Pendergast Law Personal Injury Lawyers

Free Consultations  |  Phones Answered 24/7

Pendergast Law Personal Injury Lawyers

Free Consultations  |  Phones Answered 24/7

Committed to helping you heal while we recover.

Fighting For Damages From Negligent Delivery Companies

With online shopping on the rise, delivery vans are becoming ever more prevalent on Seattle streets and highways. It is common to see an Amazon, FedEx or UPS delivery vehicle blocking the road while a driver drops off a package. With more delivery vans on the streets, more parcels to deliver and more pressure on overworked drivers to deliver packages quickly, it is no wonder that delivery van accidents are becoming a problem in our city.

If you were injured by a delivery van driver who was acting negligently, you might be eligible to file a claim for damages. But going up against major delivery companies is no easy task, and you will need a skilled legal team at your side to build a strong case for compensation. At Pendergast Law, our Seattle delivery van accident attorneys have years of experience investigating and litigating personal injury claims. We are not afraid to take our cases to trial and go up against big insurance companies. Call us toll-free at 888-539-9211 to schedule a free consultation.

Negligent Delivery Driver Behavior

Amazon, FedEx and UPS delivery drivers are in a hurry to deliver the packages on their routes and meet customer expectations in a competitive market. With hundreds of parcels to deliver and thousands upon thousands of orders coming in each day, these drivers have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders. They may be untrained, inexperienced, overworked and fatigued, leading them to take risks in the interest of speed.

When delivery van drivers are involved in accidents, common causes include:

  • Speeding
  • Tailgating
  • Making unsafe lane changes
  • Running red lights or stop signs
  • Failing to yield the right of way
  • Performing illegal U-turns
  • Failing to secure cargo properly
  • Failing to see other vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles or pedestrians due to blind spots
  • Driving while fatigued
  • Driving while distracted from operating a GPS system, company app or cellphone
  • Driving too fast for weather or road conditions
  • Failing to set the parking brake when stopping to deliver a package

These drivers often utilize large delivery vehicles that are akin to passenger vans in terms of weight and size. If they’re not driven properly or are overloaded, these vans can roll over and injure multiple parties, including pedestrians and cyclists. At the end of the day, this behavior is inexcusable, and serious delivery accidents often reflect on the poor practices employed by their parent companies. If you were injured by one of these drivers, you might be able to pursue compensation based on the delivery company’s liability policy.

Delivery Company Liability Policies

Liability policies will vary depending on the company and what services they are using to complete orders. Oftentimes, FedEx and UPS utilize their own fleet of delivery drivers to handle orders. Amazon, in turn, contracts their delivery network to multiple companies across the state of Washington and utilizes the Amazon Flex program to find local drivers. Each type of driver operates under a different policy that may impact how you pursue a claim.

FedEx

FedEx has different insurance policies to cover deliveries by FedEx Express, FedEx Services, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight and other branches of its operations. However, most of these policies have a $5 million combined single limit. FedEx drivers are fully covered under this policy while on duty, so you will likely be able to file against it if a driver injured you in an accident.

UPS

UPS auto liability insurance for all owned, non-owned and hired vehicles have policy limits of $1 million that apply when the driver is on duty.

Amazon

Amazon’s policies will differ depending on what service was involved in an accident. Amazon has routinely contracted to FedEx, UPS and DHL, all of which are required to bear all liability in the event of an accident. In addition, Amazon works with various third-party delivery companies who handle orders. Despite often driving Amazon-branded vans, these drivers are not considered Amazon employees. If an Amazon contractor injures you, you may have to file against the third-party company’s commercial liability policy instead of Amazon directly.

In contrast, you may have been hit by an Amazon Flex driver. Amazon Flex drivers use their own vehicles to deliver packages for Amazon, and the company provides commercial auto insurance to cover Flex drivers during deliveries. Drivers maintain their own personal auto insurance for coverage when they are not on the job, at which times the company is not liable for accidents.

Amazon insurance provides coverage for up to $1 million per accident in liability insurance to cover bodily injuries and property damage.

Thorough Legal Representation In Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Even though each of these companies may have extensive liability insurance policies to cover your injuries, that does not mean they will give it out freely. Insurance companies are very resistant to paying out proper compensation to injured parties. Insurance adjusters may devalue your claim, deny you coverage or try to say you caused the accident. To ensure that you receive a fair shot at compensation, you will need a strong personal injury claim and an experienced attorney on your side.

Our Seattle car accident attorneys at Pendergast Law have the skill and expertise to provide thorough legal advice that may be key in securing a strong settlement offer or jury verdict. With years of collective experience, our legal team has the necessary knowledge to review your case and advocate on your behalf. Call us toll-free at 888-539-9211 to learn what options are available to you after a Seattle delivery driver accident.

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