An accident with a delivery truck can be incredibly damaging. Smaller vehicles get crushed by larger and heavier delivery vehicles and put drivers and passengers of smaller cars at significant risk. Morelli Law Firm has helped victims of truck accidents get compensation from delivery companies.
You can seek justice and receive compensation if you have the right legal representation. Our delivery truck accident lawyers in Mt. Vernon, IL, will fight to protect your rights after your wreck. One free consultation with us can remove a world of financial burden from your shoulders.
Fighting the Big Delivery Companies
Determining fault and figuring out the insurance issues is always an issue in car accidents, but it’s even more troublesome when a large delivery company is involved. Companies like Amazon, FedEx, and UPS have the money to pay for big legal teams. On the other hand, they also have huge insurance policies.
Once they learn of a crash, they’ll start leaning on their lawyers to get you to settle as soon as possible or even admit fault. If they can build a case where you’re more at fault than the delivery driver, you cannot collect compensation.
Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Any percentage of fault allocated to you will be reduced from your compensation. If you are deemed to be 50% or more at fault for the accident, you will be unable to pursue compensation.
You might even get a call on the same day from the insurance company while you’re still confused and overwhelmed by the accident. It’s best to speak with a delivery van accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident so that they can handle all interactions between you, the insurer, and the delivery company.
What Causes Delivery Van Accidents?
Delivery trucks aren’t as predictable as smaller vehicles. They’re harder to drive, and some delivery drivers don’t take their duties seriously. They could text and drive, drive while tired, or even drive drunk while on the job.
These vehicles also stop much more often to make deliveries. This can throw off other drivers who aren’t expecting a sudden stop. An insurer might try to accuse you of following too closely if you hit a truck from behind.
Also, large delivery trucks have large blind spots. Even with special mirrors, they may not see well enough to avoid creating a dangerous situation while changing lanes. Finally, on some vehicles, an unsecured load could spill out into the roadway and cause an accident.
Your Mt. Vernon delivery truck accident lawyer will investigate the circumstances of your crash to determine which party or parties might be liable.
Mount Vernon Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
What to Do After a Delivery Truck Accident
There are steps you must take after a delivery truck accident to comply with the law and your insurance and to protect your compensation. Here’s what you need to consider.
Get Medical Care ASAP
If you didn’t get taken to the hospital after your accident, see a doctor as soon as you can leave the scene. Try to do it the same day. Your adrenaline could hide serious injuries, and an insurer might try to deny their policyholder caused your injuries if you wait too long. However, if you’re not seriously injured, be sure to do the other steps on this list before leaving the scene.
If the delivery van driver is injured, call 911 for help. You have a duty of care to call for medical assistance for other injured drivers. Do not move them, and do not talk with them about the accident.
Contact the Authorities
Always call the police after an accident, even if the other driver tries to convince you not to. The police will create an official record of what happened and prove to the insurance company that an accident happened. You’re also required to do so by law if there are injuries or enough property damage.
Document What You Can
You should take photos or notes of what you can at the scene. These are powerful pieces of evidence. Take a photo of the scene, your injuries, and the vehicle damage. Try to get photos of the license plates and the nearby cross streets.
Exchange Information With the Other Drivers
You need to exchange information with the other driver, including names, numbers, insurance policy numbers and carriers, and any other contact information you think will help. Beyond this, limit what you say to them. It could be used against you.
Call Your Insurance Company
You are also required to contact your own insurance company to notify them of the accident. If you wait too long, they could deny you coverage if the other driver tries to make a claim against you. They will want to do an investigation of their own to confirm what happened. Be factual and do not exaggerate or understate what happened.
Call a Delivery Van Accident Lawyer at Morelli Law
After you’ve done these steps, it’s time to seek a lawyer with experience in delivery van accidents for further legal advice. You want to stay ahead of the delivery company’s legal team and their insurer. By retaining our services as soon as possible after your accident, you can maximize your compensation.
Seek Help from a Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer
Morelli Law Firm has helped accident victims in Mt. Vernon, IL, who’ve had their lives shattered get the compensation they need to move on with their lives. We are not afraid to take your case to court against delivery companies, and we have the resources to do it.
Schedule a free consultation with our Mt. Vernon delivery truck accident attorneys by calling the number on this page or by clicking the “request case evaluation” button. Call us as soon as you can after your accident to maximize your chances of a favorable outcome.