Why Choose Berman & Simmons After a Delivery Truck Accident?

There are many reasons why people contact Berman & Simmons when they need a Maine personal injury law firm. Our long history and reputation can help you after a delivery truck crash.

A Law Firm Serving Maine Since 1914

Berman & Simmons was founded more than 100 years ago. Our name has stood the test of time in New England’s legal community. We are proud to continue serving new generations of Mainers in their time of legal need.

A History of Successful Verdicts and Settlements

Our accident lawyers have recovered more than $1.45 billion in compensation for clients. We’ve even been listed in The National Law Journal’s Top 100 Verdicts for multiple years. To get a sense of what our Maine law firm can accomplish for you, browse our verdicts and settlements and read stories from our legal clients.

A Team of Experienced Injury Accident Attorneys

At Berman & Simmons, our lawyers prepare for every case as if it’s going to trial. That includes auto accident cases involving major corporations like FedEx, UPS, or DHL. Our dedication to excellence explains why our attorneys are recognized by numerous legal organizations, including America’s Top 100 Attorneys, the Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers and Partners, Martindale-Hubbell, and Inner Circle of Advocates.

Free Legal Consultations

Your first consultation at Berman & Simmons is free. This allows Mainers to speak with a delivery truck accident attorney without any financial hurdles or obligations. Find out if you have a case worth pursuing and what steps you can take next to maximize your compensation.

Contingency Fee Representation

Our law firm is selective about our case load. At Berman & Simmons, we accept cases that we think we can win. That’s why our Maine delivery truck accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. That means clients only pay us if we can secure a favorable settlement or win damages in a trial. If our law firm doesn’t win, you don’t have to pay.

Delivery Truck Crashes Caused by Driver Distraction

Driver distraction and inattention accidents happen when the person behind the wheel is not focused on the road. We often associate these kinds of accidents with busy commuters trying to multitask to and from work, but they also affect delivery truck drivers. A FedEx, UPS, or DHL worker may be double-checking their route, looking up directions, texting or talking while en route to the next destination, or otherwise preoccupied.

Given the size and nature of a delivery truck, it’s crucial that drivers maintain focus while their vehicle is in motion. Any distraction from the road ahead and the side mirrors could result in a serious motor vehicle crash.

Delivery Truck Crashes Caused by Driver Fatigue

Delivery truck and van drivers often have long days spent on the road. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets hours of service (HOS) limits for delivery drivers, maxing out at 14 hours per day. Many FedEx, UPS, and DHL drivers will tend to drive for around 10 hours per day, which can lead to fatigue as the shift wears on.

When truck drivers experience fatigue, their reaction times are slower and they may feel sluggish while behind the wheel. In the worst case scenario, the fatigue could lead a delivery truck driver to fall asleep while driving, which can result in a catastrophic accident on the road or someone’s property.

Delivery Truck Crashes Caused by Reckless Driving

Parcel services put pressure on their drivers to complete deliveries in a timely manner. Traffic, weather, and other factors could delay delivery. In these cases, drivers may compensate for lost time by speeding, weaving around other vehicles, or neglecting to stop or yield as instructed.

Any reckless actions by delivery drivers increases the risk of serious crashes on highways and residential streets throughout the state of Maine. Combined with distractions and fatigue, there’s a heightened risk of collisions at a busy intersection and other kinds of dangerous crashes.

Vehicle Accidents and Delivery Truck/Van Blind Spots

Delivery vehicles have major blind spots simply given their design. While mirrors can help delivery drivers stay aware of their surroundings, they really need to be familiar with the vehicle and extra careful when surrounded by other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists.

When a delivery driver fails to check their blind spots, there is an increased risk of serious collisions. On some streets, such as school zones or neighborhoods near schools and parks, this could lead to serious bicycle accidents or pedestrian accidents.

Collisions Caused by Inexperienced Delivery Drivers

FedEx, UPS, and DHL need to carefully screen and train their drivers before they get on the road. Screening new hires is also essential to ensure the people who operate delivery vehicles have a clean driving record and are not at risk of causing a crash. Unfortunately, parcel delivery companies can have lapses in judgement, and these can prove dangerous to others.

When delivery companies fail to hire qualified drivers, the Maine truck accident attorneys at Berman & Simmons can make sure they are held accountable for their negligent practices.

Delivery Accidents Due to Design or Manufacturing Defects

Some vehicles may be dangerous even with an experienced delivery driver who is diligently paying attention to the road and their surroundings. There may be serious design or manufacturing defects that make accidents more likely. This may include flawed brakes, issues with steering systems, or malfunctioning vehicle electronics. Similarly, auto parts such as tires could fail catastrophically, making accidents more likely.

If the delivery vehicle accident was caused by a design flaw or manufacturing error, our lawyers will make sure to hold the negligence company responsible. This also applies to poor vehicle maintenance and lax inspections that fail to catch a critical problem with the vehicle or its parts.

Contact Our Maine Delivery Truck Accident Lawyers Near You

The attorneys of Berman & Simmons will be here for you no matter what caused the collision. If you were hit by a DHL, UPS, or FedEx delivery truck, contact our Maine personal injury lawyers. We can meet at a law office near you in Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, or Portland, ME.

Liability in a Delivery Truck Crash

Different parties could be held liable for a delivery truck collision. Our lawyers will evaluate the evidence in your case to determine who should be held liable for the crash. Below are the parties who are often responsible for these kinds of accidents.

The Delivery Truck or Van Driver

If the driver of the delivery vehicle was reckless, not paying attention to the road, fell asleep while driving, or acted negligently in any fashion, they can be held liable for causing the auto collision.

The Parcel Delivery Company

UPS, FedEx, or DHL could be held liable for a collision if the accident was caused (even in part) by poor fleet maintenance, lack of driver training, failure to screen delivery drivers, or forcing drivers to disregard service hour regulations.

Manufacturers of the Delivery Vehicle or Its Parts

Automakers or the manufacturers of auto parts can be held liable for poor quality control, lack of safety testing, poor design or fabrication of a vehicle or parts, or failing to recall a vehicle or parts once a major safety flaw was discovered.

Other Drivers on the Road

In some situations, another driver on the road caused or contributed to the delivery vehicle crash. For example, another Mainer behind the wheel may have swerved around a delivery vehicle, causing the delivery driver to crash into your pickup truck. That other driver would be liable for the collision rather than the delivery driver.

Injuries from a Delivery Truck or Van Crash

A collision with a delivery vehicle can cause catastrophic personal injury, especially given the sheer size and force from impact. Potential injuries from a delivery truck or van accident include:

• Burn Injuries: A serious auto collision can lead to fires caused by electrical wiring, electric vehicle batteries, or gasoline igniting after a gas tank gets punctured.
• Injuries to the Eyes/Ears: There’s a risk of injury to the eyes and ears during a major collision. Catastrophic injuries to these organs can result in vision loss or hearing loss.
• Loss of Limbs: Severe injuries sustained during a delivery vehicle crash may lead to the loss of limbs or the surgical amputation of a limb that is so damaged that it cannot be saved.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: The force of impact in a crash can seriously injure the back, neck, or spine. This could result in partial paralysis, paraplegia, or quadriplegia.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): All kinds of brain injuries could be sustained in a major auto accident, from concussions to penetrating head injuries. A TBI can have long-term effects on cognition, memory, motor skills, and mental health.

Fatal Crashes with a Delivery Vehicle

It’s possible that the injuries sustained during a crash are so severe that they prove fatal. The pain of losing a loved one is immense, and it can lead to a number of financial hardships in addition to the lasting emotional toll of grief and bereavement.

If you’ve lost a loved one in a crash with a negligent DHL, FedEx, or UPS delivery driver, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit. These fatal accident claims will help you recover damages related to the preventable death of a spouse or family member.

Vehicle Damage from a Delivery Truck Crash

Your car, pickup, or SUV could be totaled if you are hit by a delivery vehicle. If your vehicle can be repaired, it could cost you thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. While your vehicle is in the shop, you may need to rent a car for the time being or take cabs and rideshares just to commute and get around Maine.

Compensation in a delivery truck accident claim will consider the cost of repairs as well as other expenses related to fixing or replacing your damaged vehicle.

Property Damage from a Delivery Truck Crash

Delivery trucks sometimes damage a person’s home or property around their home. Any vehicles in the driveway could be hit, garage doors might be struck, lawns can get torn up, and porches might be structurally compromised.

In cases of catastrophic property damage to homes, our Maine delivery truck accident attorneys can assess the full extent of damage to your home and make sure you receive compensation for repairs and inconvenience.

Delivery Truck Accident FAQs

Are there unique circumstances around Amazon delivery truck crashes?

Yes, potentially. Amazon is the worldwide leader in package deliveries, surpassing UPS and FedEx. To address the volume of packages delivered each day, Amazon started the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program. A DSP is an independent contractor who delivers Amazon packages in an Amazon vehicle and uniform. If a DSP is in a crash, the DSP is liable for damages, not Amazon itself.

Berman & Simmons can help with Amazon delivery truck/van accidents in Maine, making sure the right party is held accountable for injuries and property damage.

What about delivery vehicle accidents caused by the United States Postal Service (USPS)?

The USPS also delivers packages, but they are a government agency rather than a privately owned company like FedEx, UPS, or DHL.

If you do want to file an auto accident claim against a postal service driver, it will need to be done within two years of the date of the accident with the USPS. Our Maine delivery vehicle collision attorneys can help you get a claim underway.

Can my dash cam or doorbell camera footage be used as evidence?

Yes. If your dash cam footage or your doorbell camera captured a delivery truck accident, it can be valuable evidence in your claim or the claim of your neighbor or another party.

If you intend to come to our law offices in Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, or Portland for a legal consultation, please note that you have video evidence of what happened.

Can I still sue the parcel delivery company if I was partly at fault for the crash?

Yes. As noted in MRS Title 14 §156, Maine is a comparative negligence state. This means that you can still recover legal damages in an auto collision if you are less at fault for the collision than the other party.

It’s important to note, however, that you will not be able to collect any damages if a jury finds that you and the other party were equally at fault for the crash.