What to Do If You’re Hit by a FedEx Truck in Alabama

Have you recently been hurt in a collision involving a FedEx driver? The most critical step after a FedEx accident is to seek immediate medical attention. Once you’ve seen a doctor, here’s what to do next:

• Follow your doctor’s orders closely to protect your health and legal rights.
• Write down what happened as soon as possible to preserve your memory of the crash.
• Talk to an attorney about your situation. They can advise you of your legal options.
• Don’t speak to anyone other than an attorney about the accident, especially not on social media.
• If you have photos, eyewitness contact information, or other evidence from the scene, give it to your attorney.

Are FedEx Drivers Employees of FedEx, and How Can This Affect Your Claim?

While FedEx directly employs its Express drivers, FedEx Ground subcontracts its routes to smaller, independent delivery companies. This policy allows the company to avoid liability for many crashes involving its vehicles. That’s because it’s much harder to sue a company for its contractor’s actions than it is to sue a company for its employee’s actions.

Those contractors are largely responsible for training and supervising their drivers and maintaining their fleets of vehicles. While FedEx’s self-insurance fund might pay for accidents in some circumstances, in others, liability might fall on the contractor specifically.

All that said, while suing FedEx directly after a collision is definitely a challenge, it’s not impossible – and you may have other options for recovering compensation. An Alabama FedEx truck accident attorney can investigate the accident to determine all potentially liable parties and then seek to hold them responsible for the harm they caused you.

How Can Your Lawyer Prove Liability for a FedEx Accident?

You’ll need compelling proof to support a FedEx truck accident claim. Some common types of evidence in these cases include:

• Your medical records – Your medical records serve two important purposes in a delivery truck accident case. First, they document the injuries you sustained, how long they might last, and their effects on your quality of life. Second, medical records can illustrate how the injuries happened, helping to establish liability in these cases.
• Photos and videos – Crash scene photos and videos can provide a vivid picture of how an accident happened and who’s responsible. For example, the relative positions of the vehicles after the crash can indicate the angle of impact and which vehicle caused the accident. Skid marks and other evidence from photos or videos can shed light on each driver’s actions before and during the collision.
• Surveillance footage – Footage from traffic or other surveillance cameras can show what the drivers were doing before and during a crash. If the FedEx driver ran a red light, that might show up on camera footage and implicate the driver.
• Eyewitness accounts – Testimony from witnesses can reveal crucial details about how a FedEx truck accident occurred. For instance, an eyewitness might have seen that the FedEx driver was distracted or acting erratically before the crash happened, which can help establish liability for the accident.
• The police accident reports – Police crash reports contain a wealth of information that can help you in a FedEx truck accident case. If the responding officer noticed any signs that the FedEx driver was impaired, for example, they will likely include that information in the report.
• Expert testimony – Crash reconstruction experts can use computers and evidence from the scene to recreate the precise conditions of the crash, providing a clear picture of what happened and who’s responsible for the collision.

What Types of Compensation Could You Recover in a FedEx Accident Case?

Your compensation for a FedEx truck accident can cover the losses you may have sustained, such as:

• All current and future medical expenses related to the crash – This includes all costs of medical treatment immediately following the accident. It also covers ongoing and future medical costs related to your recovery, such as surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and any necessary medical equipment.
• Your lost income while you recover from your injuries – Compensation for lost wages covers the earnings you have missed out on while unable to work as you recover, stabilizing your financial situation until you can return to work.
• Your reduced future earnings due to an injury or disability – If your injuries result in a permanent disability or long-term health issues that affect your ability to work, you may be entitled to compensation for your decreased earning capacity over your remaining working years.
• Your pain and suffering – This covers the physical pain and emotional distress you have endured because of the collision and subsequent injuries. Compensation for pain and suffering acknowledges the non-economic impact your injuries have on your daily life.
• Your lower quality of life – If your injuries prevent you from enjoying day-to-day activities or hobbies that you participated in before the accident, you may be compensated for this loss of enjoyment and alteration to your lifestyle.
• The cost to repair or replace your damaged personal property – This includes the expenses associated with fixing or replacing personal property that was damaged in the crash.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim Against FedEx for the Accident?

Alabama law gives you two years from the date of a FedEx accident to file a lawsuit. If you wait any longer to act, you will likely lose your right to compensation. We recommend you speak to a lawyer as soon as possible to avoid potential complications with your case.

Contact an Alabama FedEx Truck Accident Lawyer

FedEx accidents in Alabama can be legally complicated, but Gartlan Injury Law is up to the challenge. We’ll handle all the legal work in your case while you heal and rebuild your life – and we won’t charge you a fee unless and until we win your case. Clients say we treat them like family and “are very professional, and extremely thorough at explaining the aspects of your case.” Call us or complete our contact form for a free consultation with a FedEx accident lawyer in Alabama, and let us start asserting your rights today.

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Aaron Gartlan

Aaron Gartlan is a graduate of Troy University and the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law who focuses his practice exclusively on representing those injured by the wrongdoing of others. He is member of the National Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In addition to his legal practice, Aaron teaches Business Law as an adjunct instructor at Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business and serves as a field artillery sergeant in the Alabama National Guard.