As most people in Texas have fully embraced door delivery for almost everything, there has been an increase in delivery trucks on the road. Most of these drivers are good at their jobs. However, accidents happen, and if a delivery truck driver who wasn’t observing the traffic laws struck you, you have options.
Common causes of truck delivery accidents
In Texas, some delivery trucks are 18-wheeler semi-trucks. These vehicles are much larger and heavier than the average car, so the results are often devastating when they’re involved in an accident. Some common causes of delivery truck accidents include:
- Speeding
- Fatigue
- Distractions
- Driving while under the influence
- Reckless behaviors like tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic or changing lanes without signaling
What to do if you’re involved in a delivery truck accident
If a delivery truck hits you, you should first get medical attention, even if you don’t think you’re seriously injured. Some injuries might not present themselves until hours or days after the accident.
While at the accident scene, gather as much evidence as possible if you feel up to doing so. This includes taking pictures of the damage to your vehicle and any injuries you sustained and getting the contact information for any witnesses.
Other valuable pieces of evidence are:
- Police reports
- Logs from the delivery truck’s black box
- The driver’s commercial license
- The trucking company’s insurance information
Determining who’s liable
If the delivery truck driver was at fault, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against their insurance company. You can also hold the driver’s company liable if they didn’t properly maintain the truck or if they hired an inexperienced or unqualified driver.
The amount of compensation you’re entitled to will depend on the severity of your injuries and the damages to your property. You might be able to recover economic damages, which include things like medical expenses, lost wages and property damage. You could also get non-economic damages for things like pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. In some cases, the judge might also award punitive damages if the driver’s actions were particularly reckless or dangerous.