Whether it’s a FedEx truck, an Amazon van, or a food delivery car, accidents involving Delivery Vehicles or Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs) are happening more often than ever. These collisions can cause devastating injuries, emotional trauma, and unexpected financial strain. If a negligent delivery driver has hurt you, you may be entitled to compensation, and you need an experienced delivery vehicle accident lawyer in Gainesville, GA.
At Lazenby Law Group, we provide personalized legal representation for those injured in delivery vehicle crashes. With more than $150 million in verdicts and settlements recovered, attorney Shane Lazenby brings unmatched courtroom experience and deep compassion to every case. We’re here to help you move forward—not just legally, but personally.
United States Code § 31132 found in Title 49 defines the most typical types of CMVs. A vehicle that is over 10,001 pounds, designed to transport 16+ people, or designed to transport specific hazardous materials all fall into the category of CMVs. You may see these types of CMVs regularly in your area:
Delivery vehicles or CMVs can be any of a wide variety of vehicles. Typically, they are vehicles that are used by a business for the transportation of goods or passengers. Their size and cargo often make them significantly more dangerous in a wreck, even at low speeds. A passenger vehicle is likely to suffer severe damage in a collision with a CMV. Cyclists and pedestrians are in even more extreme danger.
Delivery drivers are often under pressure to meet tight schedules, which can lead to careless or even reckless behavior behind the wheel. When a delivery driver is distracted, fatigued, speeding, or unfamiliar with an area, the consequences can be life-changing for others on the road.
Unlike typical car accidents, delivery vehicle crashes can involve large companies, third-party contractors, and complex insurance policies. That’s why it’s so important to contact a Georgia or Gainesville delivery vehicle accident lawyer in as soon as possible. We know how to uncover the facts, identify liable parties, and pursue full and fair compensation on your behalf.
The visible delivery vehicles on our streets are often clearly marked vans or trucks displaying their company branding. However, just knowing that you were in a collision with an Amazon or Fedex vehicle doesn’t necessarily mean that the parent company is required to insure the driver or vehicle. There are two possible scenarios for most marked delivery vehicles: either the driver is a direct employee of the delivery company, or the driver may be employed by an independent delivery company that is contracted to do deliveries for the parent company.
If the driver is a direct employee, their employer will likely be covered by a sizeable insurance policy. Most UPS drivers are direct employees of UPS, which means that if they are involved in an accident that UPS’s insurance would cover any damages incurred while their employee is on the job.
If the driver is employed by a delivery partner, the situation is often markedly different. Amazon often works with smaller, local delivery companies instead of employing each driver themselves. In this situation, negligence by the delivery driver would be covered by the insurance policy held by the local delivery company. In many cases, these policies are significantly lower than the type of policy held by an online giant like Amazon.
Delivery services like DoorDash, UberEATS, Skip the Dishes, Grubhub, Instacart, and Shipt have exploded since early 2020, when large sectors of society were suddenly encouraged or required to stay home due to the spreading COVID virus. Nearly three years later, much of society has returned to their normal routines, but meal and grocery delivery has remained extremely popular across the United States.
Drivers for these companies are independent contractors, which means they are typically not covered by the companies that contract them. UberEATS and DoorDash are the exceptions to this rule as they provide up to $1 million in coverage per accident, but other companies require each driver to maintain their own insurance policies. However, most personal insurance policies do not cover accidents that occur while the driver is using the vehicle for commercial purposes. If the driver did not add a rider covering their delivery work, they are likely to be uninsured in case of an accident.
Our firm handles a wide range of delivery-related accident cases in Gainesville and surrounding areas. Some of the most common include:
Whether the driver worked for a large company or was an independent contractor, we’ll help you determine who is responsible and what steps to take next.
Typically, cases against the driver of a CMV are based on a charge of negligence in some regard. Because of the increased danger associated with CMVs, there are increased regulations and insurance requirements for vehicles and their drivers.
Drivers are typically at work when behind the wheel, which can mean pressure from the company to complete deliveries or routes by a specific deadline. This can easily lead to drivers being overly fatigued, driving while distracted, continuing to drive through dangerously inclement weather, and failing to maintain their vehicles properly. Should the entity owning and using the CMV in your wreck have been negligent in causing a collision, we will prove them liable for your damages, harms, and losses.
Occasionally, the evidence uncovered during our investigation may lead us to the conclusion the company made decisions equating to conduct occurring in bad faith. Whether they omitted important medical information which may have disqualified them from operating a CMV or did not take reasonable steps to avoid a collision when there was time and opportunity to do so, a driver can be found to be operating in bad faith.
In some cases, the company employing a CMV driver will be at fault since the employer will be held liable for the actions of their employee while they are working. For instance, a trucking company may encourage its drivers to violate regulations or even allow them to operate a CMV without the required licensing. In these cases, the company may be liable for damages caused by its driver.
A serious delivery vehicle accident can leave you dealing with far more than just car damage. You may be facing mounting medical bills, lost income, and a long road to recovery. Our team will pursue compensation for:
While the damages that may be recoverable in your case will be specific to the accident, your injuries, and the applicable laws, it is common to seek reparations for the following damages:
As a trusted personal injury attorney in Gainesville, GA, we will help you assess your harms and losses and assign a valuation that will appropriately compensate you for the losses you and your family may have suffered.
At Lazenby Law Group, we treat every client like a person—not a case file. We know that after a traumatic accident, you’re looking for answers, guidance, and someone who will stand up for your rights. That’s exactly what we deliver.
Attorney Shane Lazenby is a former insurance defense lawyer who now uses that insider knowledge to help victims of negligence. He’s known for both compassionate client care and aggressive advocacy in the courtroom.
Here’s what you can expect when you hire us:
If you are injured in a collision with a delivery vehicle, it is often extremely difficult to get appropriate compensation without legal representation. A delivery vehicle attorney can immediately work on documenting the scene, collecting evidence, gathering expert testimony, and compiling evidence of your injuries and losses due to the accident.
Time is of the essence when preserving evidence and meeting legal deadlines, so don’t delay. Contact us for a free consultation on your case, and we will respond within 24 hours of your inquiry.
A major collision can leave you mentally and emotionally overwhelmed, unable to provide for your family, and facing the consequences of your injuries for decades to come. If you have been involved in a wreck involving a CMV, you can rest easy knowing that your case is safe in our hands.
Lazenby Law Group is here to help. If you have been involved in a wreck involving a CMV, contact us today and we will reach out immediately to begin the process of seeking justice for you and your family.
