  • Getting police accident reports;
  • Gathering your medical documents;
  • Hiring needed experts;
  • Determining liability for your accident;
  • Reviewing any of the truck drivers log books, truck maintenance records, trucking company books and safety records, and insurance coverage(s); and
  • Requesting drug and alcohol test results to learn if intoxication was a factor in the accident.

At Haug, Farrar & Franco, PLLC, we will negotiate aggressively outside of court to settle your delivery truck accident claim.  If this is impossible, we are litigators and are unafraid to move forward with a trial.  To learn more about the claims process and options for settlement and trial, call our office in Gulfport.

Delivery Trucks and Common Carriers

Delivery trucks are separate from their larger commercial truck counterparts but much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles.  An average passenger vehicle weighs approximately 3,000 pounds, while a delivery truck can weigh as much as 26,000 pounds.

Types of delivery trucks are:

  • Box trucks;
  • Large vans;
  • Flatbed trucks; and
  • Customized vehicles.

Common carriers using delivery trucks in the United States are:

  • United Parcel Service (UPS);
  • FEDEX;
  • USPS; and
  • Amazon.

UPS is the largest shipping carrier in North America, with FedEx being the second largest.

Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents

The causes of delivery truck accidents are the same for any commercial driver or trucking company due to tight schedules, oversized loads, and demands placed on both the drivers and the trucks.  Causes of delivery truck accidents include, but are not limited to:

  • Fatigue;
  • Improper or inadequate training;
  • Poor vehicle maintenance;
  • Tires and lighting system violations;
  • Speeding and risky maneuvers;
  • Driving in inclement weather;
  • Distracted Driving;
  • Improper cargo loading or overloading; and
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

When delivery truck drivers and their companies are liable for your injuries, you need a legal team that can hold them accountable and prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.  Our Gulfport delivery truck accident attorneys at Haug, Farrar & Franco, PLLC can help you accomplish this.

Delivery Truck Safety Violations

Both commercial and delivery truck drivers are required to follow safety regulations and standards to avoid accidents. However, various safety violations can lead to these incidents. Below are some common delivery truck safety violations:

Inadequate Driver Training

Truck drivers must receive proper training on driving large and heavy vehicles, maintain a clean driving record, and hold a valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Inadequate driver training can lead to dangerous driving practices, increasing the risk of accidents.

Fatigued Driving

Delivery drivers often work long hours and cover substantial distances to make timely deliveries. Thus, they may experience fatigue and exhaustion, leading to delayed reaction times and impaired judgment. Regulations like Hours of Service (HOS) limit the number of hours truck drivers can work and mandate rest periods to combat this issue.

Distracted Driving

Engaging in activities like texting, eating, or talking on the phone, while driving can divert a driver’s attention from the road. Distracted driving is a significant risk factor for accidents involving delivery trucks.

Overloading

Overloading a truck beyond capabilities can lead to impaired vehicle handling and increased braking distance. An overloaded truck is more likely to have tire blowouts or brake failure, causing accidents in Gulfport.

Poor Vehicle Maintenance

Proper maintenance of a truck’s critical components, such as brakes, tires, and suspension systems, is crucial for safe operation. Lack of timely maintenance can result in mechanical failures and increase the likelihood of crashes.

Proving Liability After a Gulfport Delivery Truck Accident

In a Gulfport delivery truck accident, there are multiple parties that may be held responsible for your injuries and damages. These can include the truck driver, the trucking company, and even the party responsible for loading the cargo. To prove liability in truck accident cases in Gulfport, it’s essential to determine which party or parties were at fault and hold them accountable.

To do so, you will need to gather evidence that demonstrates negligence on their part. Some vital pieces of evidence that can aid in proving liability include the following.

The Police Report

After an accident, a detailed police report should be created. This report serves as an unbiased account of the incident and may include details such as:

  • The delivery truck driver’s statement
  • Photos of the accident scene
  • Weather conditions
  • Witness testimonies
  • Preliminary fault determination

Obtaining a copy of the police report will be a valuable piece of evidence in strengthening your Gulfport delivery truck accident case.

Surveillance Footage

Many streets have surveillance cameras either from traffic lights or nearby businesses. Obtaining footage of the accident can provide concrete, irrefutable evidence of the events that transpired. This footage can be crucial in holding the at-fault party responsible.

Some delivery trucks also have dash cams, which should also be requested.

Eyewitness Testimonies

Interviewing witnesses who saw the accident provides multiple perspectives that can reveal essential details about the events that led to the collision. Unbiased witness accounts can help corroborate your version of events.

Damages in a Gulfport Delivery Truck Accident Claim

If you’ve been involved in a delivery truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to obtain compensation. The most common types of compensation include the following:

Economic Damages

Economic damages cover quantifiable financial losses resulting from the accident. These damages can be calculated with relative certainty and include:

  • Medical Expenses: Victims may require medical treatment for injuries sustained in the accident. Medical expenses, including hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term care, can be recovered as economic damages.
  • Lost Wages: If a victim cannot work due to their injuries, they may be eligible for compensation for their lost income and reduced earning capacity.
  • Property Damage: Damage to the victim’s vehicle, personal items, and other property can be compensated as economic damages.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages involve more subjective and personal losses. They are more challenging to quantify and may include:

  • Pain and Suffering: This covers the physical pain victims experience due to the accident and their injuries.
  • Emotional Distress: Accidents can lead to emotional trauma, which can affect a victim’s life. Compensation for emotional distress may be awarded in these cases.
  • Loss of Consortium: If a victim’s relationship with their spouse or family members is negatively affected by the accident, they may be entitled to compensation for the loss of companionship and support.

Contact a Delivery Truck Accident Attorney in Gulfport

At Haug, Farrar & Franco, PLLC, we stay up-to-date on delivery truck litigation and will make your case a priority.  Your claim deserves to take precedence and not get lost in the shuffle.  Call Haug, Farrar & Franco, PLLC for the individualized legal attention you and your claim need today.