What Happens If I Am Injured by an Uninsured Driver?

Sep 02, 2023

People order so many items online that we often take the delivery process for that package for granted. Although something could be ordered through our phone or laptop, delivery trucks are still needed to get that package to our doorstep. It should come as no surprise that there have been more car accidents involving delivery trucks and mail carriers over the last decade or so.

The White Plains, NY car accident attorneys at Worby Vecchio Edelman, LLP take into account the increase in delivery truck accidents over the years. Let’s consider why they happen and who is legally responsible after an accident.

Statistics on Delivery Vehicles and Packages Having some statistics on delivery vehicles and package volumes will help you understand why these types of accidents are so common.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) delivered more than 146 billion pieces of mail in 2018; of that number, 6.2 billion were packages. During that year, the USPS had a fleet of 232,372 delivery vehicles traveling 231,843 lanes of different delivery routes.

The Automotive Fleet publication published some interesting statistics about United Parcel Service (UPS). UPS had more than 119,000 delivery vehicles in 2017, and an average of about 8.95 accidents per 100,000 driving hours.

There may have several options to have your damages taken care of, including filing a claim with your own insurance company, filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver or filing a claim with Canada’s public fund established for this purpose. Since this process is often complex, it is often best to consult with a knowledgeable lawyer.

Filing a Claim Against an Uninsured Driver

If an uninsured driver hits you, you may be able to file a claim against him or her for the damages that you sustained. You may need to use this option if the amount of your damages exceeds the amount of your uninsured motorist coverage.

What to Do After an Uninsured Driver Hits You

If an uninsured driver hits you, try to stay calm. Then, do the following:

Call the police so that they can investigate the accident, possibly give a citation to the other driver and find out his or her contact information.
Seek immediate medical attention if you are injured.
Use your phone to record or photograph the accident scene. Document the damage to both vehicles, your injuries, the vehicle’s identifying information and different angles of the accident scene.
Contact your insurance company and begin the claims process.
Contact a personal injury lawyer who is experienced in handling uninsured motorist claims.