There has been a significant increase in delivery services over recent years in Tampa, Florida. As the popularity of online shopping and food delivery continues to rise, so do the numbers of delivery driver accidents. These accidents can lead to serious injuries and even fatalities for both the drivers and other motorists on the road.
When you or your loved ones become an innocent victim of a delivery driver accident, you need to make sure to get the help you need to achieve compensation that you deserve. Our personal injury lawyers and experienced Tampa delivery driver accident attorneys have been successfully filing and handling truck accident claims for years. Therefore, we can help you achieve compensation for your case, if you have been involved in a delivery driver accident in the city of Tampa or the surrounding areas.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Delivery Driver Accidents in Hillsborough County?
There are countless reasons and causes for an auto accident to happen. However, delivery drivers are prone to causing an auto accident for a few very logical reasons that could be avoided if taken into consideration beforehand.
Here is a list of the most common reasons why a delivery driver accident may occur in the Tampa Bay Area:
- Exhaustion – delivery drivers usually spend many hours behind the wheel. It is common to not adhere to scheduled delivery time estimates due to traffic, unpredicted obstacles and many other reasons. The consequence can result in the driver being less alert causing auto accidents. Tampa delivery driver accident attorneys do find this to be the number one causing factor of a delivery related auto accident.
- Distraction – delivery drivers are easily distracted and most of these distractions are work-related. Receiving work related phone calls and messages, following gps or reading map directions is an extremely common cause for delivery driver accidents in the Tampa Bay Area.
- Lack of training – many delivery companies in Tampa, Florida do not require a driver of a truck to have a special driving license. A standard license is enough where it should not be.
- Poor delivery vehicle maintenance – there are many companies in the Tampa area that do pay very little attention to their equipment. Poor truck or other delivery vehicle maintenance can be very dangerous and may be one of the causes for the crash to happen in Hillsborough County.
- Uneven loading or overloading the delivery vehicle – sometimes during the investigation process of a claim, a personal injury lawyer or tampa delivery driver accident attorney will discover that uneven distribution of the cargo on a truck caused an accident. The regulations for proper cargo loading are not very clear or strict and sometimes companies do not pay too much attention while loading delivery trucks. This is extremely dangerous not only for others on the road, but a delivery driver himself.
Exhaustion and distraction are the top two causes of delivery driver accidents in Tampa, Florida. However, we all know there are so many other reasons. No matter the cause, the consequences of a delivery driver accident are usually very sad. If you or your family has been involved in a delivery driver accident in Tampa and the surrounding areas, do not hesitate to contact a Tampa personal injury lawyer today.
How Common Are Delivery Driver Accidents in Tampa, Florida?
Tampa, located in Hillsborough County, is a bustling city known for its beautiful beaches, diverse culture, and iconic landmarks such as the Tampa Bay Times Forum and the Tampa Riverwalk. Unfortunately, it is also known for its high number of devastating car and truck accidents on I-4 and I-75 heading in and out of Tampa Bay, including those involving delivery drivers.
According to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were over 28,000 crashes in Hillsborough County in 2022 alone. Of those crashes, more than 19,000 resulted in injuries and 227 were fatal. In 2023 there were over 5,500 accidents reported in the Tampa Bay Area. Nearly 4,000 of those resulted in injuries and 37 were fatal. While not all of these accidents involved delivery drivers, it is clear that the roads in Tampa can be dangerous.
Delivery drivers are often under pressure to make timely deliveries and may engage in reckless driving behaviors such as speeding or running red lights in order to meet their deadlines. Additionally, these drivers may be distracted by their GPS devices or by trying to read delivery instructions while driving. All of these factors do contribute to the high car and truck accident numbers in the Tampa Bay Area.
How Common Are Fatal Accidents in Hillsborough County, Florida?
While fatal accidents can happen in a small motor vehicle crash, a truck, being a large vehicle by design, can cause way more serious damage which include, fatalities. Every city and state has notorious ‘crash areas’, such as Himes Avenue North and Waters Avenue in Tampa. Every delivery truck accident attorney is very familiar with this deadly intersection.
Intersections are not the only places for accidents to happen. More serious and devastating car or delivery truck accidents do happen on highways. Tampa delivery driver accident attorneys are very accustomed to the stretch of I-75 that runs through Hillsborough County as it is considered, based on statistics, one of the deadliest in the nation.
After Texas and California, Florida takes third place in the number of truck accident fatalities. More than 10% of all accidents in the state of Florida involve commercial trucks and semi-trucks. Most of those are delivery trucks.
Florida fatal crash statistics 2022:
- Fatal crashes – 3232
- Fatalities from fatal crashes – 3475
- Injuries from fatal crashes – 2235
Hillsborough County fatal crash statistics 2022:
- Fatal crashes – 218
- Fatalities from fatal crashes – 227
- Injuries from fatal crashes – 153
Steps to Take When You Have Been Involved in a Delivery Driver Accident.
If you have been involved in a delivery driver accident in Hillsborough County, it is important to seek medical attention right away, even if you feel fine. Some injuries, such as whiplash, may not show symptoms until days or even weeks after the accident. It is also important to document the accident as thoroughly as possible, including taking photos of the scene, getting contact information from any witnesses, and obtaining a copy of the police report.
Once you have taken care of your medical needs and documented the accident, your next step should be to contact a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer. A skilled Tampa delivery driver accident attorney can help you navigate the complex legal system and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries, lost wages, and other damages.
In addition to helping you navigate the legal system, a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer can also provide valuable resources and support during this difficult time. They can connect you with medical providers, help you negotiate with insurance companies, and provide emotional support as you recover from your injuries.
When choosing a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer, it is important to look for someone with experience handling delivery driver accident cases. Our Tampa delivery driver accident attorneys have a track record of success in obtaining fair settlements or verdicts for our clients.
How to Avoid Delivery Driver Related Accidents and Injuries?
While delivery driver accidents can happen anywhere, some places are more susceptible to accidents than others. If your job or life requires you to commute on a major I-4 or I-75 Highway stretch in Tampa Bay or any other known ‘deadly zone’ of Hillsborough County, please drive with caution. Keeping in mind that delivery drivers do have a tendency to work long hours and operate on tight schedules, it is important to use extreme safety while sharing the road:
- Avoid being in the truck’s blind spot.
- Always keep a safe distance from trucks.
- Be vigilant while passing or approaching a delivery truck.
Remember, that if you or your loved ones do get involved in a delivery truck accident, you can immediately contact a Tampa delivery driver accident attorney or Tampa personal injury lawyer, who will act on your behalf to deal with all legal and personal support that you will need.
Contact a Tampa Delivery Driver Accident Attorney Today.
If you have been involved in a delivery driver accident in Tampa or the surrounding areas, don’t wait to seek legal help. Contact a Tampa personal injury lawyer or Tampa delivery driver accident attorney today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your rights and options. With years of experience, we are here to serve your best interests.
