Based in Richmond, Virginia, UPS Freight is a division of the United Postal Service (UPS). UPS Freight provides customers with reliable service and ships to and from all 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, and Canada. UPS Freight provides customers with regional, inter-regional, and long-haul freight services, all with one pickup. The shipping company provides less than truckload (LTL) transportation services internationally. In January of 2021, UPS sold its freight division to its rival, TFI International, for $800 million. The company’s leaders stated that they want to focus more on their domestic trucking market and to moving smaller packages.
What to do if you are in a UPS Truck AccidentIf you have been involved in a truck accident in North Carolina involving a UPS freight truck, you may have concerns about how you will pay for all your medical bills. Accidents involving large vehicles, such as UPS Freight Vehicles, tend to cause more severe injuries and damages than other accidents. The size of the UPS truck makes it more vulnerable to flipping over and crushing smaller vehicles.
If you have been involved in a traffic accident, the best thing you can do is obtain the medical care you need to recover from your injuries. Listen to the paramedics who arrive at the scene of the accident. If they suggest that you go to the emergency room, you should do so. Not only will you receive treatment immediately, but you will also be able to protect your legal case by showing you have been injured due to the truck accident.
If you do not go to the emergency room, we recommend undergoing a comprehensive medical evaluation with your regular primary care doctor. Please do not hold back when it comes to discussing your symptoms and injuries. You may begin to feel more pain after the accident due to adrenaline and shock wearing off. If you are more injured than you anticipated, make an appointment with your doctor as quickly as possible to discuss your condition. Documenting your injuries and following your doctor’s orders will help you as you seek compensation for your injuries.
Common Causes of UPS Freight AccidentsTransporting goods and products using highways and freeways is a dangerous occupation. Catastrophic accidents involving 18-wheelers and big rigs are typically the most dangerous for private motorists in passenger vehicles. If you have been injured in a truck accident involving a UPS driver, you are not alone. UPS truck drivers have been involved in over 2,500 truck accidents in the last two years, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). There are many causes of truck accidents in the United States.
Distracted DrivingAs with most car accidents, distracted driving is a common cause of truck accidents. Distracted driving happens in many different ways. Truck drivers may use technology, such as texting, talking on the phone, or watching videos while driving. Drivers can zone out because of fatigue or lack of focus, taking their minds off the road. In other cases, drivers are distracted by eating or drinking. A vehicle only takes five seconds to travel the length of two football fields when a driver is going 55 miles per hour. When a big rig truck driver texts or looks down for five seconds, they could cause a devastating multi-vehicle accident.
Driving While Under the InfluenceCommercial truck drivers are required to obtain a commercial driver's license before operating a semi-truck or tractor-trailer in North Carolina. Under North Carolina law, drivers who use drugs, stimulants or are intoxicated can lose their commercial driver's license. Every year, truck drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol cause devastating and fatal accidents. Recent studies have shown that many truck drivers use illegal substances, such as stimulants and uppers, to try to stay awake on the road.
Despite the legal requirement that they take breaks to rest, many truck drivers ignore the rules so they can complete jobs on schedule and make more money. Stimulants and alcohol are dangerous because they cause truck drivers to make poor decisions and fail to drive safely.
Discuss Your Case with a Charlotte Personal Injury LawyerIf you or your loved one has been injured in a serious truck accident involving a UPS Freight driver, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. Contact the personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, today at 704.370.2828 to schedule your free initial consultation.