Spokane Delivery Truck Driver Accident Lawyer

Local roadways have been seeing a steady increase in delivery truck traffic over the years, mostly thanks to online shopping, grocery delivery, and other home delivery services. These services are great for busy families, people who work during regular retail hours, and for the handicapped and elderly who may have a difficult time getting to the store. Spokane delivery truck driver accident attorneys know that along with the increase in traffic on local roads, the number of delivery truck accidents seems to be increasing as well. Unfortunately for those involved in delivery truck accidents, injuries can be severe and sometimes fatal.

Causes of delivery truck accidents

See belong for common factors and causes in delivery truck accidents.

• Driving a delivery truck can be stressful, especially when drivers are trying to meet delivery deadlines. Drivers are often under pressure to fulfill their deliveries and when they feel short on time, they try to rush their deliveries and that is when serious driving mistakes and accidents often happen.
• Delivery drivers are also very often distracted by their job of delivering goods. They use GPS to figure out where they are going while they are driving and they are constantly thinking of the next delivery while trying to plan ahead in order to be efficient. These are all things that keep drivers distracted and less focused on driving safely.
• Leaving trucks parked in the middle of the road, in alleys, or in places where traffic is obstructed is commonplace when it comes to delivery drivers who are trying to get as close as possible to their delivery point. This style of stopping and parking often leads to obstructed views for other drivers and unexpected, sudden stops in the middle of the road, both of which can lead to accidents.
• Poor driver training leads to unsafe delivery truck drivers and this is especially a problem in the current employment climate where there are not enough delivery truck drivers to meet demands and employers are pushing their new hires to get out on the road as soon as possible.
• Improper truck loading leads to unsafe and unbalanced vehicles, especially when delivery trucks are involved in accidents and their cargo is not properly secured in the vehicle.

Liability

Employers are typically liable for accidents that their employees cause while working in the scope of their employment. When it comes to truck drivers, however, sometimes employers will claim that the driver is an independent contractor and not an employee in an attempt to escape liability. Sometimes employers do hire independent contractors in order to make it through busy delivery seasons, but other times employers misclassify their employee drivers as independent contractors to take advantage of certain benefits including not being liable for accidents that their drivers cause. When you have been involved in an accident with a delivery truck driver, in order to protect yourself and your financial recovery, it is important to consult with an experienced attorney who is familiar with delivery driver employment designations, understands the applicable laws, and how they can affect liability in a delivery truck accident.

Contact a Spokane delivery truck driver accident attorney at Russell & Hill, PLLC to discuss your delivery truck accident and injuries sustained. We will review your claim and go over your available recovery options.