Delivery Vehicle Accidents in Mississippi

With the advent of services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub, there are more delivery drivers on the road than ever before. Unfortunately, this has led to a surge in preventable delivery vehicle accidents. While these services do screen their drivers to avoid hiring unsafe drivers, that isn’t enough to keep reckless drivers off the road.

Learn more about why delivery accidents are so common in Mississippi—and if you need help with your personal injury claim, call Gardner Law Group at 228-436-6555 to set up a consultation.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is an issue that plagues drivers of all ages and backgrounds—so it makes sense that delivery drivers aren’t spared. In fact, delivery drivers have additional distractions that personal drivers do not have to worry about. In addition to the lure of text messages, food, and drink, delivery drivers are also trying to do their job. That may mean checking their GPS for directions when delivering in an unfamiliar area, accepting another delivery job when it pops up on their app, or trying to adjust to closed roads not marked on their GPS. Looking away from the road for even a second can cause a crash, and the average delivery driver looks away for much longer.

Overworked and Fatigued Drivers

There’s no shortage of delivery tasks, but there is a shortage of delivery drivers across many companies. This doesn’t apply as much to independent contractors for Grubhub and other delivery services; since they can choose which tasks they take, they have the option to take on only as much work as they can handle. But drivers for Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and other services are often on incredibly tight timelines.

This problem gets worse near the holidays when people send an unprecedented number of packages across the country. Drivers may have to skip breaks and restroom stops to have a chance at hitting their deadline. This often leads to speeding and dangerous shortcuts that put others in danger.

While this may be less common among independent contractors, it does still happen. These drivers generally rely on tips for the majority of their income and taking “too long” by a customer’s standards can result in loss of income.

Not only are overworked drivers more prone to speeding, but they also suffer cognitive effects that can make them more likely to cause an accident. Fatigued drivers are more likely to make bad decisions, less likely to react in time when presented with an obstacle, and often suffer from vision issues caused by their fatigue. When you pile this on day after day, as is the case in the holiday season, the effects get increasingly worse.

Speeding and Other Reckless Behaviors

Delivery drivers make the exact same errors that personal drivers make—driving for a living doesn’t make them immune to speeding, forgetting to use their turn signal, or rolling through stop signs. However, because they spend so much time on the road, these reckless driving errors happen more frequently. At some point, an accident is basically inevitable.

Additionally, delivery drivers are at risk of becoming complacent. If they go an extended period without an accident or near-miss, they may begin to feel invincible. While the same thing can happen to regular drivers, it’s very prevalent among those who drive for a living. When you feel like an accident cannot happen to you, it’s all too easy to make unsafe choices and put others in danger.

Unfortunately, those injured in a delivery vehicle accident often struggle to get the compensation they deserve. Delivery drivers are generally covered by their company’s insurance policy and not their own, and large companies often fight hard against accident claims. This protects their profit margins but leaves victims in the lurch. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced car accident lawyer in Biloxi after a crash.

Injured in an Accident with a Delivery Driver? Call Gardner Law Group

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a delivery vehicle accident, don’t wait too long to find out if you have a valid personal injury claim. Let the team at Gardner Law Group support you throughout this process. Reach out online or call us at 228-436-6555 to schedule a consultation now.