SHOPPING ONLINE CAUSES REAL-WORLD ACCIDENTS

It might seem counter-intuitive that doing your Christmas shopping online can cause real-world accidents, but it does. With the increase of people ordering Christmas gifts shipped right to their homes, delivery fleets have struggled to maintain adequate staffing. Sometimes, they have to hire people without adequate experience or without knowledge of a neighborhood.

Lax hiring and training practices can mean that a delivery truck parks in a blind spot, blocking traffic and causing an accident, or that it pulls out aggressively into traffic and causes a crash. Other drivers on the road must be especially attentive when watching for big commercial trucks and delivery drivers in the weeks before Christmas in order to protect themselves from the risks taken by drivers on tight deadlines.

Of course, it is not just trucks rushing to deliver consumer goods on time that can create traffic nightmares. Grocery stores require shipments of huge amounts of potatoes and frozen turkeys in November, as well as gift wrap. Christmas trees and gift items for the holiday purchasing season are also in high demand. In addition to commercial traffic in the form of large trucks supplying big retailers, there are also countless delivery vehicles operating for individual shops and consumer shipping services.  

THE TWELVE DAYS OF DELIVERY

As deliveries increase, and the pressure of overnight or 3-day deadlines looms, more crashes occur. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the days leading up to Christmas day until New Years day tend to have many traffic fatalities. Employers may try to push commercial truck drivers to deliver more and more cargo, and driving for extended periods of time can lead to exhaustion and impaired driving. Vehicle accidents result.  

According to NSC Injury Facts, large trucks, both commercial and noncommercial, accounted for 10% of all fatal auto accidents. Accidents involving commercial trucks typically increase when the drivers are drowsy or fatigued. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finds that drowsy drivers are two times as likely to make driving errors at critical moments as opposed to well-rested drivers. These errors can lead to fatal accidents. 

DEFENSIVE DRIVING

Defensive driving on the part of vehicles sharing the road with large trucks is a good way to minimize the risk of an accident. Specifically:

• Avoid blind spots. Blind spots are indicated on the back of trucks for a good reason. Trucks really are unable to see cars in those areas, which means a truck driver might think they are clear to make a lane change when a car is actually traveling in a precarious, invisible spot. Avoiding these areas can help avoid an accident.
• Pass trucks carefully. You should always expect that a truck, like another car, might abruptly cut into a lane that is currently open. You are in charge of your own safety, and being aware of this possibility can help you plan and then react when it happens.
• Expect air turbulence. As trucks travel down a highway, they cause air turbulence which can cause smaller cars to be buffeted. Over adjusting to buffeting can cause a car to hit the side of the truck or another vehicle. Anticipating such buffeting can avoid overcorrection.



LIABILITY

Trucking accidents involve many individuals and usually at least one company or agency depending on what type of trucker drives the vehicle. For commercial trucks, the driver may hire on through a company that transfers and ships equipment or items, but he or she may also drive as an independent contractor without a connection to an agency. In these situations, the trucker may remain solely liable for the incident. Knowing which connection exists is vital for the victim in seeking compensation. Often, an experienced personal injury lawyer is needed to navigate the complex issues of liability. The lawyer may investigate the matter to determine who is at fault, and will make sure that all potentially responsible parties are involved in working through a victim’s claim.  

CONTACT AN ATTORNEY

If you have been in an accident involving a delivery vehicle or truck, contact Dave Thomas at The Thomas Law Firm for a free consultation regarding your claim.