Delivery trucks crowd the roadways, more so now than ever in the past. As our desire for online shopping options increases, so does the number of accidents involving delivery trucks. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, we are here to help if you need a Virginia Beach delivery truck accident attorney. If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an accident involving a delivery vehicle, you may be entitled to significant compensation. We want to help you stand up to aggressive insurance carriers and legal teams to make sure you get on the path to recovery.
Why Choose Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp for a Delivery Truck Accident Claim?
- The team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp is dedicated to helping clients when they need assistance the most. This includes their recovery process.
- We take pride in advocating for those who have sustained an injury caused by the negligence of others, and we have returned significant multimillion-dollar settlements on behalf of our clients.
- We only handle personal injury law cases, which helps us focus our time and resources on helping those who need compensation the most.
We have recovered significant settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients who have sustained severe injuries, including a 600,000 TBI settlement for a woman who was struck by a car and truck. We also recovered $2.4 million on behalf of a family who lost a loved one as a result of a rear-end truck accident.
How Will an Attorney Help a Virginia Beach Delivery Truck Accident Case?
Delivery truck accident cases are not going to be like every other vehicle accident that occurs. These claims will become incredibly complex, and an attorney has to step in and handle these negotiations. An attorney can use their resources to fully investigate the claim in order to determine liability. Importantly, they will be able to stand up to the well-funded insurance carriers and legal teams for the companies on the other side of the table.
Most Common Types of Delivery Trucks in Virginia Beach
There is a multitude of companies involved in delivering packages in the Commonwealth and throughout Virginia Beach. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- U.S. Postal service (USPS)
- United Postal Service (UPS)
- FedEx
- DHL
- Amazon Delivery
In addition to these well-known delivery carriers, retailers often use independent contractors as delivery drivers. This can include individuals operating in larger trucks as well as those in their personal vehicles.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles shows us that there were 4,296 total commercial vehicle accidents across the Commonwealth during the latest reporting year. However, this does not paint a clear picture of all delivery vehicle accidents that occurred.
Common Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents in Virginia Beach
Some of the most common causes of delivery truck accidents in Virginia Beach mirror the causes of other vehicle accidents that occur involving commercial vehicles. This includes, but is not limited to, drivers:
- Violating traffic laws
- Operating too fast for conditions
- Operating while distracted by phones or other devices
- Operating while impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Overloading the vehicle
However, when dealing with delivery vehicle accidents, it is important to understand that these drivers are often under intense pressure to deliver packages quickly throughout the day. This can lead to unsafe driving practices. This pressure is often put onto drivers by their superiors, the trucking companies, or even the retailers they are delivering packages for.
Type of Compensation Available for a Virginia Beach Delivery Truck Accident
Our attorneys work diligently to recover compensation for any victim of a delivery truck accident. We will tap any possible source of compensation by going after all parties that may hold liability for the case. This can include the truck driver, the trucking company, or even the retailer involved.
Our goal is to recover all economic and non-economic compensation on behalf of our clients. This can include coverage of:
- Medical bills associated with the truck crash
- Lost income if a victim cannot work while recovering
- Any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the victim
- Property damage expenses
- The cost of any physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
There is no set amount of money available to delivery truck accident victims in Virginia. Rather, there are several factors that go into determining how much compensation will be awarded through an insurance settlement or a personal injury jury verdict. Some of these factors include the severity of the injuries, the level of the victim’s pain and suffering, how much property damage there was, and more.
Time Limit for Filing a Delivery Truck Accident Claim in Virginia
It is crucial to file a delivery truck accident lawsuit as soon as possible. The personal injury statute of limitations in Virginia is two years from the date an injury occurs. This gives truck crash victims a two-year window with which to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent driver, or they will be unable to recover the compensation they need.
However, most delivery truck accident claims will be resolved through settlements with insurance carriers. The insurance carriers in these cases have very strict reporting deadlines, often within a day or two after the accident occurs. If a claim is not filed promptly, this could result in the insurance carrier delaying or denying compensation.