The ease of online shopping has added thousands of delivery trucks to Tennessee roads, delivering millions of packages with each new day. Carriers such as UPS and FedEx rely on fleets of box trucks and delivery vans, each one with the potential to cause an accident with a pedestrian or passenger vehicle.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Delivery Truck Accident?
Under Tennessee law, an employer may be held liable for the negligent acts of an employee if an accident occurs within with the scope of employment. You could be owed compensation from the driver as well as the delivery company for acts of negligence, including:
- Untrained driver errors. While semi-truck drivers are required to be fully trained and licensed to operate their vehicles, delivery truck drivers may not be held to the same standards. Depending on the weight and size of the vehicle, a delivery driver may not be required to hold a commercial driver’s license or even prove that they have received training in the safe operation of a truck or van.
- Dangerous maneuvers. Delivery drivers are under considerable pressure to meet deadlines, and they may perform risky maneuvers such as speeding or illegal turns in order to shave seconds off their drive time.
- Drowsy or distracted driving. Drivers who are unfamiliar with their delivery routes may strike children or pedestrians as they search for addresses or back out of driveways. Staffing shortages may also cause overloaded delivery schedules, leading to drowsy driving accidents.
- Maintenance problems. Some delivery companies are so inundated with orders they outsource their deliveries to third-party contractors. If the accident was caused by a lack of maintenance or a contractor driver’s error, you may have a third-party claim.
If you or someone you love has been hurt by a delivery truck or van, simply fill out the short contact form on this page to set up your free initial consultation. Our lawyers serve injury clients on a contingent fee basis, meaning we do not collect anything unless we secure a recovery for you. To learn more about your claim, download a free copy of our book, The 10 Worst Mistakes You Can Make With Your Tennessee Injury Case.
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