If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a FedEx truck in Orangeburg, securing legal representation is crucial. A skilled Orangeburg truck accident lawyer can help investigate the crash, gather evidence, and hold FedEx accountable for negligence. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Our legal team is ready to fight for the justice you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
South Carolina residents rely on FedEx delivery trucks and vans for many of the online goods we enjoy delivered directly to our doorsteps. These large delivery vehicles are an important link in the nation’s supply chain; however, they also dwarf family cars and may outweigh them by 8,000-76,000 pounds, depending on whether it’s a FedEx van, box truck, or 18-wheeler. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 2,075 reported accidents involving FedEx trucks occurred in a single recent year.
What Causes FedEx Truck Accidents?
FedEx drivers have tight delivery schedules and use apps for navigating and communicating with FedEx during their driving. Common causes of FedEx truck crashes in South Carolina and elsewhere include the following:
- Speeding to make expected delivery goals
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Frequent stopping, starting, and reversing
- Tailgating
- Unsafe lane changes due to blind spots
- Sudden shifts of improperly secured cargo
- Tire blowouts and mechanical failures due to inadequate maintenance
- Fatigued driving
- Impaired driving
With about 16.5 million daily deliveries, FedEx trucks crowd the highways and congest community streets. In an accident with a standard family car, the motorists in the smaller vehicle are vulnerable to severe injuries or fatalities.
Common Injuries In South Carolina FedEx Truck Accidents
About 70% of injuries in truck accidents happen to those in smaller vehicles, not to the truck driver. Common injuries in FedEx truck accidents include:
- Fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Thoracic injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, and torn ligaments
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
- Facial/dental trauma
Injuries in FedEx trucks range from mild and fully recoverable to catastrophic, life-altering injuries or fatalities. Regardless of the type and severity of the injury, if the accident was preventable and only occurred because of negligence, the injury victim doesn’t have to be left alone with the consequences.
Who Is Liable for Damages After a South Carolina FedEx Truck Accident?
Determining and proving liability for damages after a FedEx truck accident can be challenging. FedEx tries to distance itself from direct liability by claiming that its drivers are independent contractors not employees; however, several courts have found that this is mislabeling due to the FedEx company’s involvement in all aspects of their delivery drivers’ workdays. Depending on the circumstances, the party liable for an injury victim’s damages could be the FedEx company, the driver, a delivery contractor, the manufacturer of a defective part, or a negligent freight loader. Less commonly, the investigation could show that the at-fault party in a FedEx truck accident is a third-party driver or negligent road maintenance agency.
It often takes a detailed investigation to determine the liable party and make a compelling Columbia truck accident claim for compensation.
Damages Available In FedEx Accident Claims
Injuries are painful and temporarily or permanently debilitating. They can also quickly cause financial hardship for families. A successful claim won’t erase the injury but it can recover compensation for damages such as:
- Property damage
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future lost income
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for any other damages that apply such as disfigurement, diminished quality of life, or the loss of a limb or one of the senses
If a loved one died due to injuries in a FedEx truck accident, close family members could recover compensation through a Sumter wrongful death claim.
How Can a FedEx Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
Accident compensation claims involving delivery services like FedEx can be challenging undertakings, depending on whether or not the driver or trucking company’s actions caused the accident, or if FedEx itself is liable for damages. Call Marc Brown Law Firm for the experienced representation you need to achieve the most favorable outcome possible in your case.