Washington, DC Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer

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Think about the number of times you get a delivery in a given week. One, two? Maybe up to four or five? Groceries, clothes, gifts, electronics, and even cars can be delivered straight to your door nowadays. It is estimated that every person in the United States generates at least 60 tons of freight per year. Unfortunately, with an increase of delivery service drivers comes an increase of delivery truck accidents. Drivers are often pressured to meet unreasonable delivery goals by corporate employers. Because of this, they often put DC drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians at risk.

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Unlike a typical car accident, when you are involved in an accident with a delivery truck, especially one that is loaded with cargo, the effects can be catastrophic. Oftentimes, delivery drivers are backed by large corporations who have insurance companies that will aggressively defend the driver and company in the event of an accident. This is why you need to enlist the help of a Regan Zambri Long delivery truck accident lawyer.

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Regan Zambri Long is not intimidated by large companies or their insurance providers. In fact, they are a nationally recognized firm with leading truck accident lawyers who will fiercely defend your rights and secure the compensation you deserve. Call today for a free consultation and let an expert delivery truck accident lawyer guide you through the claims process.

What Are Common Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents?

As many of us realize, there are multiple things that can go wrong and cause an accident while we’re on the road. However, delivery truck drivers have a heightened risk. They are pressured to work extended hours in order to speed up delivery times. In fact, companies like Amazon are notorious for overworking their delivery van drivers without sufficient break times. Not only is that awful for the drivers, but it’s also incredibly dangerous for other people on the road.

The most common causes of delivery van accidents in Washington DC are:

Distracted driving: Distracted driving can be anything from switching radio stations to eating, or engaging in conversation with a passenger. However, the biggest culprit of distracted driving is the driver’s cell phone. If a delivery truck driver looks down, even momentarily, it can cause a catastrophic accident in the DC streets.
Driver fatigue: A cargo van driver is expected to drive for long periods of time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention likens driving drowsy to driving drunk. According to the CDC, being awake for at least 18 hours is the same as having a blood alcohol content of 0.05%. Being awake for at least 24 hours is the same as having a blood alcohol content of 0.10% which is higher than the legal limit. Driving while fatigued slows reaction times, and can cause the driver to fall asleep at the wheel, causing an accident and major destruction to other drivers on the road.
Delivery truck maintenance: The company that sends the delivery van out is responsible for maintaining their vans and making sure they are in pristine condition before a trip. However, in order to cut costs, many companies forego scheduled maintenance and send out delivery vans without being thoroughly inspected.
Improper cargo loading: If the cargo weight is not properly balanced in the truck, it can make it more difficult to maneuver throughout the narrow DC streets, or even cause the delivery van or truck to roll over.
Alcohol/Drug impairment: Once again, it is the company’s responsibility to do a full background check on their drivers before sending them out. This includes past traffic violations and past employment records in commercial driving. Driving while intoxicated is incredibly dangerous for all drivers, but when a delivery truck driver, who is operating a vehicle at least twice the size of a regular car, drives while intoxicated, it makes them inherently more dangerous to other drivers on the road.
Poor employee training: In Washington DC, commercial truck drivers need a commercial license in order to operate the vehicle. However, not all cargo vans need a special license to operate. It is up to the company to properly train their drivers before sending them on solo trips to ensure they can handle the size and weight of the truck or van while making deliveries.

Who Is at Fault for the Delivery Van Accident?

There are several parties who could be culpable for a delivery truck accident. Your Regan Zambri Long truck accident lawyer will work to determine who to hold responsible for the accident so you can collect the proper amount of compensation for your injuries. The possible parties who are responsible for the accident are:

The Delivery Truck Driver
Of course, the driver of the amazon delivery van or delivery truck will be the first person to be held accountable. If the van driver was negligent in any way
– texting while driving, driving while fatigued, speeding, or recklessly driving, your Regan Zambri Long delivery truck accident lawyer will pursue damages from the driver and his or her insurance company.

Delivery Company or Third-party Company
Not all businesses directly employ drivers to deliver their goods. For example, Amazon sometimes hires third-party companies to deliver packages, along with their own trucks and vans. Food delivery drivers often work for third-party companies rather than the restaurants you order from. Whether it is Amazon itself, or a third-party company, whoever hires the driver is responsible for their conduct on the road. Your lawyer will investigate the company to see if proper background checks were done for the driver, as well as dive into past employment and any traffic indiscretions.

Keep in mind, it is also the company’s job to make sure their delivery trucks are well maintained before sending them on the road. If your delivery truck accident was caused by a faulty part in the truck, your Regan Zambri Long delivery van accident lawyer will make sure you receive compensation from the company for failing to maintain their delivery trucks through a product liability claim.

Truck Manufacturer
There are times when a mistake was made in the manufacturing of the delivery truck that made it faulty. If your accident was the result of a defect in the truck, the manufacturer may be held liable for your accident.

Cargo loaders
Delivery trucks, especially when carrying the heavy weight of food, clothing, or other cargo, have to be loaded properly. Improperly loaded cargo can cause the trailer of a truck to tip, can delay brake times, and wreak havoc on the residents of DC. If your delivery truck accident was caused by improperly loaded cargo, your Regan Zambri Long van delivery accident attorney will pursue damages against them.

What Are Common Delivery Truck Accident Injuries?

Delivery vans, when carrying cargo, can weigh more than twice as much as a regular passenger vehicle. Delivery trucks can weigh up to 20 times more! Because of the difference in size and weight, the passengers of the regular car can sustain worse injuries when colliding with a delivery truck. Injuries victims face from an accident with a delivery truck are:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A traumatic brain injury is when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. It can take years for a full recovery, if recovery is possible at all. Victims of traumatic brain injuries can suffer a range of symptoms, from headaches all the way to coma.
Spinal cord injuries: Motor vehicle accidents account for 38% of spinal cord injuries every year, many of them leading to paralysis.
Broken bones/fractures: Severe breaks or fractures may need surgical intervention, forcing the victim to miss several days or weeks of work.
Internal organ damage/bleeding: Blunt force trauma can cause several organs and arteries to rupture and lead to liver lacerations and kidney damage.
Burns: Victims of delivery van accidents can suffer burns from their own airbag deploying and also from any debris from the delivery van.
Post-traumatic stress disorder: Not all injuries are visible. Being involved in an accident is scary and traumatic, leaving an emotional toll on the victim for years. Post-traumatic stress disorder victims suffer nightmares, flashbacks, and feelings of despair.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Delivery Truck Accidents in Washington, DC

Q: What damages can I recover from a delivery truck accident?

A: The consequences of being involved in a delivery van accident can send the victim and their family into extreme financial distress. Your Regan Zambri Long delivery van accident lawyer will work to recover the following damages:

Medical bills: This includes present and future medical bills. If your injuries are permanent or will leave you needing ongoing medical care, your attorney will take that into consideration and pursue compensation that will cover all future medical expenses, as well as immediate medical expenses.
Lost wages: This includes present and future wages. The injuries sustained by a delivery van accident victim can range from mild bruising all the way up to a traumatic brain injury. You may miss work in the days following the accident because of medical treatment. However, if your injuries are severe, you may experience ongoing medical struggles which will cause you to miss even more work. Your Regan Zambri Long delivery van accident lawyer will make sure you are compensated for all the work you miss due to your injuries – present and future.
Property damage: Your lawyer will pursue damages to cover the cost of repairing your car, or buying a new car.
Pain and suffering: Not all injuries are physical. You may collect pain and suffering damages if you face emotional trauma, such as post traumatic stress disorder. You may also collect pain and suffering damages if an injury leaves you with chronic pain that makes it necessary for you to seek medical help (i.e. a chiropractor for chronic back pain following the accident).

Q: What should I do after getting in an accident with a delivery van?

A: Below are the steps you should take if you or your loved one is involved in an accident with a delivery van in Washington DC. These steps will not only ensure your safety, but they will also help you in a future claim against the driver and the company:

If possible, pull over to the side of the road or a safe place in the road.
Call 911. If the other driver tries to talk you out of calling the police, do not listen. The responding officers will be able to start a police report of the accident (which will help you in the claims process) and coordinate the necessary medical care for any injuries sustained from the accident.
If all your medical needs are taken care of, start documenting the scene of the accident. Take pictures and videos of your vehicle and of the delivery van. If any personal items in your car were harmed during the accident, document that as well. Take pictures and videos of any injuries you and your passenger sustain.
Speak to all witnesses on the scene. Document what they saw and get their names and contact information.
Exchange contact and insurance information with the delivery van driver. If the driver refuses to give you the information, don’t worry, you can collect that from the police report later on.
Contact a Regan Zambri Long delivery van accident lawyer. The claims process can get complicated very quickly and a Regan Zambri Long lawyer is your best chance of securing the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries.

Q: What is contributory negligence? Will it affect my claim?

A: Contributory negligence is a law Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland follow that restricts the plaintiff (the delivery truck accident victim who makes the claim) from pursuing compensation if the accident was in any way their fault. Your Regan Zambri Long delivery van accident attorneys will use the police report, medical records, and photos and footage from the accident to prove the accident was in no way your fault in order to secure the maximum amount of compensation.

Q: Can I sue Amazon directly if I was in an accident with one of its delivery trucks?

A: Amazon usually relies on independent delivery services to deliver customer’s packages. In fact, that is why it is difficult to find data on accidents caused by Amazon delivery trucks! The third-party companies use sprinter vans that are below the weight limit that requires any Department of Transportation oversight, making data hard to track and Amazon itself difficult to sue.

Contact a Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer Today

The Regan Zambri Long amazon delivery truck accident lawyers offer free consultations to all prospective clients. They will spend time with you to learn about your case and make a final decision about who is liable for your injuries. Your delivery truck accident lawyers will be thorough in their investigations and hold the parties responsible for your injuries accountable.

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Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

Call 202-960-4596