You likely pass numerous delivery trucks on Missouri roads every day. Because online shopping has become the main way that many people make most types of purchases, it’s no surprise that there are more delivery vans and trucks than ever before.
As beneficial as it can be for employers to have numerous vehicles out delivering packages, the high number of vans and trucks on the road at all hours can increase the chances of collisions.
This is why after an accident it is crucial to consult with our experienced Missouri delivery truck accident lawyers. For more than 35 years we have been helping victims of truck accident injury claims recover compensation for their injuries.
Have you been injured in an accident involving a delivery truck in Missouri? Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers specializes in delivery truck accident claims. Call 314.207.9996 to speak with our knowledgeable attorneys. Consultations are completely free.
How Our Delivery Truck Accident Lawyers in Missouri Can Assist With Your Claim
When you trust our skilled attorneys with your case, you can benefit from a number of key services. Our decades of experience representing people throughout Missouri who have suffered similar accidents allow us to provide the comprehensive help you need to succeed in your claim.
Full Case Assessment
The first step in the process of helping you fight for compensation is to ensure that we’re the right team for your needs. During a free consultation, we’ll assess your case and give you an idea of how we work. We encourage all potential clients to ask as many questions as they may have.
One of the biggest concerns most clients have involves costs. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t get paid unless you receive a settlement or jury award.
Award-winning Missouri delivery truck accident attorneys Paul Beck and John Beck can explain what percentage of the winnings we receive and what other expenses might need to be covered during your consultation.
Case Investigation
If we’re the right team to guide you through this difficult moment in your life, we can begin investigating the accident. We’ll gather crucial evidence to prove how the crash occurred.
This is essential because Missouri has a fault-based system that operates under a pure comparative negligence doctrine. This means that you can recover losses even if you were 99% at fault for the crash, but your winnings will be proportionate to your liability.
You can expect the other party’s insurance to try to place as much of the blame on you as possible so that they can pay less. By performing a thorough investigation, we can help prove who is legitimately liable.
We can gather all manner of evidence, including:
- Medical records
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Employment records
- Photos
- Traffic camera footage
- Expert witness testimonies
While we consider the police report of the accident, we’ll still conduct our own independent investigation as well.
Identification of Liable Parties
Because there may be more than one party responsible for the accident, we need to rapidly establish who could be at fault and start evaluating their insurance coverage. This can sometimes be tricky, depending on the types of licenses the driver has. Not all delivery truck drivers are required to have commercial licenses, for example.
Presentation of the Claim
Our Missouri delivery truck accident lawyers can then present the claim against the various parties. Generally, we need to file against all parties at the same time to ensure that their insurance providers set aside the appropriate reserves to pay off claims.
These reserves are estimates of what the claim settlement will add up to. As more evidence comes forward and we continue building our case, insurance companies can adjust the reserve to accommodate further costs.
Negotiations With Insurance Companies
The next step in the process typically involves negotiations. We will start communicating with insurers and meeting with them to help you receive the settlement you need to cover your losses. This is a difficult process that requires both skill and experience, which we bring to the table.
For years, we have helped people throughout Missouri obtain the economic and non-economic damages they need after these types of accidents. All too often, insurance companies will try to minimize the claim and offer small settlement amounts, claiming that you were more liable for the crash than you actually were.
We can aggressively fight back against these claims. If we see that negotiations don’t progress and that the insurers dispute important aspects of the case, we can take the case to court.
Types of Delivery Truck Accident Claims We Handle
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we handle a variety of delivery truck accident claims. Many of the cases we take on involve carriers such as:
- United States Postal Service (USPS)
- Federal Express (FedEx)
- United Parcel Service (UPS)
- DHL
Carriers can be companies that provide transportation in an ongoing contract or agreement with another party, or they can be companies that transport goods or even people for a fee. The latter are referred to as “common carriers.”
Common carriers can use a variety of vehicles, and any of them can be involved in collisions. Our experienced Missouri truck accident lawyers take on claims dealing with:
- Florist trucks
- Grocery vehicles
- Flatbed trucks
- UPS trucks
- USPS trucks
- FedEx trucks
- Box trucks
- Refrigerated trucks
- Dump trucks
- Amazon trucks
- Panel vans
- Moving vans
These are just a few of the types of vehicles that could be involved in a collision. By scheduling a free consultation with our team, you can speak with one of our skilled attorneys about the type of truck that struck you.
Reasons for Accidents Involving Delivery Trucks
Delivery truck accidents can occur for numerous reasons in Missouri. The exact cause will determine who is liable.
Distracted Driving
Delivery truck drivers can easily become distracted. They might need to check the GPS or make delivery updates, and this can mean taking their eyes and minds off the road. Even searching for a home’s number can lead to distractions severe enough to cause collisions.
Intoxicated Driving
Anyone operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a danger on the road. These substances impact reflexes, coordination, and even depth perception. As a result, intoxicated drivers will not be able to react appropriately to hazards that appear on the road.
Additionally, people who are intoxicated are more likely to act recklessly or to fall asleep at the wheel. Both of these behaviors can result in catastrophic injuries.
Fatigued Driving
Delivery truck drivers are often pushed to deliver packages more rapidly. They may not have very strict regulations when it comes to work hours, especially if the driver doesn’t have a commercial license, so they could surpass the recommended number of hours on the road.
If they don’t get enough rest, fatigue can be a serious issue. Exhaustion impacts cognitive function in ways similar to being intoxicated, so drivers can struggle with coordination and reaction times.
Speeding
If the delivery person is running late or their company offers bonuses based on the number of deliveries they have made, they may speed to make better times. Trucks are larger than passenger vehicles and therefore already exert more force. If you add higher speeds to that, the results could be catastrophic.
Lack of Training
Companies that hire delivery people must ensure that they are qualified to do the work. They must have experience, receive the appropriate training, and have valid licenses.
Someone who is not trained correctly can make serious mistakes when operating large trucks. For example, they might back out of driveways or other spaces without looking, or could abruptly stop to make a delivery without warning other drivers.
Vehicle Maintenance Problems
The delivery vehicle itself may malfunction and cause an accident. If the brakes fail or there’s a tire blowout, it can be easy for the driver to lose control of the truck.
Before being allowed on the road, these vehicles must be inspected. This may be the employer’s responsibility, but the driver may also have the duty of ensuring the vehicle is roadworthy.
Cargo Problems
Cargo must be loaded correctly and fastened to ensure that it doesn’t move during transport. If the parties in charge of doing this are negligent, the cargo can shift, leading to changes in the center of gravity. This can be a particular concern with large vehicles.
The truck can be overloaded as well, which could make turns or curves much more dangerous.
Weather Conditions
Larger vehicles are generally more likely to struggle if there’s ice or rain. In these situations, a delivery truck could lose traction and skid, which could put everyone else on the road in danger.
Liability in Delivery Truck Accidents
Delivery truck accidents often involve more than one liable party. Perhaps the most obvious one is the driver. If we can demonstrate that the person owed you a duty of care that they breached, resulting in your losses, then we can hold them liable.
The employer may be responsible, as well. If they did not take the time to train the driver or they didn’t perform the needed maintenance on the vehicle, they may have failed in their duty of care. Even if the company itself wasn’t negligent, it could still be liable because of the doctrine of respondeat superior.
This is a doctrine that holds the employer vicariously liable for an employee’s conduct while they performed their job. Because employers benefit from the actions of their employees, Missouri law recognizes that they should also be responsible for any losses that those actions cause.
To leverage respondeat superior in a claim, we’ll need to first prove the employee was acting within the scope of their work when the accident occurred. We’ll also need to establish the employer/employee relationship.
If the accident occurred because of a malfunctioning truck part, that could mean the manufacturer is liable. Similarly, if the vehicle underwent maintenance and the mechanic was negligent in addressing issues with the truck, they could be responsible.
In instances when the company relies on loading businesses, the latter might be liable if the cargo shifts and leads to a crash. The same is the case if the vehicle was overloaded.
Timeline to File a Lawsuit
To file a lawsuit after suffering injuries in a delivery truck accident, it’s crucial to make sure you abide by the statute of limitations. For the majority of the delivery truck claims that occur in Missouri, there is a five-year deadline to begin legal action.
The statute of limitations works to ensure cases are brought forward when there is still plenty of evidence available. If you miss the deadline, you can be barred from recovering any losses.
There are some exceptions to the statute of limitations to note, though. For instance, if the injured person was under the age of 21 or was mentally incapacitated, the deadline can be extended. It’s also possible to extend the deadline if the other party leaves the state before you’re able to file a claim against them.
You should never assume that an exception applies to your case, however. When you consult with one of our knowledgeable attorneys as soon as possible after an accident, we can make certain you don’t miss any applicable deadlines.
Award-Winning Missouri Truck Accident Law Firm
If you were injured in a Missouri delivery truck accident, you need a trusted advocate on your side. At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we provide the in-depth and ongoing support you deserve as you navigate the claims process. We are a client-centered law firm that understands your case is as unique as you are. You will never feel like just another client with us.
Because we have years of experience representing people in these types of claims, we know just how to tackle even the most complex cases. We know what evidence can make the most difference in building a robust case, and we have a clear understanding of all of the tactics that insurance companies may use to minimize your claim.
We also work closely with expert witnesses like mechanics and accident reconstruction professionals. With their assistance, we can put together a powerful case so that you can receive compensation for the emotional, physical, and financial suffering you have experienced.
Don’t deal with the aftermath of a collision with a delivery truck alone. Contact us to schedule a free case assessment with a Missouri delivery truck accident attorney from our team today.
Cities we serve in the state of Missouri include St. Louis, O’Fallon, Florissant, Independence, Jefferson City, Kansas City, Doniphan, Cape Girardeau, and more.
