With more delivery vehicles on the road than ever before, due to more people buying items online and working from home, you have a higher chance of being involved in a road accident with a delivery driver.
If you are unfortunate to be involved in such an accident, here’s an overview of the things you should do.
Get To Safety, Seek Medical Attention, Document The Accident Scene, And Swap Details
The first thing you need to do straight after being involved in an accident with a delivery driver is to check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is seriously injured, call 911.
Even if you only have minor injuries or no noticeable injuries, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you’re able to, move your car to the side of the road to avoid further accidents and get yourself to safety.
You should then check on the delivery driver and assist if necessary. Make sure you stay at the scene of the accident until the emergency services or the police arrive.
And while at the scene of the accident, document it as much as possible. If you need to file a lawsuit to claim compensation, having as much evidence as possible will help you to win your case.
So, take photographs of injuries and of the accident scene, including close-ups of damage to the vehicles and shots of the wider accident scene. Also, get the contact details of any witnesses. You need to swap details with the delivery driver, too.
Contact A Lawyer To Pursue Compensation
If the accident isn’t your fault, you have the opportunity to pursue compensation. While no amount of financial compensation can take away the traumatic experience you have gone through, it will certainly make your life easier.
So, after the accident, and once you have sought medical attention and contacted your insurance company, get in touch with lawyers with extensive experience in car accidents.
A personal injury lawyer will be able to give you advice on your legal options and help you pursue the compensation you’re entitled to. Most lawyer consultations are free of charge.
With The Help Of Your Lawyer, Understand The Legal Complexities Of Your Specific Case
Being involved in an accident with a delivery driver will be different to being involved in an accident with another driver because the responsibility may be that of the company that owns the delivery vehicle and hires the driver rather than the responsibility of the driver.
When you consult an attorney, he or she will be able to look over your case to help determine who the responsible party is. You then have the opportunity to file a lawsuit against the individual or company that is liable.
If the delivery driver was operating a vehicle owned by or leased by his or her employer, the employer will usually be responsible for the accident if the driver caused the accident.
Some companies employ drivers who operate their own delivery vehicles. Others use subcontractors to recruit drivers who operate as self-employed drivers. In such situations, it’s usually the driver who will be legally accountable for the accident.
However, the legal situation isn’t always straightforward and complications can arise, especially if a driver is working for an agency and hasn’t informed his or her auto insurance company that the vehicle is being used for work purposes.
That’s another reason why you need an expert attorney on board. Your lawyer will be able to navigate legal complexities to help you take the right course of action and assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.
