UPS Truck Accident Attorneys Los Angeles

United Parcel Service, Inc. is among the largest delivery companies in the U.S. and also offers services around the world. UPS has fleets of delivery trucks and drivers. While most of the company’s drivers drive safely and are not involved in accidents, others are negligent and cause injury collisions. Accidents involving the company’s trucks can be dangerous and result in serious injuries because of the size and weight disparity between the trucks and passenger vehicles.

Safety Data for United Parcel Service

United Parcel Service was founded in 1907 and is based in the U.S. The company is one of the biggest delivery companies in the world. The company has expanded into other services, including next-day air, logistics, freight, and supply chain logistics. In 2020 alone, the company reported gross revenues of $84.623 billion.

While United Parcel Service is a highly successful company, some of its drivers are involved in accidents each year. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), UPS drivers were involved in 2,828 collisions in the two years between Jan. 2020 and Jan. 2022, including 64 fatal crashes, 1,015 injury accidents, and 1,749 tow-away collisions. Inspections were conducted of 10,554 vehicles and 15,620 drivers during that period, and 1,052 vehicles and 122 drivers were placed out of service as a result. This means that 10% of the company’s vehicles that were inspected were placed out of service after failing vehicular inspections. While the company takes steps to minimize accidents, these statistics show that collisions can occur.

Training for Drivers

United Parcel Service has multiple training centers in the U.S. that train drivers how to handle large trucks. One common training program offered by the company is called Integrad. Aspiring drivers in the program perform driving and delivery simulations over five to nine days. Drivers must first complete online training before they can attend Integrad. Drivers are required to learn the principles of safe driving and learn about how to avoid dangers and other situations that can occur on the road.

Standard drivers are not required to have commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to drive for the company. However, those who will drive tractor-trailers are required to have CDLs.

Common Causes of Accidents

Truck collisions involving UPS drivers can happen for many reasons, including the following:

• Distracted driving
• Poor maintenance
• Fatigued driving
• Impaired driving
• Improper loading
• Speeding
• Driver inattention
• Failing to follow traffic laws

While these factors also cause other types of collisions, accidents caused by UPS trucks are frequently more severe because of the size of the trucks.

Common Types of Injuries in United Parcel Service Accidents

Many different types of injuries can result in collisions caused by United Parcel Service drivers. Some of the types of injuries that are commonly seen in these types of collisions include the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back injuries
• Head trauma
• Severe lacerations
• Burns
• Face and neck injuries
• Broken bones
• Psychological trauma
• Death

People who are injured might not realize that they have been injured for hours or days after their collisions. The delayed onset of symptoms can happen because of a combination of adrenaline released by the body and shock, which both can numb people’s ability to sense pain. This means that it is important for you to seek immediate medical attention following a collision with a United Parcel Service driver even if you are unsure whether you have been injured. You might have suffered a serious injury that might worsen without prompt treatment. If you wait to seek medical care, it can also harm your ability to recover compensation for your losses. Insurance companies frequently try to claim that victims were injured in other events instead of their collisions. Waiting to get medical care makes it more difficult for you to prove that you were injured because of your crash instead of something else.

What to Do If You’re Involved in a Collision with a UPS Driver

If you are involved in a collision with a United Parcel Service vehicle, you should take the steps outlined below to protect yourself and your ability to recover compensation. An attorney at the Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC can help you determine whether you have a viable claim, but you should be sure to complete these steps right after your collision.

1. Call 911

Immediately after your collision, check to see if anyone has been injured, and call 911 to ask for police officers to come to the scene. While you are waiting for help to arrive, provide first aid to anyone who has been injured. The police officers will investigate what happened and will prepare a police report. The report will include the names of any witnesses, diagrams of the scene, information about any violations that occurred, and citations that were issued. While the police report will not be admitted into evidence, it can provide important information that your attorney can use to guide his or her initial investigation.

2. Take Photos

If you can, try to take as many pictures as you can at the scene of your collision. Photographs can be important types of evidence about what happened. take photos of both involved vehicles and the damage to them. Take pictures of the United Parcel Service vehicle, including its license plate and vehicle number. You should also take photos of any injury you might have sustained. Your lawyer can use the photos you take to document what happened and to help to prove the driver’s liability.

3. Ask Witnesses for Contact Information

If anyone witnessed your crash, ask for his or her contact information before he or she leaves. Since witnesses are neutral third parties, their testimony can help establish fault in collisions involving United Parcel Service drivers.

4. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

In most cases, 911 dispatchers will send emergency medical personnel to collision scenes along with police officers. If you have been seriously injured, you should take the ambulance to the hospital. Even if you do not think that you have been injured, you should still see a doctor as soon as possible. Getting prompt medical care can make a difference in your prognosis and also help to preserve your potential legal claim for compensation.

5. Keep All Accident-Related Documentation

You should start a file and keep all of the documents of your collision inside of it. Some of the types of documents you should save include the following:

• Photographs
• Medical bills
• Diagnostic and lab reports
• Property damage costs
• Paystubs and wage statements showing your lost wages
• Other expenses related to your collision

When you consult an attorney, bring your documentation file with you.

Determination of Liability

The determination of liability is critical to figuring out whether you have a viable claim. Your lawyer will investigate what happened to determine whether the UPS driver was negligent and caused your collision and harm. Some of the types of negligence that might be at issue include the following:

• The company’s inadequate maintenance or repairs
• The driver’s failure to follow the traffic laws
• The driver’s texting while driving
• The vehicle’s defective parts

Figuring out what caused your collision will require a thorough investigation. Taking action immediately might help to preserve evidence that could otherwise be lost or spoliated.

Talk to the Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC

If you have been injured in an accident you believe was caused by a UPS driver in Los Angeles, California, you should speak to the attorneys at the Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC. We have significant experience handling collisions involving UPS and other trucking carriers. Call us today for a free case evaluation at 866-966-5240.