UPS and FedEx make countless deliveries in the Atlanta area every day. While most of these deliveries occur without incident, crashes can happen – and the size and weight of a UPS or FedEx truck can lead to devastating injuries for anyone in smaller vehicles. To make matters worse, holding these corporate giants accountable for their drivers’ actions involves substantial legal challenges.
If you sustained injuries in a crash with a UPS or FedEx truck, Bayuk Pratt can help. Our Atlanta UPS + FedEx accident lawyers have more than 50 years of combined experience and have recovered over $300 million in compensation for our clients. While you focus on healing, we’ll investigate the accident and fight for fair compensation to cover your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Don’t wait to protect your rights after a UPS or FedEx truck accident. Call Bayuk Pratt now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
What Are Common Causes of FedEx and UPS Truck Accidents in Atlanta?
There are unique factors in any FedEx or UPS truck accident in Atlanta, but some common causes include:
- Speeding – When truck drivers speed, they have less time and room to maneuver or take action to avoid a crash. The increased size and weight of FedEx and UPS trucks exacerbates this problem, as drivers need more room to slow down safely.
- Distracted driving – UPS and FedEx drivers are not immune to the dangers of distracted driving. Delivery drivers who are looking at their phones, texting, adjusting a navigation device, or otherwise distracted might miss nearby hazards, leading to a crash.
- Driver fatigue – Many FedEx and UPS drivers start their days in the early morning and work long shifts. These long hours increase the risk of fatigue, such as increased reaction times, poor judgment, and falling asleep at the wheel.
- Impaired driving – The risks of impaired driving—dulled thinking, sloppy judgment, longer reaction times, etc.—are heightened for UPS and FedEx drivers because of the large, heavy trucks they operate.
- Driver inattention – UPS and FedEx drivers have a limited view of what’s behind them when they’re at the wheel. If delivery drivers aren’t careful when backing up, they can easily run into a pedestrian, cyclist, or another car.
- Poor truck maintenance – FedEx and UPS trucks go through a lot of wear and tear on the roads. If the company or driver doesn’t properly maintain their vehicles, accidents can occur due to faulty brakes, blown tires, and other maintenance-related issues.
- Poor weather conditions – Crashes can occur when UPS and FedEx drivers don’t slow down and adjust for bad weather like rain, snow, ice, or fog.
- Unbalanced or unsecured loads – The design of FedEx and UPS trucks makes them top-heavy and more prone to rollovers. If these companies or their drivers don’t properly balance and secure their cargo, a truck can tip over and cause a collision.
What Types of Injuries Are Caused by UPS and FedEx Truck Accidents?
Because FedEx and UPS trucks weigh considerably more than passenger cars and sit higher off the ground, they are more likely to cause catastrophic injuries in a crash, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Crushed, severed, or amputated limbs
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Internal organ injuries
- Severe cuts and bruises
- PTSD and other mental health disorders
How Can an Atlanta UPS + FedEx Accident Lawyer Help Prove the Driver Was Responsible for the Collision?
Concrete evidence is crucial to proving fault after a UPS or FedEx truck accident. A UPS truck accident attorney can gather that evidence while you heal, including:
- Video footage – Surveillance footage from a traffic camera or nearby business may show that the driver was distracted when the crash happened.
- Accident report – If the police filed a crash report, it may contain the responding officer’s opinion of how the collision occurred and who caused it.
- Witness testimony – Eyewitness accounts may show that the delivery driver was distracted or acting aggressively.
- Black box data – The truck’s black box may have critical information about its speed, braking, and other behavior.
An Atlanta truck accident lawyer can look through all these types of evidence and more to try to prove the FedEx or UPS delivery driver bears the blame for your injuries.
Can FedEx or UPS Be Held Directly Responsible for an Accident?
Most FedEx delivery drivers are independent contractors, which makes it difficult to hold the company itself directly responsible for an accident. However, there are still cases where the company may be held accountable, such as when they have negligent hiring or training practices.
On the other hand, many UPS drivers are direct employees. That makes it easier (though still challenging) to hold UPS directly responsible for a collision. The company does hire contractors for extra help during the holidays and other busy seasons, though. An attorney can investigate a crash to identify the liable parties and tell you whether you can sue FedEx or UPS directly. Contact our FedEx truck accident lawyer today.
What Liability Insurance Do FedEx and UPS Carry for Their Trucks?
According to the UPS website, all of the company’s drivers and vehicles are insured for up to $1 million per accident. That said, the company aggressively fights any claims made against it, so you’ll need a lawyer’s help to seek fair compensation after a crash.
FedEx provides up to $5 million in coverage for an accident. However, filing a claim against the company is difficult because so many of its drivers are contractors. Suing FedEx after an accident is even more challenging than suing UPS, so you’ll want a lawyer’s skills and resources. Our UPS FedEx truck accident lawyer is here to help.
What Is Georgia’s Statute of Limitations for Filing a Truck Accident Claim?
In most cases, Georgia law gives you two years from the date of a truck accident to file a lawsuit. We recommend you speak to a lawyer as soon as possible, though, as critical evidence can disappear or deteriorate within days or weeks of a collision. Talking to an attorney immediately after an accident can help you pursue maximum compensation for your losses.
Contact an Atlanta UPS + FedEx Accident Lawyer Now
The longer you wait to talk to a lawyer after a UPS or FedEx truck accident, the less time they have to investigate the crash, secure evidence, and build a strong claim. Contact Bayuk Pratt today for a free case review to get started.
Our personal injury lawyers have over five decades of combined experience serving accident victims and fighting insurance and corporate giants in Georgia. Clients praise our “professionalism, attentiveness, empathic demeanor, and overall knowledge.” As former high-stakes defense attorneys, we know what it takes to win cases, allowing us to secure millions for our deserving clients – including $1 million for a tractor-trailer crash. Reach out today to find out how we can put our top-notch training and direct insider knowledge to work for you.