UPS is one of the most prominent package delivery companies in the world. They have over 534,000 employees in over 220 countries and deliver 25.2 million packages daily. In 2021, their total revenue topped 97.3 billion. Almost everyone is familiar with the brown trucks we see on the roadways daily. That’s because they have over 125,000 trucks out making deliveries daily.
With a myriad of trucks on the road, an obvious concern is driving safety. UPS does not only have small trucks out for delivery; they also have large commercial trucks like 18-wheel tractor trailers. In addition, as the company grows to meet the increasing demand for online shopping and delivery, they have more trucks out than ever. As a result, UPS trucks are vulnerable to accidents, like all other vehicle operators. But accidents are not always the driver’s fault.
In some cases, the company may be at fault for employing inadequately trained drivers or failure to follow truck maintenance standards properly. Whatever the case, UPS and its attorneys will always try to avoid big payouts for victims. That’s why you need a Denver UPS truck accident lawyer on your side.
How Often Do UPS Truck Accidents Occur?
With the multitude of UPS trucks and 127,017 drivers, UPS truck accidents are inevitable sometimes. While UPS claims to prioritize safety, its drivers are human and can still make mistakes. As a result, UPS drivers end up in thousands of accidents yearly.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). UPS had 2,865 crashes in the US over 24 months before November 2021. That translates to roughly four accidents a day. Of those accidents, there were 69 accident-related fatalities and 1,020 injuries. Furthermore, 60% of the accidents were “towaway” accidents. During the same period, UPS drivers received 2,272 unsafe driving violations.
Why Do UPS Truck Accidents Happen So Often?
UPS is a delivery company service. That means they have deadlines to meet as a part of their business service. As a result, their drivers are often in a hurry or under pressure. Furthermore, some drivers may fail to take proper precautions behind the wheel. The result can be a truck accident, which has worse outcomes for the smaller passenger vehicle. Some of the top leading causes of UPS truck accidents include:
- Speeding – UPS drivers sometimes speed to deliver all their packages on time.
- Driving while fatigued – UPS truck drivers sometimes work overtime like many commercial truck drivers. Going for too long can be dangerous, whether working overtime or feeling pressured to meet a deadline. In addition, driving for more extended periods than the legally acceptable limit can leave drivers sleepless and exhausted.
- Distracted driving – Sometimes, drivers are distracted because they are following a schedule or directions to their destination. Other times they may be texting or using their cell phones. Whatever the case, distracted driving is considered negligent.
- Improper cargo loading (for example, if the truck is overloaded)
- Failure to maintain trucks
UPS truck accidents are a risk for all parties involved. Sometimes UPS drivers are negligent and cause car accidents. However, it may not always be the driver’s fault. Holding the company accountable for the lack of proper truck maintenance and care is possible.
You Have A Right To Seek Payment For UPS Accident Injuries
You could recover compensation if you were injured in a UPS truck accident. The first thing to do is get proper medical treatment for your injuries. That’s important for your well-being and will be necessary evidence for your claim. The next step is to contact a Denver UPS accident lawyer. That way, you can be sure you are protecting your legal rights and securing a better chance to win a fair settlement.
What Is The Process For Getting Compensation In A UPS Truck Accident?
Your UPS truck accident lawyer will probably start with filing a demand letter. A demand letter to the insurance company will ask for a settlement on your behalf. UPS carries up to $1 million of insurance coverage per accident. If you ask for a payment less than the policy coverage limit, you can negotiate with the insurance company.
However, you will still need to show that the driver’s negligence caused the accident. Dealing with insurance companies is never easy. UPS has its insurance policy with Liberty Mutual, which is notoriously difficult to negotiate a fair settlement with. Therefore, you need an experienced UPS truck accident attorney who is not afraid to fight for you. After sustaining injuries in a UPS truck accident, you deserve better than a lowball offer. It would be best if you had an attorney who is prepared to go to court to represent you and win you fair compensation.
Do I Need To File A Lawsuit Against UPS?
If the insurance company refuses to offer you a fair settlement, your attorney may advise you to file a lawsuit. It’s not uncommon for insurance companies to refuse reasonable settlement amounts. Another reason you might want to file a lawsuit is if they refuse to admit fault. In that case, they would deflect responsibility for your injuries and try to pay you less. Lastly, if you suffered damages that exceeded their policy maximum (over $ 1 million), you may want to proceed to court. Again, your attorney can help you build a strong case and establish liability.
Who Is Liable In A Ups Truck Accident?
UPS drivers are company employees, unlike big companies that hire their drivers as independent contractors. If you were in a UPS truck accident, this makes a big difference.
That means you can sue the company for your injuries. In other instances, establishing liability may be a tricky task. That’s because it’s unclear who is liable for your damages. However, if you prove their employee was negligent while working after a UPS truck accident, you can hold the company legally accountable.
Let’s say the driver’s actions were within the “scope of their employment” and caused your accident. Then the company could be found vicariously liable for its employee. The driver was within the company’s “scope of employment” since they were operating a UPS when the accident happened. As long as the driver was not running personal errands or committed willful maliciousness, the employer can be found liable.
UPS is a large company with the means to pay for your damages. In most UPS accidents, victims sue the company first rather than the driver. However, filing a lawsuit against a major corporation like UPS is difficult. The legal process for commercial litigation is more complex than regular personal injury claims. You need a skilled Denver UPS truck accident lawyer to provide sound legal guidance.
Schedule A Free Case Review With Experienced Denver UPS Accident Lawyers
Our UPS Accident Lawyers are skilled litigators with the right experience to help you compete against big-name companies like FedEx and UPS. In addition, we are prepared to go to court and aggressively negotiate settlements on your behalf.
While some attorneys will pressure you to accept an out-of-court settlement, we will never do that. Our experienced personal injury attorneys are prepared to represent you in court. We also have numerous trial success stories from our previous clients.
We take pride in our expert legal services and focus on what’s best for our clients. If you have sustained injuries in a FedEx or UPS truck accident, we are here to help. It would help if you didn’t have to deal with the aftermath of such a traumatic event alone. Let us handle the complex legal proceedings on your behalf so you can focus on recovering.
Contact us for a free case review or call (720) 500-HURT.
