More Urban Delivery Vehicles Lead to More Accidents

With the holiday season behind us, it’s never been more evident: the growth in the small-package urban delivery business continues its upward spiral with no signs of slowing down. Shoppers love the convenience of buying everything from meals to gifts with the click of a computer key.

Sadly, the vast increase in urban delivery vehicles has resulted in an increasing number of accidents, some of which have led to serious injuries like the one suffered by our client. As our client began to cross the street in a residential area, a food delivery vehicle struck him and caused a traumatic brain injury. Ultimately, the case was resolved for $4,000,000. However, the incident could have been avoided if the delivery driver kept a proper lookout for pedestrians.

Causes of Delivery Vehicle Accidents

The causes of a delivery vehicle accident are similar to those of any accident involving any vehicle. They include:

• Failure of the driver to exercise due care
• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Drunk driving
• Driver inexperience
• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Poor road conditions

Whatever the cause of a crash, it is critical to take immediate action to protect your rights, and your health and safety.

First Steps for Accident Victims

Getting help after an accident is essential. Here are some priorities.

• Call 911 and provide the operator with the basic information and your location.
• If you or someone else is injured, request medical aid.
• Provide the police with relevant information.
• If you are able, gather all the evidence you can, including contacts of others involved in the accident and witnesses. Take photos.
• If the delivery company or its insurance company contacts you, decline their call. Anything you say can be used to deny your claim or reduce the amount.
• Contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced attorney can answer your questions and help you decide the best approach for dealing with the collision.

Today, e-commerce represents only about 15-18% of all retail purchases. The growth potential of the “last-mile delivery market” is considerable, according to an article in WorkTruck. Furthermore, the market for urban delivery vans is expected to double over the next five years. Hopefully, safety will be of paramount importance to the retail and delivery industries as well as to regulators and lawmakers as the industry grows and adapts to these changes.