Delivery drivers often speed through neighborhoods as they try to make all of their deliveries on time. Their drivers are supposed to be trained in safety, but accidents still happen. If you've been injured, there are a few places you might look to recover.
The Receiver
If you're located near where the delivery was supposed to be made, you might be most familiar with the receiver of the delivery. This might be a neighbor's home or a local business. However, in most cases, the receiver of the delivery has nothing to do with a delivery truck accident, since the delivery usually comes through a separate company.
The exception is if the receiver knows of an ongoing safety problem and doesn't do anything to correct it. One example is a homeowner who gets frequent deliveries and never acts on neighbors' complaints that the delivery driver keeps recklessly speeding through the neighborhood until an accident happens. Another is if a business ignores several near misses from delivery drivers as they navigate onto the property. These types of claims could fall under negligent hiring or supervision.
The Shipper
Like the receiver, the shipper is usually separate from the delivery company. In that case, it's the same as a receiver. The shipper usually won't be responsible unless they're aware of a safety problem, but keep sending the same delivery truck company without taking any corrective action.
The Delivery Company
The most likely source to recover for a truck accident is the delivery truck company. They have direct responsibility for the condition of their trucks and for the safety practices of the drivers. The most important thing to do is to properly identify who owns and operates the delivery truck service. For example, a truck may be painted with the branding of its client but still be an independent service. The delivery company's name may also be similar to its customer, but legally different.
To identify the right company, you should review the police report and insurance paperwork carefully. While it's sometimes a smart legal idea to include the receiver or shipper in your claim even if you aren't sure if they'll be found responsible, you don't want to leave out the truck company as you could then lose your right to sue. Your attorney can help you identify the appropriate parties to name in your truck accident claim.
To learn more about who you can recover from in a delivery truck accident, contact a local truck accident attorney today.
