FedEx delivery truck accidents accidents in St. Louis, Missouri, involve unique legal challenges that regular car crashes don’t present. FedEx uses a complex contractor system for many of its drivers, creating layers of insurance coverage and potential defendants that can make recovering compensation complicated.
Our experienced St. Louis FedEx truck accident lawyers understand these challenges and offer expert legal assistance to truck accident injury victims just like you.
At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, our practice is dedicated to auto accident law, and we have been representing truck accident victims in Missouri since 1990.
Our FexEx truck accident attorneys in St. Louis, Missouri, offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.
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Have you been injured in an accident with a UPS or FedEx delivery truck? Call (314) 207-9996 now to speak with our knowledgeable attorneys.
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Why Choose Beck & Beck for Your FedEx Truck Crash Case?
FedEx accident cases involve complex corporate structures and multiple insurance policies designed to limit payouts. Unlike regular car accidents, these cases often include independent contractors, multiple defendants, and aggressive defense teams working to minimize your compensation.
We move fast to protect your interests. Within hours of taking your case, we send legal preservation notices to FedEx to secure critical evidence before it can be destroyed or lost.
Our firm handles every aspect of your case while you focus on recovery. We deal with insurance companies, gather evidence, and fight for maximum compensation so you don’t have to.
- Immediate Evidence Preservation: We secure black box data, driver logs, and video footage before FedEx can legally dispose of them
- FedEx Expertise: We understand Ground’s contractor system and know how to identify all liable parties
- No Upfront Costs: We advance all case expenses and only get paid when you win
Common Causes of FedEx and Delivery Truck Crashes
Delivery truck accidents often stem from factors unique to the shipping industry. Drivers face intense pressure to complete routes quickly, leading to dangerous shortcuts and risky driving behaviors.
Our experienced St. Louis FedEx truck accident lawyers investigate these industry-specific causes to build the strongest possible case for our clients. Understanding why delivery truck crashes happen helps us prove negligence and maximize your compensation.
- Delivery Schedule Pressure: Drivers speed or skip safety checks to meet unrealistic delivery deadlines
- Driver Fatigue: Long hours and early morning starts lead to drowsy driving conditions that can result in wrongful death crashes
- Distracted Driving: Using GPS devices, package scanners, or phones while driving
- Blind Spot Accidents: Large trucks have significant visibility limitations, especially when backing up
- Unsecured Cargo: Packages that shift during transport can cause loss of vehicle control
- Inadequate Training: Insufficient preparation for operating large commercial vehicles safely
Who Pays After a FedEx Delivery Truck Crash?
Missouri follows an at-fault insurance system. This means whoever caused your accident is responsible for paying your damages. In FedEx crashes, determining fault can be complicated because several parties might share responsibility.
FedEx Ground operates differently than most trucking companies. Many of their drivers are independent contractors, not employees. This business model creates additional layers of potential liability that we know how to navigate.
We investigate every possible defendant to maximize your recovery. Sometimes the driver is at fault, but other times FedEx itself bears responsibility for poor hiring practices or unrealistic delivery schedules.
Potentially Liable Party | Common Reasons for Liability |
FedEx Driver | Speeding, distracted driving, or violating safety rules |
FedEx Corporation | Negligent hiring, inadequate training, or dangerous policies |
Contractor Company | Poor driver supervision or vehicle maintenance failures |
Maintenance Provider | Faulty repairs to brakes, tires, or other critical systems |
Cargo Loading Company | Improperly secured packages that shift and cause crashes |
Can You Sue FedEx if the Driver Is a Contractor?
Yes, you can often sue FedEx even when their driver is an independent contractor. While FedEx uses this business model to limit liability, several legal theories allow us to hold the corporation accountable.
Negligent hiring occurs when FedEx fails to properly screen drivers or hires contractors with dangerous driving records. We can also pursue claims for negligent supervision if FedEx knew about unsafe practices but failed to correct them.
FedEx can also be liable for creating dangerous conditions. If they pressure drivers to meet unrealistic delivery quotas that encourage speeding or skipping rest breaks, they share responsibility for resulting crashes.
Financial Compensation You Can Recover
Missouri law allows you to recover compensation for all losses caused by your accident. These damages fall into two main categories: economic losses you can measure in dollars and non-economic losses that affect your quality of life.
Your total compensation depends on the severity of your injuries, the impact on your daily life, and the available insurance coverage. We work with medical experts and economists to calculate the full value of your claim.
Economic Damages Include:
- All medical expenses from emergency care through future treatments
- Lost wages from missed work and reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle repairs or replacement costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries
Non-Economic Damages Cover:
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Mental anguish and psychological trauma
- Loss of enjoyment in daily activities
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
In cases involving extreme negligence, such as drunk driving, you may also recover punitive damages. These are designed to punish the wrongdoer and prevent similar conduct in the future.
What Evidence Do We Secure Right Away?
Commercial truck accidents require immediate action to preserve critical evidence. FedEx and other trucking companies are only required to keep certain records for limited periods, and some evidence can be lost forever within days of an accident.
Our experienced St. Louis truck accident attorneys act immediately to send legal preservation notices and begin our investigation. Time is crucial because electronic data can be overwritten and physical evidence can disappear.
- Electronic Logging Device Data: Shows driver hours, rest breaks, and potential fatigue violations
- Black Box Information: Records speed, braking, steering, and other pre-crash vehicle data
- Dispatch Records: Reveals delivery schedules and pressure to meet unrealistic deadlines
- Maintenance Logs: Exposes mechanical problems or skipped safety inspections
- Driver Qualification Files: Contains training records, medical certifications, and driving history
- Cell Phone Records: Can prove distracted driving at the time of the crash
What to Do After a FedEx Truck Accident in St. Louis
The actions you take immediately after a crash can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Your safety and health come first, but protecting your legal rights is also important.
Call 911 and Get Medical Attention
Contact police and emergency medical services right away. A police report creates an official record of the accident, and prompt medical care documents your injuries from the start.
Even if you feel okay initially, see a doctor as soon as possible. Some serious injuries, especially head trauma and spinal cord injuries, may not show symptoms immediately.
Document the Scene Safely
If you’re able and it’s safe to do so, take photos of the vehicles, accident scene, and your visible injuries. Get the police report number from the responding officer.
Collect contact information from witnesses who saw the crash happen. Their statements can be crucial if there’s a dispute about how the accident occurred.
Avoid Giving Recorded Statements
FedEx representatives or insurance adjusters may contact you quickly after the accident. Be polite but avoid giving recorded statements without speaking to an attorney first.
These statements can be used against you later to minimize your claim. It’s better to say you need time to recover and will have your lawyer contact them.
Contact Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers Immediately
Call our experienced St. Louis FedEx truck accident lawyers as soon as possible after the accident. We’ll handle all communications with insurance companies while you focus on getting better.
The sooner you contact us, the faster we can begin preserving evidence and building your case.
How We Prove Negligence Under Missouri Law
Winning your case requires proving that the at-fault party was negligent. Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to others. We must establish four key elements to hold FedEx or their driver responsible.
Duty of Care: Every driver has a legal obligation to operate their vehicle safely and follow traffic laws. Commercial drivers have an even higher duty due to their vehicle’s size and potential for harm.
Breach of Duty: The driver or company failed to meet their safety obligations. This could involve speeding, distracted driving, or violating federal trucking regulations.
Causation: The negligent conduct directly caused your accident and injuries. We use evidence and expert testimony to connect the defendant’s actions to your harm.
Damages: You suffered actual losses as a result of the accident. These include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other documented impacts on your life.
How Comparative Fault Affects Your Recovery in Missouri
Insurance companies often try to blame accident victims to reduce their payouts. Missouri’s pure comparative fault rule protects you even if you bear some responsibility for the crash.
Under this system, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover damages even if you’re mostly to blame. For example, if you’re found 20% at fault, you can still recover 80% of your total damages.
This rule offers broader protection to accident victims, allowing you to recover damages even if you are found to be mostly at fault for the crash. We fight to minimize any blame assigned to you while maximizing the fault attributed to the other parties.
How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Missouri?
Missouri’s statute of limitations gives you five years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. While this seems like plenty of time, waiting too long can seriously damage your case.
Critical evidence disappears quickly after truck accidents. Security camera footage and electronic data from the truck may only be available for a limited time after an accident, so it’s important to act quickly to preserve this evidence.
The sooner you contact our law firm, the stronger your case will be. We can immediately begin preserving evidence and building your claim while the details are still fresh.
Factors That Affect FedEx Truck Accident Settlement Amounts
Several key factors influence the value of your FedEx truck accident claim. We carefully evaluate each element to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your losses.
The severity of your injuries plays the largest role in determining your settlement value. More serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries that require extensive treatment and cause permanent disabilities typically result in higher compensation.
Your case’s strength also affects the settlement amount. Clear evidence of the other party’s fault and strong documentation of your damages lead to better outcomes.
Available insurance coverage sets the upper limit for your recovery. FedEx and their contractors typically carry substantial insurance policies, but coverage amounts vary by situation.
Skilled Delivery Truck Accident Law Firm in St. Louis, Missouri
FedEx truck accidents require experienced legal representation to navigate the complex corporate structures and insurance policies involved. At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we have the knowledge and resources to take on large corporations and win.
Our firm’s exclusive focus on Missouri auto accident law gives us deep expertise in these challenging cases. We understand how FedEx operates, how their insurance works, and what it takes to maximize your compensation.
Don’t face this difficult time alone. We’re available 24/7 to discuss your case and answer your questions. Our free consultation costs you nothing, and we only get paid if we win your case.
In addition to FedEx accident claims, we also handle truck accident claims involving Amazon, UPS, and more.
