Birmingham UPS Truck Accidents Attorneys

United Parcel Service (UPS) claims to be the world’s largest package delivery company, stating in its 2017 Annual Report that it delivered on average more than 20 million packages per day, generating $65.872 million in revenue. The service area of UPS includes over 220 countries and territories and every address in North America and Europe. Its delivery fleet includes roughly 123,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles, and it is not uncommon for UPS trucks to be involved in motor vehicle accidents in the Birmingham area.

If you suffered severe injuries or your loved one was killed in a UPS Truck accident in Alabama, seek legal representation from a Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP Birmingham truck accident attorney as soon as possible. You could be entitled to compensation for every single expense you are facing because of your crash.

Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP will fight to make sure that you recover every last dollar of compensation you are entitled to. We can review your case when you call (205) 324-1212 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Why Do I Need a UPS Truck Accident Lawyer?

When you have been involved in an accident with a UPS truck, the case immediately becomes much more complicated than a traditional truck crash. Even when a UPS driver was partly at fault for a collision, the company could also be liable for damages in many cases.

UPS will act very quickly to minimize what it has to pay in these cases. UPS will likely have its insurance company contact the victim and express a willingness to take care of them when that is not the true motive. You should never believe an agent who contacts you and tells you that you will not need an attorney. Chances are you are only being told that so you will be more likely to accept whatever terms the insurance company decides to offer.

Do not ever discuss your accident with an insurance company or its claims adjuster until you have a lawyer, as representatives are always looking for ways to get victims to unknowingly admit to negligence during recorded phone calls. You should never agree to provide a recorded statement, no matter how harmless an agent might make it sound.

An insurance company could also be quick to offer you a lump sum settlement that it will then aggressively pressure you into accepting. You should resist these demands until you have had the offer reviewed by an attorney who will likely be able to negotiate a more fair settlement.

Why Choose Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP?

Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP has over 100 years of combined legal experience. We have obtained numerous verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million.

Kirby Farris and Ken Riley were both born and raised in Alabama. Both lawyers are now Birmingham residents who aim to give back to their community.

Mr. Farris and Mr. Riley are admitted to all federal courts in Alabama and the Supreme Court of Alabama. They are members of the Alabama Bar Association, Birmingham Bar Association, and American Bar Association.

You will not have to pay anything upfront when you work with Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP because we handle cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that you only pay when you obtain a financial award.

UPS Truck Accident Cases We Handle

An accident involving a UPS truck could be the result of factors unique to the vehicle but could also stem from a common cause similar to many other crashes. Some of the most common issues in UPS truck accidents include:

• Improperly Loaded or Secured Cargo — Drivers are responsible for making sure the cargo they are transporting has been safely secured before driving.
• Improper Backing — Some UPS trucks are particularly dangerous when drivers are attempting to back into or out of certain spaces.
• Inclement Weather — Poor weather affects all drivers and can indeed be a factor in a UPS driver’s possible loss of control, but a UPS driver who attempts to transport cargo in these conditions must properly adjust to any rain, snow, or other weather conditions.
• Defective Parts — UPS must properly maintain all of its vehicles, as some accidents could be the result of mechanical issues stemming from a failure to maintain vehicles. In other cases, a mechanical issue could be the result of a part being defective.
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI) — Some UPS drivers may be criminally charged with DUI if they operated under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. Keep in mind that a criminal case is completely separate from any civil action.
• Driver Fatigue — UPS drivers occasionally work long hours, and tired drivers are much more at risk of being involved in crashes because they are not as alert as somebody who has proper rest.
• Unsafe Road Conditions — When a UPS truck accident is caused by a roadway defect or other hazardous condition, it may be possible that a governmental entity bears liability for the crash.
• Driver Error — UPS may have placed an inexperienced driver behind the wheel and could be liable for improperly training a driver who caused an accident.
• Violations of Traffic Laws — Some UPS drivers cause accidents by speeding or committing other violations of state traffic laws.

Many of these UPS truck accident cases involve violations of state or federal regulations. Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP will launch an investigation and uncover any such violations to prove the responsible party’s negligence. Some of the most common injuries people may sustain include:

• Fractures
• Muscle strains
• Sprains
• Cuts and bruises
• Neck injuries
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal organ injuries

Truck accidents can also result in fatal injuries. If your loved one was killed in a truck accident, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent parties.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About UPS Truck Accidents

Here are some of the most common questions we get asked at Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP regarding UPS truck accidents. We hope you find our answers helpful. If you have any further questions about your particular truck accident case, feel free to call us at (205) 324-1212 to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

What should I do after a UPS truck accident?

After an accident involving a UPS truck, your first step must always be to seek medical attention. You should go to a hospital for an evaluation even if you do not think you were harmed. Many injuries involve delayed symptoms, and insurance companies will likely attempt to deny your claim whenever there is a delay in treatment.

Another important step you can take at the scene of your accident is to take as many pictures as you can of everything involved in the crash. Get photographs of the vehicles, people, and other circumstances involved before that evidence disappears. If there are any people who saw your collision, ask them for their contact information in case they are needed as witnesses. You should avoid discussing the accident until you have legal counsel, and be careful not to post anything about the accident or your injuries on social media. Contact a lawyer as soon as you can.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault for my UPS truck accident?

Unfortunately, you cannot. This is why you must be careful with what you say following a UPS truck crash. Contributory negligence is an affirmative defense that includes any form of negligence proximately contributing to a victim’s injuries, and it prohibits a victim from recovering any damages when proven. In other words, a party that is 99% at fault for an accident cannot be held liable for the accident by the party that was only 1% at fault. The easiest way for insurance companies to prove contributory negligence is through a victim’s own statements, which is exactly why you should not speak to an insurer without an attorney.

How long do I have to file a UPS truck accident claim?

A person typically has only two years from the date of their UPS truck accident to file a lawsuit in Alabama. However, there are a couple of exceptions to this statute of limitations. For example, a minor injured in a UPS truck accident will have two years to file from the date they turn 19 years of age. The limitations period can also be tolled (delayed) for some people who sustained a disability and were declared incapacitated by a court; they will have two years to file when they are no longer incapacitated.

UPS Truck Accident Statistics

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Safety Measurement System (SMS), UPS had 122,759 vehicles and 110,690 drivers as of June 16, 2019. For the 24 months ending May 31, 2019, UPS vehicles were involved in 2,258 crashes.

Contact a Birmingham UPS Truck Accident Attorneys Today

Were you hurt in a UPS truck accident in Birmingham? If so, the Birmingham truck accident lawyers of Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP are ready to provide you with a free case evaluation and help you understand your legal options.

The Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP personal injury firm understands how these crashes affect the lives of people, and we work hard to hold the negligent parties fully accountable for the harm they have caused. Call (205) 324-1212 or contact us online today to receive a free and confidential consultation.