There’s no doubt that you’ve seen your fair share of delivery trucks in your neighborhood this holiday season. In fact, if you’re reading this blog post, you or a loved one may have come closer to one of these vehicles than you ever wanted. If that’s the case, you’re probably wondering what you can do to ensure that your future isn’t ruined by a delivery truck driver’s negligence.
A personal injury lawsuit may be your best route to obtaining accountability and recovering the compensation that you need to offset your damages. Even if you feel like your case is open and shut, though, you’re going to have to work hard to gather evidence to support your claim and present it in a persuasive fashion.
Evidence to look for in a delivery truck accident
There are some key places to look for evidence if you’ve been injured in a delivery truck accident. Here are some ways that these wrecks occur, which can help guide you to where you need to look for that evidence:
- Distracted driving: This might seem obvious, but delivery drivers are often even more distracted than other drivers. They’re looking for addresses and consulting with navigation devices, which takes their eyes off the road for far too long.
- Abrupt movements: Quick changes to speed and direction can take you by surprise, leaving you susceptible to a serious accident. And delivery truck drivers make these abrupt movements all the time as they veer onto side streets and slam on the brakes to stop at delivery addresses.
- Quick reversals: Some delivery trucks are large, so they have to be reversed slowly and carefully to ensure that they don’t slam into nearby vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Far too often, delivery drivers throw their vehicle into reverse and gun the gas, which can lead to a devastating accident.
- Poor cargo securement: Since so many deliveries are made this time of year, many delivery drivers leave side or rear doors open on their vehicle so that they can quickly access packages. But if the cargo within the vehicle is improperly secured, it can fall out, causing nearby vehicles to swerve to avoid them. This, in turn, can result in an accident.
- Inadequate maintenance: Delivery trucks put on a lot of miles in a short period of time. Therefore, these trucks need routine maintenance. When truckers and their employers fail to routinely inspect and repair their vehicles, other motorists can be left to pay the price.
- Fatigued driving: Delivery drivers put in long hours during the holiday season. Their tiredness can reduce their attentiveness and increase their reaction time. This can put them in a position where they’re simply incapable of adequately responding to traffic conditions. This can put you in harm’s way.
These are just some of the ways that these delivery truck accidents occur. If you can figure out what caused your crash, you’ll know where to look for evidence. Don’t shy away from attacking the truck company, either, as you’ll probably be able to take legal action against them, too.
Build your legal arguments with confidence
The way that you argue your case can make all the difference in your ability to find accountability and recover compensation. With that in mind, you may find it helpful to have an experienced legal professional by your side who isn’t afraid to back down from a fight. Perhaps you can obtain the outcome necessary to spur your recovery forward and get you back to your normal life.