Delivery Truck Accidents in Laredo, Texas: Who Can Be Held Responsible?

The person who delivers a package to your doorstep may not be from a traditional post office or parcel service. Today’s delivery landscape includes independent contractors who may drive their own vehicle to reach your address. When a delivery truck is involved in an accident in Laredo, figuring out who is responsible can be complicated. A lawyer can help you hold negligent parties accountable for your damages.

The Laredo commercial vehicle accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw will investigate the delivery driver who caused your accident and protect your right to compensation. Call or contact us online for a free case review. We will let you know if you have a valid personal injury claim, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

A delivery truck in Laredo, Texas will generally meet the definition of a commercial vehicle under the Texas Transportation Code §621.001. The code specifically states that commercial vehicles include motor vehicles (other than motorcycles) used for “delivery purposes.” However, your lawyer will need to know who employed the driver or if they were an independent contractor.

Commonly recognized delivery truck companies include the following:

• U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
• FedEx
• United Parcel Service (UPS)
• DHL Express
• Amazon Shipping

A Laredo delivery truck accident lawyer can generally contact these companies and negotiate a settlement through insurance or a personal injury claim. While USPS is self-insured as a government entity and handled differently than private deliverers, most package delivery companies carry commercial insurance. Independent contractors may carry their own commercial policy, but even then, your lawyer may look at the company that hired the driver for compensation.

Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, employers are generally liable for the actions of their employees during the scope of their work. Therefore, FedEx may be liable if its employee driver causes a crash while working. If your case goes to trial, your attorney may have to help you through a bifurcated trial. This type of trial determines liability and compensatory damages in the first phase, and it determines the employer’s punitive (exemplary) damages in the second phase.

Aside from employers, your delivery truck accident lawyer in Texas may also file a personal injury claim against:

• The independent contractor driver
• Another driver in a multi-vehicle wreck
• The vehicle manufacturer
• Construction companies in work zone accidents

Understanding who is responsible for a delivery truck accident in Texas depends on who was negligent but also who was responsible (liable) for damages. While drivers are generally responsible for negligence, there may be third parties who are wholly or partially liable for losses.

An Amazon delivery truck accident lawyer managing a case involving severe injuries will have to fully account for economic and noneconomic compensatory damages. This includes:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Property damage
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish

Delivery trucks are often larger vehicles with limited visibility, and they can easily cause severe injuries and death if not handled properly. The immediate family members of a victim who died after a delivery truck accident can file a wrongful death claim to collect compensation for damages they suffered because of the death. Your attorney can help you understand your legal options for a wrongful death or survival claim.

Contact Carabin Shaw online or call toll-free at 1-800-862-1260 to speak with an English- or Spanish-speaking staff member and schedule a free case review. We’re available 24/7. If you’re not certain about getting legal help, please read our law firm’s client reviews. At Carabin Shaw, we help our clients secure fair and full financial compensation after an auto accident.

For more information:

• Texas Statutes 621
• Texas Statutes 72
• Texas Statutes 41