In this day and age of online shopping, delivery trucks are extremely important to deliver ordered goods to consumers’ homes. Around the holidays, the presence of delivery trucks on the roads greatly increases. Like other types of commercial trucks, delivery trucks may cause devastating accidents because of their large size and heavy loads. However, unlike other kinds of commercial trucks, delivery trucks spend most of their time in residential neighborhoods and on smaller roads, not the major highways. This means delivery truck accidents often involve pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as smaller passenger vehicles. If you have been injured in a delivery truck accident, contact a trucking accident attorney in Gwinnett County to help you receive compensation for your injuries.
After a delivery truck accident, first your attorney will work to determine the cause of the accident and whether the delivery truck driver was negligent. Some common reasons for delivery truck accidents include:
- Speeding: Delivery truck drivers often have tight schedules with deliveries all over town, especially during peak shopping times like the holidays. Therefore, the may go faster than they should and may not be able to stop in time if a pedestrian or other vehicle is suddenly in front of them.
- Sharp turns: Because delivery trucks travel through neighborhoods, they must make several 90 degree turns on their route. Large trucks can tip over on turns or hit things that are in their blind spots while turning.
- Improper loading: Because the load of a delivery truck changes each day and may be of various sizes, it increases the chances of cargo being improperly loaded. Improperly loaded cargo may easily shift and cause a truck to tip over, and particularly heavy loads may make it difficult for the truck to stop.
These are only a few of the reasons that delivery trucks are prone to accidents. If you have been involved in a delivery truck accident, make sure you consult with an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Call Shane Smith Law at (980) 246-2656.