UPS Truck Accident Statistics
Last updated Monday, September 26th, 2022
What Type of Vehicles Does UPS Have on the Road?
United Parcel Service, otherwise known as UPS, delivers packages each and every day around the country. A UPS truck is well known for its familiar brown paint with the recognizable shield-shaped gold UPS logo. UPS drivers match the trucks and wear brown uniforms with the UPS logo on their shirts. But what types of trucks are commonly driven for UPS?
Most UPS vehicles are one of these types of vehicles:
- Semi-trucks
- Vans
- Box trucks
Interestingly, UPS is very strict on the design of their package trucks. All of its delivery vehicles are custom-made to UPS specs. Once the vehicle has run its course, they are sent to scrap. UPS trucks are never resold.
Are UPS Drivers Safe?
The proper question to ask isn’t necessarily if UPS drivers are safe… it’s more are any drivers safe? The vast majority of large truck accidents are caused by driver error. UPS has strict rules that they have to follow when it comes to safety, but accidents still occur on occasion regardless.
UPS drivers spend hours in the classroom and then spend more hours in road training. They are required to complete three different safety evaluations during their first 22 days as a new driver. This is in addition to the normal licenses that they need to drive commercial vehicles issued by the DOT. They are also required to pass an evaluation drive with their supervisor every six months.
In the event of a preventable crash or collision, the driver is required to go through an additional training course, as well as disciplinary actions.
Even with the strict training program, accidents will happen. Even the best drivers make mistakes on occasion. They are human after all. The most important safety factor is as simple as this – paying attention.
Because UPS vehicles are larger than passenger vehicles, UPS drivers have an even greater responsibility to drive as safely as possible. Larger vehicles have more weight, and vehicles with more weight can cause major damage or serious injuries in an accident, or even death.
UPS Drivers and Left Turns
If you’ve ever heard that UPS drivers do not take left turns, you may be surprised to know that this is mostly true. UPS gives its drivers specific routes to follow, minimizing left turns.
Avoiding left turns helps the company from both a safety and financial point of view. Reducing left-hand turns avoids the possibility of accidents when facing oncoming traffic. In addition to avoiding oncoming traffic, left turns save millions of dollars in unnecessary gas consumption because the vehicle doesn’t have to idle while waiting to turn.
Of course, they are allowed to take left turns if necessary. But the company’s position on left-hand turning is to avoid it if at all possible.
Have You Been in an Accident With a UPS Truck?
If you’ve been involved in an accident involving a UPS delivery vehicle, we can help you through this process.
As a professional truck accident law firm, we understand how difficult it is to navigate through a situation like this. It’s difficult to know what to do and what to say. We are here to help you and offer professional guidance from experienced lawyers that have had real-world experience in dealing with these cases.
In addition to talking with an attorney, our website offers free downloadable information available to you in minutes. Our expertise is available to you in several different ways, and we are happy to point you in the right direction to allow you to do your own research.
Were You Injured in a Truck Accident? Experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers Will Get You The Compensation You Deserve.
770-577-3020 for FREE Legal Advice!
What to Do if You’ve Been in an Accident With a UPS Truck?
Accidents involving any sort of vehicle crash are scary. It’s hard to know what to do when a crash happens, so we have a few pointers to help you get through:
- Call 911 and request help.
- The most important concern when a crash happens is a concern for the people involved. Check to see if you or any passengers in your vehicle have been injured. Don’t hesitate to ask for medical help, even if you are not sure if the injuries are serious or not.
- Answer any questions by the police but keep it brief. Do not guess or offer details that were not asked of you. NEVER acknowledge fault for the accident.
- Get the driver of the UPS package vehicle’s information:
● Name and contact information
● Driver’s insurance information and contact information
● Delivery truck number
● The license plate number of the truck - Check for witnesses to the collision and try to get names and contact information for each of them. Witnesses are very important, as they may have seen things that you as a victim weren’t able to see. In the future, they may be contacted by your lawyer for information, or may even be called to court as a witness on your behalf.
- If you are able, try to take pictures of the scene. Make sure to take pictures of any vehicles involved from different angles. Be sure to photograph the license plates of all vehicles involved as well.
What are Potential Injuries From a UPS Truck Accident?
Truck accident injuries can be very serious and can range from relatively minor, like scratches and minor bruising, to life-threatening or even fatal. Any injuries to you or a passenger riding in your vehicle should be noted and checked out by a licensed physician. Being seen by a medical doctor within a few days of the accident is very important. A thorough exam is necessary to protect yourself and your body.
Keep in mind that not all injuries appear immediately after a crash. Some types of injuries, such as back/neck injuries or internal organ injuries don’t appear right away. Be sure to get additional tests after the accident if something feels off. Your intuition is your best guide when it comes to things like this. Listen carefully to what your body is trying to tell you.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to injuries involving a UPS truck.
- If injuries seem to be minor and not life-threatening, you aren’t required to immediately go to the hospital. If you are unsure, be sure to be evaluated by paramedics at the scene and tell them the problems that you are experiencing.
- If you choose to not go to the hospital right away, seeking medical attention is very important! You need to be seen by a doctor within a few days of the accident so that any injuries or potential future injuries are documented and noted.
Following up with your doctor is important for both your body and your case. The most important thing to remember is that there is only one you. You have to take care of it.
