Countless delivery trucks navigate North Charleston’s streets every day. While these trucks play a vital role in supporting local businesses and households, they also present unique dangers on the road. Accidents with UPS trucks can lead to severe injuries, extensive property damage, and fatalities, requiring assistance from a skilled North Charleston delivery truck accident lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm.
If you are involved in an accident with a UPS truck, you may face significant medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma. Pursuing compensation after a UPS truck accident is often more complicated than a typical car crash due to several factors. Working with an experienced North Charleston UPS truck accident lawyer with decades of experience is crucial to protecting your rights and receiving the compensation you deserve.
The Complexities of UPS Truck Accident Claims
Pursuing compensation after a UPS truck accident is often more complicated than a standard car accident claim. There are several reasons why these cases can be more challenging and require help from our experienced truck accident lawyers in North Charleston. They include:
- A powerful corporation: UPS is a large, multinational corporation with substantial resources, including a team of lawyers and insurance adjusters skilled at minimizing the company’s liability in accident claims. This can make it difficult to obtain fair compensation without the help of a Shelly Leeke North Charleston personal injury lawyer.
- Commercial insurance policies: Commercial insurance policies with higher coverage limits than standard auto insurance policies typically cover UPS trucks; however, just because more coverage is available does not mean the insurance company will willingly pay out the full amount. Commercial insurers are often aggressive in defending their clients and may attempt to deny or undervalue claims.
- Potential for multiple liable parties: In some UPS truck accident cases, more than one party may be liable for the accident. Our UPS truck accident lawyers in North Charleston can determine if the truck driver or trucking company is responsible in a truck accident and seek compensation from all at-fault parties.
UPS Truck Accidents in North Charleston
According to Bloomberg, e-commerce will account for 33% of U.S. retail sales by 2027. The rapid growth of e-commerce has led to increased delivery truck traffic on roads across the country, including North Charleston. As companies like UPS strive to meet the rising demand for fast deliveries, their drivers are often under pressure to meet tight deadlines, contributing to accidents.
While delivery trucks may seem like a part of everyday life, they pose unique risks to other road users. UPS trucks are larger and heavier than standard vehicles, and when involved in accidents, they can cause severe damage. The high volume of deliveries also means that UPS trucks frequently operate in residential neighborhoods, parking lots, and busy commercial areas, increasing the likelihood of collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The Dangers of UPS Trucks on North Charleston Roads
UPS trucks present several inherent risks on the road. These risks make truck accidents different from car accidents. Some of the factors that contribute to the dangers posed by UPS trucks include:
- Size and weight: UPS trucks are significantly larger and heavier than standard passenger vehicles. The weight of these trucks can range from 10,000 to 30,000 pounds or more, depending on the type of vehicle and its cargo, causing devastating consequences in accidents because of the size disparity.
- Limited visibility: Delivery trucks have large blind spots, which can make it difficult for drivers to see smaller vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians. If a UPS driver fails to check their blind spots before changing lanes or making a turn, it can result in a serious accident.
- Frequent stops: UPS drivers often make frequent stops to deliver packages, sometimes in areas with heavy traffic or limited parking. These stops can create hazards for other drivers, particularly if the UPS truck is stopped in a dangerous location or blocks traffic.
- Fatigue and pressure: UPS drivers are under pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines, especially during busy seasons like the holidays. The long hours and demanding schedules can lead to driver fatigue, which impairs reaction times and increases the risk of accidents.
- Distracted driving: UPS drivers often use handheld devices to navigate, update delivery routes, or communicate with dispatch. While these devices are essential for their job, they can also be a source of distraction, contributing to accidents.
Common Causes of UPS Truck Accidents in North Charleston
UPS truck accidents can occur for various reasons. Many of these involve driver error, vehicle maintenance issues, or road hazards. Some of the most common causes of North Charleston UPS truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue: Fatigued drivers are more likely to make mistakes, have slower reaction times, and struggle to stay focused on the road. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), drivers falling asleep behind the wheel cause 328,000 accidents annually.
- Speeding and reckless driving: UPS drivers are often under pressure to complete their routes quickly, which can lead to speeding or reckless driving behaviors like tailgating or unsafe lane changes. The heavyweight of UPS trucks makes it harder for them to stop quickly, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions or other types of crashes.
- Distracted driving: UPS drivers use handheld devices to manage their deliveries, but using them while driving can be dangerous. Even a momentary distraction can lead to a serious accident, particularly when driving a large vehicle like a UPS truck.
- Improperly loaded cargo: The cargo in a UPS truck must be properly loaded and secured to ensure the vehicle’s safe handling. If packages are loaded unevenly or are not properly secured, they can shift during transit, affecting the truck’s balance and making it more difficult for the driver to control the vehicle.
- Poor vehicle maintenance: UPS trucks require regular maintenance to ensure they are safe to operate. If a truck is not properly maintained, mechanical failures can occur, leading to accidents.
- Negligence of other drivers: While UPS drivers can be at fault for accidents, other drivers may also contribute to crashes involving UPS trucks.
What to Do After a UPS Truck Accident in North Charleston
If you are involved in an accident with a UPS truck, the steps you take immediately after the crash can significantly impact the damages you can collect after a truck accident. Our North Charleston UPS truck accident attorneys can help you pursue maximum compensation. However, there are also some things you should do after a UPS truck accident in North Charleston:
- Seek medical attention.
- Report the accident to the police.
- Take photos or videos of the accident scene.
- Avoid speaking to insurance adjusters.
- Contact a UPS truck accident lawyer in North Charleston.
We Can Help You After a North Charleston UPS Truck Accident
Being involved in a UPS truck accident can be traumatic. At Shelly Leeke Law Firm, our experienced attorneys understand the complexities of UPS truck accident cases and are committed to fighting for your rights and obtaining the maximum compensation possible.
If you have been injured in a UPS truck accident, contact us today for a free consultation.
