After suffering injuries in a car accident with a FedEx driver, you may have countless questions. For example, you may be wondering what you should do, how you will pay for your damages, and how you can hold FedEx liable for the accident. These are all great questions that a car accident lawyer can help you with immediately following your FedEx car accident.
What are the most common causes of car accidents with FedEx delivery vehicles?
Regardless of how careful or cautious a driver is, they may find themselves involved in an accident with a FedEx delivery vehicle. There are many different causes of these types of accidents, such as:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or intoxicated driving
- Driving while drowsy or fatigued
- Mechanical failures or defects
- Improper loading
- Improper lane changes or merges
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Speeding
- Failure to stop at a traffic light or sign
What types of injuries do people typically sue FedEx for?
FedEx delivery vans and trucks are several times bigger than passenger vehicles. Therefore, if you are involved in an accident with a FedEx vehicle, there is a high chance that you will suffer life-threatening and permanent injuries. Some of the various types of injuries that people typically sue FedEx for include:
- Skull fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Lacerations
- Amputations
- Facial and dental injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Fatalities
Can you hold FedEx liable for a car accident with a FedEx vehicle?
Depending on the facts and circumstances in your car accident, it is very possible to hold FedEx liable. In order to successfully do this, you will need to show proof that FedEx was negligent in some way, which caused your accident to occur. It can be challenging to prove this. However, with an experienced, skilled, and knowledgeable attorney by your side, it is not impossible.
When working with an attorney, there are several different ways that they may help you establish negligence. For example, they may state that FedEx was negligent in hiring, training, or supervising. We will go over how this is possible below.
- Negligent hiring: FedEx is required to conduct background checks and ensure that the applicant has the necessary experience, a clean driving record, and the necessary skills. If FedEx fails to do this and hires a candidate that lacks experience or has a bad driving record, FedEx can be held liable for the accident caused by the individual.
- Negligent training: FedEx is also required to train and educate their employees on how to drive their delivery vehicles. If the company fails to do this and a delivery driver wrecks, FedEx can be held liable for failing to train or educate the employee.
- Negligent supervising: Even if FedEx followed all procedures when it comes to hiring and training, the company must continue to provide supervision to its drivers. For example, if a FedEx driver is pulled over for driving under the influence, speeding, or failing to stop at a traffic light, FedEx should be aware of this and take some type of action. If the company does not do anything and the driver causes a crash, FedEx can be held liable.
Can other parties be found liable for the accident?
There are other parties that may be found liable for the accident, including:
- The FedEx driver
- The third-party employer
- The vehicle owner
- The vehicle rental company
- The auto mechanic
- The manufacturer
How to hold FedEx liable for a car accident
Evidence is the key to holding FedEx liable for a car accident. Therefore, the pieces of evidence that you should gather include:
- Photos and videos: Photos and videos are important as they show everything you state is factual. Therefore, it is recommended to take photos and videos of the accident scene, vehicles involved, injuries, road and weather conditions, and anything else that you think may be important for your case. Your attorney may also be able to request video surveillance footage from nearby businesses to show details of your accident.
- Medical bills and reports: Medical bills and doctor reports are also beneficial as they show that you were injured in the crash, received medical attention, and are getting the necessary treatment to potentially recover. Therefore, you want to save every medical bill and report you receive to show how serious your injuries are and how you are following a tailored treatment plan in hopes of healing.
- Documentation: Documentation is crucial in these types of cases. Therefore, you should have a journal in which you write down the time, date, and weather on the day of your crash. You can also use this journal to write about what you remember from the accident, your injuries, and the consequences you have dealt with every day since. This can show how the accident has physically and mentally affected you.
- Police reports: A police report is critical to a car accident case involving a FedEx vehicle. This report gives a detailed description of your accident and what happened. The police can even write in the report who they believe is at fault for the crash. This information could help insurance companies and law firms see that FedEx should be held liable for the accident.
- Witness statements: Your attorney may use eyewitnesses or expert witnesses to explain how the accident happened and who is liable. These statements could back up your claim and help the insurance company or jury understand how FedEx played a major role in the accident.
Talk to an Experienced FedEx Vehicle Accident Lawyer Today
Have you been involved in an accident with a FedEx delivery driver? If so, the car accident lawyers at Kwartler Manus, LLC are here to help. FedEx is a large and powerful corporation ready to defend its innocence, which is why you need a team of attorneys who will never back down without a fight. Call or contact our firm to schedule your free case evaluation today.