Delivery Vehicle Accident Attorneys in Austin, Texas
Skilled Delivery Vehicle Accident Attorneys Fighting for People Injured on Texas Roads
You see delivery vehicles on our Texas highways, city streets, and in your very own neighborhoods, practically around the clock, seven days a week.
Glen Larson Law Injury Attorneys’s delivery vehicle accident attorneys in Austin have also witnessed the explosion of Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and other retail vehicles on our highways, city streets, and neighborhoods in the past year.
The fact is, online sales grew nearly 45% in 2020 and show no signs of stopping. This increase in online shopping places the demand for delivery drivers at an all-time high, while current employees continue to work longer hours to keep up with their employer’s delivery requirements.
The problem is, the demand for delivery drivers is much higher than the existing experienced workforce can provide, which has led to companies hiring employees and independent drivers with little to no experience to get behind the wheel of oversized vehicles.
To further jeopardize our roads, these drivers’ job performance evaluation is based on the number of deliveries completed, so they drive fast and hazardously to make more deliveries and meet quotas. This means companies like Amazon, UPS, and FedEx are placing thousands of drivers on our local roadways with practically no oversight, leaving our communities vulnerable to collisions caused by negligent hiring, training, and management practices. They also hire third-party contractors to insulate the corporations from liability.
Large corporations must be held liable for their negligence when people are injured in Austin, Texas collisions with delivery vehicles.
Our managing attorney and law firm founder, Glen Larson, has represented injured Texans and injury clients throughout the United States for more than 15 years with one important goal: To pursue dedicated, driven results for the injured.
Call us now to learn more about our commitment to providing a wall of legal protection for all our Lone Star State communities. Call (512) 883-0277. There is never a charge to talk to a lawyer. We stand ready.
Distinctions Between Employee Delivery Vehicle Driver and Independent Delivery Vehicle Driver Liability
When companies hire independent or third-party delivery drivers, their classification status can complicate matters for crash victims who want to file personal injury claims.
The liability determination is important to ensure that the victims identify all potentially liable parties so that they can recover damages in an amount that will fairly compensate them for their losses.
The distinction between a company employing delivery drivers and contracting them comes down to several legal points.
First, any delivery driver who transports goods between states is considered an employee, despite how the company classifies the individual.
While delivery vehicles are often intrastate contractors, which means they do not leave the state of Texas, they can legally be classified as independent contractors.
We will consider several factors when reviewing your delivery driver accident case, including whether the company controls when and where the driver operates their truck, the driver works exclusively for the company or has multiple clients, there is a contract between the company and the driver that has employee-like terms, and if the company carries the liability insurance.
Establishing an employee-employer relationship between a truck driver and the employer is important because the company may be required to carry insurance with high liability limits, and generally has far greater resources to pay damages in lawsuits.
Corporations are Placing Profits Over Safety and Our Communities are Suffering As a Result
Last year, the Bureau of Labor listed there were 1.5 million delivery drivers or driver/sales workers on our U.S. roadways.
With the increased demand for online deliveries, that number has certainly swelled in the past twelve months, leading to thousands of inexperienced drivers operating cargo vans, package cars, and hybrid trucks throughout Texas.
Unfortunately, rapid growth can lead to corporations cutting corners to increase profits while ignoring the impact their decisions have on public safety.
Previously, most delivery drivers were required to have a Commercial Driver’s License to operate large vehicles. Now, with demand for delivery drivers at an all-time high, many corporations are skirting those requirements by placing inexperienced drivers in vans that are not technically “commercial” leaving our fellow Texans in danger.
Simply put, the lack of hiring regulations, training requirements, and oversight in the shipping and delivery industry has made it easier to employ inexperienced drivers who must operate the truck, find the correct delivery point, and meet strict deadlines while enduring the pressure to keep up with the high demand for on-time deliveries.
These elements increase the risk of delivery vehicle accidents throughout Texas, and because of the size of these vehicles, even a minor collision with a large truck can cause serious injuries.
As Amazon delivery vans, Amazon Prime cargo vehicles, UPS, FedEx trucks, and even local couriers continue to invasively appear at every turn to accommodate their employer’s delivery requirements, company profits are being placed over safety and people are getting hurt.
If you have been injured in a delivery vehicle collision in Austin, Texas, call our skilled Austin Delivery Vehicle Accident attorneys at Glen Larson Law Injury Attorneys today to schedule a free consultation and learn how can help you hold the negligent party liable for your full recovery. Call (512) 883-0277. There is never a charge to talk to a Delivery Vehicle Accident lawyer. We stand ready.
What are the Most Common Causes of Delivery Vehicle Accidents in Austin, Texas?
With tight deadlines and corporations placing profits over safety, the pressure to deliver more in less time is becoming standard operating procedure.
With nothing more than a phone or tablet, inexperienced non-commercial drivers are navigating urban, suburban, and rural road coverage areas under extreme pressure that leaves them highly susceptible to fatigue and distracted driving.
Other common causes of delivery vehicle collisions in Austin, Texas include”
- Driver Incentive-Based Compensation to do More in Less Time
- Use of Corporate Issued Electronic Devices
- Negligent Driver Screening
- Negligent Corporate Driver Retention
- Improper Training
- Lack of Vehicle Knowledge and Experience
- Inadequate Supervision of Delivery Truck Drivers
- Speeding
- Sudden Stops
- Reversing
- Failing to Use the Parking Brake
- Left Turns Against Traffic
- Impaired Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Poor Vehicle Maintenance
- Improperly Loaded Freight/Cargo
- Drivers Failing to Comply with Federal and State Safety Regulations
If you have been injured in a delivery vehicle accident in Austin, Texas, call our skilled team of attorneys at Glen Larson Law Injury Attorneys today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. Call (512) 883-0277. There is never a charge to talk to a Delivery Vehicle Accident lawyer in Austin. We stand ready.
Who is Liable for a Delivery Vehicle Accident in Austin, Texas?
After a delivery vehicle accident, our experienced team of trial-tested litigators will begin a thorough investigation to determine who is at fault for the collision that caused your injuries.
There may be multiple parties, in addition to the driver, that can be held accountable for the wreck.
In many cases, the delivery company whether it is Amazon, UPS, FedEx, or another large retailer — can be held responsible for the actions of its employees.
This is especially true if the company failed to properly screen its drivers before hiring or failed to professionally train them before putting them behind the wheel of an over 5,000-pound cargo van.
The failure to repair and replace faulty parts on the vehicle by the maintenance crew could make them liable for the accident. In some instances, when faulty manufacturing of a delivery vehicle causes a crash, the vehicle’s manufacturer may be held liable for the collision.
Large carriers like UPS or FedEx are heavily insured, some up to $5 million. However, many of these vehicles are operated by independent drivers and companies with smaller fleets that are subject to minimum insurance requirements.
Consider this: UPS employs 60,000 workers and 9% are delivery vehicle owner-operators. If one of these drivers causes an accident with injuries, is the company liable? Or the owner-operator?
Getting to the bottom of the cause of the collision to prove that the driver, company, or another third party was responsible requires an experienced team of delivery vehicle accident lawyers in Austin Texas, and our law firm has what it takes to pursue dedicated, driven results for our clients.
Call us today to learn more about your legal options to hold the liable party accountable for your financial recovery. Call (512) 883-0277. There is never a charge to talk to an attorney. We stand ready.
How Can Glen Larson Law Injury Attorneys Help with My Texas Delivery Vehicle Accident Case?
In addition to there being multiple parties that are potentially liable for your delivery vehicle collision in Austin, Texas is the strong legal teams that represent the transit companies.
This can make your claim process even more difficult and is where having your own experienced legal team can make all the difference in your case’s success.
We will hold the corporate entity who is responsible for your collision liable for your recovery needs by uncovering each financial resource available through their insurance coverage, including any umbrella policies available for pursuit.
At Glen Larson Law Injury Attorneys, we are more than delivery vehicle accident attorneys in Austin, Texas. We are a law firm that provides victims of Texas accidents with access to a skilled team of legal professionals and support staff, investigative resources, research analysts, medical experts, and some of the sharpest minds in accident reconstruction and engineering, so they get top-notch legal representation no matter where they live.
When pursuing an independent driver, small freight company, or a major corporation for your injuries, time is of the essence to preserve important evidence that may become the most important part of your case’s potential success.
We Also Focus on the Following Practice Areas:
- Bicycle Accident
- Boat Accident
- Car Accident
- Civil Litigation
- Child Care
- 18 Wheeler Truck Accident
- Catastrophic Injury
- DWI Accident
- Motorcycle Accident
- Workplace Injury
- Product Liability
- Pedestrian Accident
Contact our Delivery Vehicle Accident Lawyers in Austin, Texas at (512) 883-0277 For A Free Consultation Today
Call our delivery vehicle accident lawyers in Austin, Texas today to discuss your case during a free consultation and learn how we can protect your rights and pursue the appropriate liable party or combination of parties for your financial recovery. Call (512) 883-0277. There is never a charge to talk to an attorney. We stand ready.
Glen Larson Law Injury Attorneys stands ready to provide you with dedicated, driven results.
