Charlotte Delivery Vehicle Accident Attorney

The delivery services industry in the United States employs nearly 900,000 delivery drivers across the nation. Their primary responsibility is to pick up and deliver merchandise, goods, and packages, while some must also load and unload the vehicles.

In North Carolina alone, there are nearly 26,000 drivers of delivery vehicles. With a total annual revenue of $104 billion, the online shopping industry is booming in the U.S. Some call it the “retail apocalypse,” while others complain about delivery vehicles choking our cities with traffic.

With the ever-increasing number of delivery trucks such as FedEx, UPS, Amazon, and the enormous popularity of such delivery services as Postmates, UberEats, GrubHub, and DoorDash, there has been an uptick in delivery vehicle accidents in Charlotte and elsewhere in North Carolina in recent years.

Operators of delivery vehicles and companies that employ these drivers have a duty to follow traffic rules and adhere to other regulations to prevent collisions with other vehicles. However, many delivery operators and companies breach that duty.

If you were injured due to that breach, consult with a Charlotte delivery vehicle accident attorney from Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC.

Types of Delivery Vehicles in North Carolina

While delivery vehicles are smaller than semi-trucks and tractor-trailers, they are still massive compared to regular passenger vehicles. A delivery truck can weigh up to 26,000 pounds, while a standard passenger vehicle weighs around 4,000 pounds.

Some of the common types of delivery vehicles in North Carolina include:

• Large vans
• Box trucks
• Flatbed trucks
• Cutaway van chassis
• Customized vehicles

Because of their behemoth size, delivery vehicles must be operated with extra care and caution. A driver’s failure to operate a delivery truck safely or a delivery company’s negligent training and employment of drivers properly could entitle the victim to seek compensation from the negligent party.

Causes of Delivery Vehicle Crashes in North Carolina

These are the common causes of delivery vehicle accidents:

• Pressure: Some delivery companies have 24-hour or two-day shipping policies, which puts a tremendous amount of pressure on delivery drivers. Due to such policies and unrealistic deadlines, there is always a shortage of delivery drivers, while existing drivers are more likely to drive recklessly and violate traffic rules.
• Lack of experience: That shortage of delivery drivers and the ever-increasing demand for drivers results in delivery companies hiring less experienced drivers or being less strict about training, background checks, screening, and supervision.
• Fatigue: A shortage of delivery drivers also results in companies demanding more of their existing drivers by setting unrealistic deadlines or offering incentives for working longer hours, which can result in fatigue, burnout, and lack of sleep.
• Poor vehicle maintenance: All delivery companies are required to ensure that their vehicles are in top condition before allowing drivers to embark on the trip to deliver orders.
• Risky maneuvers: Being pressed for time and working in a stressful environment encourages delivery drivers to exceed the speed limit, overtake other vehicles, or perform other unsafe and illegal maneuvers.
• Distracted driving: A delivery driver may feel the need to check their GPS device or a phone app when delivering a package. Taking your eyes off the road even for a few seconds increases the likelihood of a crash.
• Overloading or improper loading: Delivery drivers and companies offering delivery services must follow safety regulations regarding the cargo weight limits. Loading a vehicle with cargo that exceeds the maximum permissible weight or failure to distribute the cargo on both sides of the auto evenly increases the risk of a delivery vehicle accident.

Regardless of what caused your delivery vehicle accident, you are at risk of suffering serious injuries, including brain injuries, fractured bones, paralysis, back and neck injuries, and spinal cord injuries, among others.

If a delivery driver and his or her company breached a duty of care when delivering packages, you need a Charlotte delivery vehicle accident attorney to help you establish liability and build a strong case. Let our goal-oriented and knowledgeable lawyers from Brown Moore & Associates, PLLC, evaluate your case during a free consultation.

Call at 704-335-1500 (local) or 800-948-0577 (toll-free) to speak right now.