The roads of Philadelphia are filled with delivery trucks. As online shopping increases in popularity, more people are getting deliveries of items ranging from furniture to groceries. While this may be convenient for shoppers, it creates a danger for drivers. Delivery vehicles are significantly larger than the average car, and a collision with a delivery vehicle can be devastating. If you or a loved one was seriously injured by a delivery vehicle, a Philadelphia delivery truck accident lawyer from Wapner Newman may be able to help you get the compensation you need to recover from that harm.
The Dangers of Delivery Vehicles
How a Philadelphia Delivery Truck Accident Attorney Determines Fault
Delivery vehicles present some dangers that aren’t present in most other types of car accidents. Your delivery truck accident lawyer in Philadelphia is familiar with these dangers and how they often play a role in accidents. One of the first things your Philadelphia delivery truck accident attorney from Wapner Newman will do is investigate the accident and determine whether one of the following dangers contributed to the crash.
Delivery Trucks Are Large and Have Several Blind Spots
While delivery trucks are typically smaller than tractor trailers, they are quite a bit larger than the average car. Even an Amazon van is a few tons heavier than a non-commercial van, and that is before it is packed. Furthermore, most of these vans and trucks have no rearview mirror and limited visibility from side view mirrors. This means they can easily strike nearby vehicles without the driver being aware there is a danger. Newer delivery drivers, in particular, may not understand how much care they need to take to avoid a truck accident. If a delivery vehicle hits you, your delivery truck accident attorney in Philadelphia will determine whether size, blind spots, or inexperience with the vehicle contributed to the accident.
Lots of Stopping
As a consequence of their profession, delivery truck drivers have to park their vehicles often — usually on the side of the road. Because of the rigorous schedule they follow, most drivers stop in the location most convenient to where the delivery is going. Often that location isn’t legal. The following actions can cause delivery truck accidents:
- The driver parked illegally.
- The truck stopped suddenly, without warning.
- The truck pulled out into traffic without warning.
- The driver got out of the truck without checking for traffic.
The more often a driver starts and stops a vehicle, the more likely they are to get into an accident.
Working and Driving
The average person doesn’t work in their car. There is a good reason for this. While you are driving, you need to pay close attention to the road and your surroundings. Even a moment of distraction can be enough to cause a car accident.
Most delivery drivers are distracted for much more than a moment. Delivery drivers are constantly driving using GPS. Furthermore, they have to log their deliveries, and, due to the time constraints they are under, some may do that while driving. They may also be fielding calls from their dispatcher while driving or eating a quick lunch while on the road. All of these situations result in their eyes leaving the road, potentially at a crucial moment. Our Philadelphia delivery truck accident lawyers know how to identify these types of distractions and determine whether they resulted in an accident.
All it takes is a moment of not looking at the road to cause an accident.
Why Choose Us?
Experienced Philadelphia Delivery Truck Accident Attorneys
Most people who hire a delivery truck accident lawyer in Philadelphia do it because they want to get a fair settlement as quickly as possible. One factor determines more than anything whether your case will move swiftly and get you reasonable results: experience. An experienced lawyer doesn’t have to waste time researching the law or understanding the extent of your injuries. Additionally, an experienced lawyer has dealt with enough similar cases that they can accurately determine the value of your claim.
At Wapner Newman, you aren’t being represented by just one experienced Philadelphia delivery truck accident lawyer. You are effectively being represented by more than a dozen. Our team has centuries of collective experience, and our attorneys always share their knowledge and skills. This collaborative process has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients over the years.
Were you or a loved one seriously injured in a truck accident in Philadelphia? Are you wondering how you can get enough compensation to recover from those injuries? Contact a Philadelphia delivery truck accident attorney at Wapner Newman at (215) 569-0900 to learn about your legal options.
No-Fault Insurance and Delivery Truck Accidents
When a Delivery Truck Accident Attorney in Philadelphia Can Help
Pennsylvania employs a variant of the no-fault insurance system. This means that regardless of who was responsible for a car accident, your medical bills and other losses are covered by your insurance policy up to the limit of your policy. However, once that limit is reached, the Pennsylvania system differs from other no-fault systems. In Pennsylvania, no matter what injuries you suffered, you have the right to seek compensation from the responsible party for all related losses and expenses that exceed your limit. However, unless you opted for full-tort insurance when you purchased your insurance, you can only pursue non-economic damages if your injury meets a certain threshold.
Does that sound complicated? It is. Most people don’t understand their options after a car accident or when purchasing insurance. Unfortunately, our Philadelphia delivery truck accident lawyers likely won’t be around when you purchase insurance. But we can help you decipher what types of damages you can obtain after you are injured in a delivery truck accident. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you might even be eligible to file a lawsuit for non-economic damages for some of your injuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unless you happen to be a Philadelphia delivery truck accident attorney, you probably have quite a few questions about the claim process. This isn’t surprising. Insurance companies fill the claim process with a lot of red tape, and it only gets more complicated if you end up taking legal action. Our legal team wants to dispel as much of that confusion as possible before taking your case. The following are some of the more common questions that our clients ask about delivery truck accidents.
Will I pursue damages from the driver or the delivery truck company?
This is one of the trickier questions because the answer depends on the circumstances of the accident. Typically, if a driver is performing work duties and being paid for their time, the delivery truck company’s insurance will cover the accident. Conversely, if the driver keeps the truck on weekends or is using the truck during their break for non-work purposes, then we might pursue damages directly from the driver. We will carefully investigate how the truck was being used before pursuing damages.
How much money will I get in compensation?
Two factors affect the answer to this question: what type of insurance you have and how seriously you were injured. At a minimum, you should receive compensation equal to the cost of any outstanding medical bills, expenses, and lost wages. If you have full tort insurance or you meet the injury tort threshold, you will likely also get compensation for pain and suffering. There is no set value for pain and suffering, but it is often a modest multiple of your economic damages.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Pennsylvania for injuries suffered in a delivery truck accident?
For personal injury claims such as those arising from a delivery truck accident, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. Waiting any longer will get your case dismissed, and you won’t have the right to pursue damages. A semi-truck accident lawyer at Wapner Newman can help you determine when any deadlines are in your case.
How much will it cost to have my case evaluated?
At Wapner Newman, we offer free case evaluations and consultations. We will determine the approximate value of your claim, let you know how likely you are to receive compensation, and answer any questions you have.
Do you have any more questions about delivery truck accidents in Philadelphia? Our legal team will answer them all during your free consultation.
Contact a Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia Immediately
Any type of car or truck accident is frightening. But it can be even more frightening to be seriously hurt and have to face off with corporate lawyers after an accident. Wapner Newman is here to help when you find yourself in that situation.
Were you injured in a delivery truck accident? Don’t wait any longer to speak to a lawyer. Contact our law firm at (215) 569-0900 today to get the help you need as quickly as possible.