There are more delivery vehicles on Austin roads than ever before such as Amazon, UPS, FedEx and now delivery services such as Uber, Instacart and more. Drivers deliver groceries, prepared meals, and personal items to people around the city. As the volume of orders increases, it makes sense that delivery vehicle accidents are on the rise as well. Find out some common reasons for Austin delivery vehicle accidents. Also, remember to contact an attorney if you’ve been in an accident with a delivery vehicle.
Speeding
Delivery drivers are often under a massive time crunch. They need to get deliveries to Austin residents quickly, so some go over the speed limit. Unfortunately, speeding can lead to serious and even deadly accidents.
Distracted Driving
Delivery drivers are also prone to distracted driving. They might take their eyes off the road to look at the GPS to see where they’re going, or they might even dig through the orders to see what’s next on the list. Even a small distraction can lead to an accident on Austin’s busy roadways.
Missed Address
Missed addresses can also lead to accidents. For instance, assume a delivery driver cruises past the correct address. He notices the problem immediately, slams on the breaks, and backs up without looking. If another driver is on the road, he can cause an accident.
Lack of Training
Delivery drivers are in high demand, and the industry is competitive. When companies have trouble finding qualified drivers, they might hire employees who don’t have the necessary skills. Then, the companies fail to train those employees. Poorly trained delivery drivers are a danger on the roadways. They might manage to make deliveries for a while, but they’ll likely cause accidents eventually.
Improperly Loaded Freight
Freight must be loaded properly, so the delivery driver can keep the vehicle stable. If the cargo isn’t properly loaded and balanced, the driver might lose control and cause an accident. You might think that you don’t have recourse if an accident was caused by improperly loaded freight, but that’s not the case. You can file a claim against the owner of the truck or the responsible company.
Poor Maintenance
Delivery vehicles spend hours upon hours on the roads. The vehicles need to be properly maintained so they don’t experience significant issues that lead to accidents. Without proper maintenance, delivery vehicles could end up with failed brakes, blown-out tires, or something else that leads to a serious wreck. If you are in an accident caused by a poorly maintained delivery vehicle, you can file a claim against the responsible party.
Find Out More About Austin Delivery Driver Accidents
These are just some of the common causes of Austin delivery vehicle accidents. If you’ve been in an accident with a delivery vehicle, speak to Austin attorney, Steven C. Lee & Associates immediately. After reviewing the evidence, Steven’s team will let you know if you have a claim. If you do, your they will explain who is responsible for the accident and how to move forward. Then, you can begin the process of collecting compensation for your damages.
Steven C. Lee is a personal injury lawyer in Austin, Texas specializing in truck accidents, car accidents, bicycle accidents, drunk driving accidents, motorcycle accidents, construction site accidents and wrongful death cases.
Steven C. Lee is a member of the Texas Bar, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Texas Trial Lawyers Association and a member of the BBB in Austin, TX. You can view Steven C. Lee’s LinkedIn Profile here.