Every aspect of your life can change in an instant when you are hit by a delivery truck in Texas. As more people are shopping online, it means that there are more delivery trucks on the road, resulting in an increase in delivery truck accidents. Unfortunately, these types of claims can be more complicated to win compared to a typical car accident.
The most important decision that you will make is hiring an experienced delivery truck accident lawyer in Texas. You need a legal team that understands all of the major carriers, including Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and USPS. Each of these companies handles liability differently, which plays a role in the best approach for building a claim that will win.
Why Delivery Truck Crashes Are Surging in Texas
Not only is the risk increasing for delivery truck accidents, but the odds aren’t in your favor if you are hit by a delivery truck in Texas. As soon as the accident happens, corporate insurance lawyers and experienced legal teams step in to manage the situation. Their goal is to minimize the company’s out-of-pocket expenses, which means that accident victims often get stuck with crippling medical bills and lifelong consequences without support.
In this situation, the best thing that you can do is hire legal help for yourself. You need an advocate who not only understands the industry but can also offer insights into the ideal strategies that will optimize the likelihood that you will receive the settlement that you deserve.
7 Steps to Take: What to Do After an Amazon Truck Accident in Texas
Regardless of the type of delivery truck that hit you, there are a few critical steps that you need to take immediately after the accident. The timing is critical, and these things can make or break your personal injury case. Here’s what we recommend so that you can protect yourself and your legal rights:
- Ensure safety and get out of the way of danger. Call 911 right away, even if it seems to be a minor accident.
- In the state of Texas, crashes must be reported if injuries are involved or there is more than $1,000 in property damage. If there is a question about whether a report needs to be filed, always err on the side of filing the report.
- Even if you feel fine, it’s important to seek medical care right away. It’s common for accident victims to experience delayed-onset injuries, and the medical documentation can be used to build your case.
- Gather as much evidence as possible from the crash scene, including photos of the delivery truck (branding, DOT number, license plate, etc.), as well as the damages and injuries that occurred in the accident.
- Collect information about both the driver and employer. Ask the driver what they were doing at the time of the accident. If they were on an active delivery route when the accident happened, then it will give you more leverage for involving the company in the claim.
- Be careful about what you say to the other driver, witnesses, or first responders. Never admit fault or give a recorded statement, especially to any individuals who are representing the company or the insurance provider.
- Contact a delivery truck accident lawyer in Texas as soon as possible. You need to talk to an experienced attorney immediately, before talking to a corporate insurance adjuster.
Who Is Liable in Delivery Truck Accidents?
Liability can be a bit more complicated in these types of accidents, which is why you need legal support for your claim. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to navigate the insurance settlement on your own, because you will likely be leaving money on the table.
If you are hit by a FedEx truck in Texas (or Amazon, USPS, etc.), liability can change depending on the driver’s employment status. For example, many of these delivery companies use both DSPs (Delivery Service Partners) as well as independent contractors. Since Amazon has a different degree of “control” over an employee vs. independent contractors, the status affects liability in the claim.
Our legal team will determine the driver’s status so that we can determine the best pathway forward: pursuing Amazon directly or targeting liability at the delivery partner company instead.
How a USPS Mail Truck Accident is Legally Different from Other Types of Delivery Accidents
The legal approach is different depending on the delivery company that you are dealing with. When you have a claim against USPS, it usually falls under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which requires a unique legal process compared to a claim against a private company (like Amazon or FedEx).
Instead of a standard civil claim, you will need to file a Standard Form 95 (SF-95). Also, the FTCA deadlines are shorter and stricter compared to the standard filing window in the state of Texas. Regardless of the delivery company that you are facing, it’s critical that you get our legal team involved as soon as possible. We’ll help you stay ahead of the deadlines and file a solid claim that will increase the likelihood of success with your settlement.
FAQs
Can I sue Amazon directly if their driver hit me?
The claims process depends on whether the driver was an employee or an independent contractor, which affects Amazon’s level of liability.
Can you sue USPS if a mail truck hits your car?
If your car is hit by a mail truck, then you can sue, but the claim falls under the Federal Tort Claims Act. So, you will need to file a Standard Form 95 instead of moving forward with a standard civil claim.
Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer in Texas: Call The Green Law Firm
When you or a loved one has been hit by a delivery truck in Texas, rest assured knowing that our legal team is always just a phone call away. Our bilingual attorneys are here to help you build a solid case and get the settlement that you deserve.
We work on a contingency basis, which means that we only get paid if you get a settlement. Our legal experts are here to help every step of the way, including evidence preservation, negotiations, and even going to court if necessary.
You can expect that the corporate insurance and legal team will move fast after the accident, which is why you also need legal guidance as soon as possible. Contact us at The Green Law Firm to schedule a free consultation with a delivery truck accident lawyer in Texas: (956) 542-7000.
