Macon UPS Truck Accident Lawyer

Behind the Scenes of UPS Route Pressure and Driver Fatigue

UPS trucks are large, powerful commercial vehicles that provide important services to people and businesses in Georgia and around the world. They also pose real safety threats to everyone on the road with them.

The strict deadlines that UPS imposes on truck drivers and the pressure the company exerts to push them to deliver packages “on time” encourages risky behavior and mistakes behind the wheel. The massive size of their trucks, which can range up to 25,000 lbs., makes serious and life-threatening injuries more likely when they are involved in accidents.

UPS vehicles were involved in more than 2,400 crashes across the country in a recent two-year period, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. More than 50 of those collisions resulted in at least one fatality and another 800-plus collisions caused injuries.

The Macon UPS truck accident lawyers at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm help people ensure that their rights are protected in the aftermath of traffic and other accidents. We are experienced attorneys who have dedicated our careers to getting people injured in accidents the full compensation available under the law.

The aftermath of a crash can be a painful, stressful and confusing time, both for people injured in an accident and their families. Insurance companies often use this time to push lowball settlements, looking to resolve claims for pennies on the dollar. They also fight tooth and nail to limit payouts or avoid them altogether.

An experienced injury lawyer at our firm can give you the peace of mind to focus on what is most important: your physical and mental recovery. Our attorneys will focus on identifying those responsible for the crash, building the strongest possible case and maximizing your compensation.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a traffic accident with a delivery vehicle, our Macon UPS truck accident lawyers are just a phone call away. Call us today at 478-845-6464 to speak with an attorney about your rights and options.

A Closer Look at Route Pressure and Driver Fatigue

Many UPS truck crashes are the inevitable result of the intense route pressure and chronic driver fatigue that are at the center of the company’s operating strategy.

UPS drivers work in demanding, data-driven environments where speed, efficiency and constant movement are emphasized every minute of the day. This may very well help the company move massive numbers of packages quickly, but it also seriously increases the risk of traffic accidents.

UPS routes are meticulously planned and monitored using advanced logistics software. Every stop, turn and delivery window is optimized to save time and fuel. Drivers are expected to complete long routes with hundreds of deliveries while staying on schedule, even during peak seasons, bad weather and heavy traffic.

The pressure only ratchets up when drivers fall behind schedules. Late delivery times can result in performance reviews, warnings and disciplinary action. Drivers who want to keep their jobs often feel compelled to rush, skip breaks and push through exhaustion to finish their routes.

Long Hours + High Stakes = Fatigue and Overload

UPS drivers regularly work long shifts. During peak delivery periods, such as holidays or major sales events, drivers may spend 10 to 14 hours a day on the road. These hours are physically demanding. They involve repeated lifting, climbing in and out of trucks, navigating tight residential streets and handling heavy packages.

Fatigue leads to traffic accidents by impairing essential driving skills like reaction time, judgment and attention. The brain takes longer to process events, slowing responses to sudden braking or obstacles. It is harder to assess speed, distance and risks, increasing the chance of misjudging situations. And it is easier to become distracted, especially for delivery drivers who are operating massive trucks while also scanning for addresses, watching traffic, monitoring mirrors and thinking about the next delivery.

Combine fatigue with pressure to complete deliveries and you have a recipe for disaster that not only increases dangers for UPS drivers, but also for everyone sharing roads and streets with them. Drivers may blow through posted speed limits, swerve in and out of traffic, make late or risk turns and stretch yellow lights to make up time.

Common UPS Truck Accidents

UPS truck accidents come in many forms, but some are more common than others. Here are some crashes that our Macon UPS truck accident lawyers frequently see.

• Rear-end collisions: UPS trucks require much longer stopping distances. Fatigued or distracted drivers may not stop in time when traffic slows suddenly.
• Intersection, turning accidents: Improper turns, running red lights and misjudging oncoming traffic can result in severe side-impact and T-bone crashes.
• Pedestrian, bicycle collisions: UPS trucks frequently operate in neighborhoods and commercial areas that also see people traveling by foot or on bicycles. Pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable to being struck during turns, backing maneuvers and curbside stops.
• Backing-up crashes: Company policy discourages drivers from backing up their vehicles, but that does not mean that these risk maneuvers do not happen. They can cause serious injuries when drivers fail to see someone behind their trucks.
• Multi-vehicle pileups: A single mistake by a large delivery truck driver on a highway can trigger chain-reaction crashes involving multiple vehicles.

Compensation for Delivery Truck Accident Injuries

People who are injured in crashes with UPS and other delivery trucks have the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the collision. That includes drivers, as well as their employers and insurers.

The money damages on the table for Georgia traffic accident claims are intended to return an injured person to the financial position that he or she was in at the time of the collision. Compensation usually comes in two large categories: medical expenses and missed income. They cover the immediate impact of the crash, as well as related expenses and limits on a person’s earning power that are reasonably expected in the future.

Some people do not survive crashes. In these tragic situations, the family of a person killed in the collision has the right to seek similar compensation for wrongful death. There is no amount of money that can ever replace a loved one. Pursuing a wrongful death claim can help address some of the financial stress that often comes with the sudden loss of a family member, however, and ensure that those responsible for the crash are held accountable.

To get compensation, you have to be able to prove fault and liability. That is where we come in.

UPS, FedEx, Amazon, DHL and other delivery businesses generally are liable for crashes caused by their drivers on the job. Typically that is based on a theory of vicarious liability because the accident happened in the course of the driver’s job. Employers also can be held liable for negligent hiring, training and supervision or for failing to ensure that trucks are safe to hit the road.

UPS drivers, like everyone else who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle in Georgia, are required to operate their trucks in a reasonably safe manner at all times. They must comply with speed limits and other traffic rules and refrain from dangerous behavior, such as drinking and driving. Drivers who do not live up to this responsibility are likely to be found negligent and legally responsible for any crashes that happen as a result.

UPS and other delivery giants have vast networks of insurance coverage designed to kick in when accidents happen. The company’s comprehensive insurance policy through Liberty Mutual covers up to $1 million for injuries stemming from collisions and damage to other vehicles.

The company and its insurers often launch investigations as soon as possible following an accident. It is vital to have an experienced injury attorney in your corner. Evidence can be collected, preserved or interpreted in ways that protect the company’s interests. Insurers may attempt to limit payouts by shifting the blame away from delivery drivers and downplaying injuries.

What To Do If You Are Involved in a UPS Truck Accident

The immediate aftermath of an accident is often a crucial time for determining who is at fault.

If you are involved in a collision with a UPS truck, the most important thing to do first is seek medical attention if it is needed. If you are not seriously injured, check on others to determine if they need emergency medical services.

Next, you should alert police and remain at the scene until they arrive. Move your car to a road shoulder if you can do so safely to reduce the risk of a second accident involving oncoming traffic.

Officers will inspect the crash site, look for physical evidence and speak to the people involved in the crash, as well as any other witnesses. They will then create an accident report, which may or may not identify who the officer believes is at fault in the collision.

If you are not seriously injured, you also should try to document the crash scene. Take photos of the damage to the vehicles and other physical signs of the crash, like skid marks and your own injuries. Start a list of the other people involved in the crash – drivers and passengers – and any witnesses.

Then, contact a seasoned injury attorney. The sooner you seek the advice of an experienced lawyer, the sooner the attorney can begin taking steps to protect your rights and build your claim.

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm Helps People Get Back on Their Feet

At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, our Macon UPS truck accident lawyers are dedicated to helping people and families who have been injured through no fault of their own. We fight diligently to protect and defend our clients rights, from the first consultation through final resolution.

Our goal is to help you move on with your life after an accident by getting the full compensation available under the law. Call our team at 478-845-6464 for a free, no-risk consultation.