Morristown is part of the bustling Knoxville-Morristown-Sevierville Combined Statistical Area, situated along the major north-south corridor of Interstate 81. As a result, our city gets plenty of traffic, including delivery trucks of all sorts. And unfortunately, the sheer volume of Amazon vans, UPS trucks, and other delivery vehicles passing through Morristown results in all too many delivery truck accidents.

If you were hurt in a delivery truck accident in Morristown, TN, you could be entitled to compensation from the delivery company or another liable party. At The Terry Law Firm, we are ready to prepare a strong claim seeking maximum compensation for your losses.

Contact us now for your free initial consultation with our Morristown delivery truck lawyers.

Common Types of Delivery Trucks

While the term “delivery truck” usually refers to vehicles that operate regionally transporting goods to their final destination, colloquially, it can mean anything from a UPS van to a long-distance semi-truck. Many delivery trucks are specially designed to carry certain items, such as refrigerated goods, concrete mixtures, or flammable gasses.

Vehicles commonly used as delivery trucks include:

  • Pickup trucks – Four-wheeled vehicles with open cargo beds
  • Box trucks – Single-unit vehicles with enclosed, box-shaped cargo holds
  • Flatbed trucks – Large trucks with flat beds without side walls or roofs
  • Tractor-trailers – Heavy-duty vehicles that tow large trailers
  • Tanker trucks – Tractor-trailers with large tanks that hold liquids or gasses
  • Walk-in trucks – Trucks and vans with accessible, walk-in cargo areas
  • Refrigerated trucks – Trucks with cooled trailer units for perishable goods
  • Car carrier trucks – Trucks with multi-level trailers that transport many smaller vehicles

Causes of Delivery Truck Accidents in Morristown, TN

Common causes of traffic accidents involving delivery trucks in Morristown, TN, include:

  • Distracted driving – Delivery truck drivers cause accidents when they focus on text messages, dispatch instructions, and other distractions instead of the road.
  • Driver impairment – Delivery truck drivers who use drugs or alcohol before getting behind the wheel put themselves and others at risk. Driver impairment from excessive fatigue can also contribute to drowsy driving delivery truck accidents.
  • Reckless driving – Delivery truck drivers who engage in reckless driving behaviors like speeding, tailgating, and lane weaving often cause accidents when they fail to leave any room for error.
  • Driver error – Common examples of delivery truck driver errors include failure to yield and improper turn maneuvers, which frequently contribute to accidents.
  • Defective truck parts – When truck manufacturers sell shoddy vehicles, or delivery companies fail to maintain their trucks, defects can develop that contribute to dangerous loss-of-control accidents.

Parties That May Be Liable for a Delivery Truck Accident

In crashes that involve only private passenger vehicles, only the drivers involved in the collision typically bear liability for the accident. But liability is often much more complicated in a delivery truck accident case because multiple parties are involved in delivery operations. For instance, any or several of the following parties could be responsible for your injuries:

  • The delivery truck driver, if they were negligent behind the wheel or failed to conduct proper pre-trip truck inspections
  • The delivery company, especially if it hired an unqualified driver, encouraged its driver to engage in unsafe practices, or failed to maintain its truck
  • A cargo loading team, if it overloaded a truck or failed to balance or adequately secure a load
  • A truck parts manufacturer, if it sold a defectively designed delivery truck

Potential Compensation in a Delivery Truck Accident Case

If you can prove that another party was liable for a delivery truck accident, you could receive money for the following types of crash-related losses:

  • Hospital bills and other medical expenses for treating your injuries due to the crash
  • Lost income for time missed at work while recovering from your injuries
  • Projected losses in your future earning potential, if you suffer permanent injuries
  • Subjective losses, such as injury-related pain, suffering, and lost quality of life
  • Incidental expenses, such as travel expenses to attend medical appointments

Steps to Take After a Delivery Truck Accident

If you got hurt in a delivery truck accident in Morristown, TN, you might wonder what you can do to protect your rights and demand a fair recovery for your injuries. Taking the following steps is a good way to get a head start on your personal injury claim:

  • Seek medical care to have your injuries diagnosed, treated, and documented.
  • Gather evidence from the crash site, including pictures of the accident scene, employment and insurance details from the delivery driver, and the contact info of any witnesses.
  • Follow your doctor’s care plan to improve your prognosis and demonstrate you are taking your health seriously.
  • Keep your medical bills, proof of income, and other documents establishing your crash-related expenses.
  • Start a journal to record daily observations about your healing journey.
  • Watch what you say to the delivery driver, the delivery company, and any other third parties before you discuss your case with an attorney.
  • Avoid discussing the crash on social media while your claim is pending.
  • Contact our Morristown delivery truck accident lawyers for help as soon as possible.

How Our East Tennessee Delivery Truck Crash Lawyers Can Help

When you hire the Morristown delivery truck accident lawyers at The Terry Law Firm, you can count on us to help with your accident claim by:

  • Explaining your rights and identifying sources of compensation for your injuries
  • Conducting an independent investigation into the delivery truck accident
  • Communicating with delivery companies and insurance providers on your behalf
  • Obtaining medical records, accident reports, and other evidence for your claim
  • Interviewing eyewitnesses and medical experts for useful information about the accident and your injuries
  • Managing important case documents, details, and deadlines on your behalf
  • Negotiating from a position of strength to maximize your settlement
  • Taking your case to court and representing you at trial, if the other side won’t agree to a fair settlement figure

If you were hurt in a delivery truck accident that wasn’t your fault, contact The Terry Law Firm immediately. We can provide answers and evaluate the specifics of your claim during a free initial consultation session.