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Did You Get Into a Delivery Truck Accident This Holiday Season? Here’s What You Should Do.

If you experienced a delivery truck accident, you may be wondering about your legal options moving forward. Fortunately, you have every right to file a claim to recover the compensation you deserve for vehicle damages and personal injuries. 

Tragically, serious truck accidents are exceedingly common during the holiday months, many of which result in serious injuries or even death. Personal injuries caused by vehicular accidents often require costly medical bills, and they can even leave you with physical limitations that impact your ability to work.

If you suffer from a delivery truck accident, you need to know what immediate actions you need to take to ensure your safety and your personal injury claim.  

Why Delivery Truck Accidents Are More Common During the Holidays

There are several reasons why delivery truck accidents and car accidents, in general, are more common during the holiday months. One primary reason is that there are more vehicles on the road. Many families travel to other cities or even states to visit friends and family for the holidays.

Additionally, delivery truck drivers often have much tighter deadlines during the holidays because they’re fulfilling more delivery orders, causing them to speed or drive dangerously. This is one of the main reasons why Amazon delivery truck accidents are more common in December.

Another significant contributor to holiday delivery truck accidents is an increase in driving while fatigued. Truck drivers often work long hours as they deliver numerous packages daily, causing them to become fatigued while on the clock. Dangerous driving is also coupled with the fact that drivers are more likely to be fatigued. Unfortunately, many drivers are unaware of the dangers of driving while fatigued. It can significantly impair your ability to make split-second decisions, and it also negatively impacts your reaction time, making for a much more dangerous drive.  

What makes delivery trucks all the more deadly for other drivers is their weight and size. These vehicles usually weigh several tons and are notably larger than standard passenger vehicles. With that added weight and size comes an increased risk of suffering from serious or fatal injuries if you collide with them.

Other reasons why delivery truck accidents happen include:

What Should I Do If an Amazon Delivery Truck Hit My Car?

If an Amazon truck or another delivery vehicle collides with your car, you need to take immediate action. 

Receive Medical Assistance

Your number one priority after a wreck should be ensuring the safety of yourself and any passengers in your vehicle. If anyone involved in the accident is hurt, you should call 911. 

If you don’t suffer from serious injuries, you should still seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident. Failing to receive medical attention shortly after a vehicular collision can negatively impact the likelihood that you’ll be able to recover compensation for your injuries.  

After receiving medical treatment, keep track of your expenses, including all surgeries, prescriptions, physical therapy, and treatment, so that you have proof that you suffered financial damages because of the car accident. 

Call the Police

Even if no one is seriously hurt, you should still contact the police after a motor vehicle collision. This is important for the claims process or in a lawsuit because the police will write up an accident report that you can use as evidence. 

Additionally, you’re legally obligated to call the police after a car accident in Indiana if anyone suffers injury or death or if there’s more than $1,000 worth of property damage. 

Exchange Information with the Delivery Truck Driver

If you’re physically able, you should obtain the other driver’s information including their contact information, registration, and insurance information. You should also get as many details as possible about the truck company. 

For example, if you’re involved in a FedEx delivery truck accident, the company likely outsourced its deliveries to independent contractors. It’s important to know the delivery truck driver’s company in case you need to file a claim or a lawsuit against their employer. 

Obtain Evidence at the Scene

It’s critical to gather as much evidence as possible while at the scene of the accident. You should take videos and photos of the crash aftermath, and you need to speak to eyewitnesses. Make sure to record the name and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. 

Don’t Speak to the Delivery Truck Driver’s Insurance Company

After being involved in a crash, the delivery truck driver’s insurance company may contact you to take a statement. Never talk to them without first speaking to an attorney. Anything you say to an insurance company can be used against you and has the potential to hurt your claim. 

Call a Personal Injury Lawyer

Although you can collect some evidence on your own, you’ll likely be able to recover much more if you enlist the expertise of a personal injury attorney. They will also help you identify all potentially liable parties, such as the truck driver’s delivery company. For example, if you suffer from a Lowe’s delivery truck accident, they can help you navigate whether Lowe’s or their delivery truck company shares partial liability. 

Finally, experienced delivery truck accident attorneys can present your case in the most effective way possible and maximize the amount that you can receive in compensation. 

Contact an Indianapolis Delivery Truck Accident Attorney

If you’re involved in a traffic accident in Indianapolis, contact Crossen Law Firm. We have years of experience assisting Indiana residents with personal injury and car accident claims, and we’ll help you recover the money you deserve for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of future earnings, and more. Call us today at 317-401-8626, or you can contact us online here.

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