In the last few years, the business of delivering packages has grown by leaps and bounds. According to Pitney Bowes’ Parcel Shipping Index, the number of packages shipped around the world will reach more than 200 billion by 2025. This means that delivery trucks are now a common sight in every neighborhood and shopping center in California. FedEx handles more than 15 million packages a day in the US, which means that thousands of times a day, rushed drivers cross paths with pedestrians, shoppers, cyclists, and other drivers who don’t know they’re there.
This huge increase has had an unintended effect: FedEx drop-off zones are now dangerous places where accidents happen. Trucks that are going the wrong way have hit shoppers. Cars blocking sidewalks have forced people to walk in the street. Employees at the store have been hurt in loading zones.
If you were hurt in a FedEx drop-off accident, it’s important to know what caused it, what your legal options are, and how a FedEx accident lawyer can help you get better.
Why FedEx drop-off zones are getting more and more dangerous
Statista and the World Economic Forum say that the amount of shipping in the U.S. will double by 2025. Because of this growth, FedEx has had to make ultra-fast delivery options a top priority. These include one-day and two-day shipping through services like FedEx Ground Economy and SameDay City.
These strict deadlines put a lot of stress on drivers, who often have to make 120 to 150 stops a day and only have a few seconds at each one. People are in a hurry, which makes them take dangerous shortcuts. For example, drivers double-park in fire lanes, block handicapped zones, back up without looking, or leave packages that could trip someone.
Parking lots at busy shopping centers and apartment buildings are often full and hard to see. Big FedEx trucks make it hard for people to see and make them walk around things. In California’s busy cities, delivery trucks often can’t fit on narrow streets, but drivers still have to finish their routes, even if it means putting their safety at risk.
Types of Accidents That Happen Often in FedEx Drop-Off Areas
Pedestrian Collisions in Parking Lots
Accidents in parking lots are one of the most common and dangerous situations. A shopper might not expect a FedEx truck to suddenly back up from a loading zone. The National Safety Council says that there have been a lot more accidents involving commercial vehicles in parking lots, and backup collisions are one of the most common types.
Drivers Backing Up Without Looking
There are big blind spots behind big delivery trucks, especially right behind the truck. When drivers don’t check these areas carefully enough, it can have terrible effects on pedestrians, cyclists, and parked cars. In neighborhoods, children playing, older people living there, or neighbors walking their dogs can all be easy targets.
FedEx trucks blocking streets or sidewalks
Delivery trucks often stop in places that make it hard for cars and people to get around. A FedEx truck parked on the sidewalk makes people walk on the street. When cars block crosswalks, they make it impossible to cross safely. This is especially dangerous for older people, parents with strollers, and people who have trouble moving around.
Crashes with parked cars
When FedEx trucks scrape or hit parked cars, they often damage property because they are in a hurry. Side-swipe accidents and broken bumpers happen when people turn too tightly, can’t see well, or move too quickly.
Accidents at the Loading Dock and Storefront
At shopping centers with shared loading docks, several delivery trucks are fighting for the same small amount of space. Store workers are in danger from trucks that aren’t parked properly, packages that fall, or drivers who don’t tell them where they’re going. In 2023, a FedEx truck backed into a shared loading area in Glendale, California, and hit a store worker without warning.
What Causes These Accidents to Happen
A big part of it is driver fatigue. Long shifts that last more than 8 to 10 hours become normal, especially during busy times. Drivers who are tired take longer to react and make worse decisions.
Tight quotas and time pressure make it so that speed is more important than safety. Drivers who have to make 120 to 150 stops a day don’t have much time to waste, which makes them want to take shortcuts.
Driving while distracted is still a constant danger. FedEx drivers have to use handheld scanners, GPS devices, and delivery confirmation systems at the same time while driving in areas they don’t know.
Loading and unloading incorrectly makes it hard to see. Cargo that isn’t properly secured moves around while it’s being shipped, blocking rear windows and mirrors. Drivers might leave packages in places that aren’t safe.
Illegal stopping and double-parking show how hard it is for drivers to find a place to park. Because there aren’t many legal parking spots and delivery times are short, drivers often stop in fire lanes or handicapped spaces to meet their quotas.
Not enough training or supervision makes these problems worse. FedEx Ground depends a lot on independent contractors, who may not get the same level of safety training as drivers who work for the company.
Who Is Responsible for an Accident at a FedEx Drop-Off?
It can be hard to figure out who is responsible for FedEx drop-off accidents because of complicated legal issues. More than one person may be responsible.
Drivers for FedEx
Drivers can be held responsible for careless driving, like speeding in parking lots, not giving way to pedestrians, backing up without checking, parking in an unsafe way, or driving while distracted.
FedEx Business
FedEx may be responsible for not properly training its employees and contractors, keeping its fleet in good shape, setting reasonable delivery goals, providing enough supervision, or addressing known safety issues. Proof of unreasonable delivery schedules or poor driver training can make the company responsible.
The Problem with Independent Contractors
FedEx Ground extensively uses independent contractors rather than employees. This difference has an effect on insurance coverage and liability. The important case Alexander v. FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. looked into problems with misclassifying workers under California law. A knowledgeable FedEx accident lawyer can sort through these issues and find all the people who might be responsible.
Third Parties
If the parking lot was poorly designed, poorly lit, or poorly maintained, the property owners may be to blame for the accident. California’s system of comparative negligence lets victims get money back even if more than one person is at fault.
Common Injuries in These Accidents
Most of the time, pedestrian knockdowns cause the worst injuries. When a delivery truck weighing several tons hits a person, they often break bones, hurt their spine, damage their brain, and hurt their internal organs.
Cyclists are also at high risk of getting hurt badly. Concussions, broken bones, road rash, and internal injuries often need a lot of medical care.
Parking-lot collisions can cause whiplash, shoulder, and back injuries that may need physical therapy or surgery.
Slips, trips, and falls caused by packages left in walkways can hurt your knees, ankles, and hips (which is especially bad for older people). According to research from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, almost 20% of pedestrian injuries treated in emergency rooms are caused by low-speed vehicle crashes in delivery zones.
What to Do After an Accident with FedEx
The steps you take right after a FedEx drop-off accident can have a big effect on your chances of getting paid:
✅ Get medical help right away. Some serious conditions don’t show symptoms right away, even if the injuries seem small.
✅ Take a lot of pictures of the scene. Get pictures of the FedEx truck from different angles, including the license plate and truck number. Take pictures of the exact spot, where the package was placed, traffic signs, and any injuries that were visible.
✅ Get information about the driver. Find out the FedEx driver’s name, ID number, driver’s license number, and vehicle identification number.
✅ Get witness statements. Get the names and contact information of all the witnesses. If you can, get permission to record short statements.
✅ Tell the police. Even if the accident seems small, you should still file a police report. If you’re on private property, let the property manager know.
✅ Call a FedEx accident lawyer before you talk to your insurance company. FedEx and its insurance companies will try to get you to make recorded statements or take quick settlement offers that don’t fully cover your claim.
How a FedEx accident lawyer can help
A good FedEx accident lawyer looks into the driver’s history, gets their employment records, looks at maintenance logs, and gets GPS data that shows the driver’s route and timing. This can show that the drivers were in a hurry.
Your lawyer shows that the driver was careless by writing down dangerous parking, rushed delivery times, and the wrong placement of the truck. They find out if the driver worked for FedEx or was an independent contractor and what insurance policies apply.
When you have to deal with insurance companies, having a lawyer is the most helpful. Adjusters use smart strategies to cut down on payouts. Your lawyer talks to the other side and negotiates from a strong position.
For example, a grocery store customer who was hit in a parking lot was offered $15,000. After talking to a lawyer, the GPS data showed that the driver was 45 minutes late. The lawyer was able to get a six-figure settlement with this proof.
Payments You Might Be Able to Get
People who were hurt in a FedEx drop-off accident may be able to get full compensation:
- Medical expenses: Emergency room visits, surgeries, doctor visits, medications, medical equipment, and future medical needs
- Lost income: Wages lost while recovering, sick leave used, lost bonuses, and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation: Ongoing treatment costs
- Property damage: Repair or replacement of damaged belongings
- Long-term disability: Permanent impairment, inability to return to work, lifetime medical care needs
California law lets victims get full compensation for all of these types of losses. An experienced lawyer makes sure that every loss is counted and valued correctly.
Learning about California law in FedEx accident cases
In California, negligence law says you have to show that the defendant owed you a duty of care, broke that duty, their breach caused your injuries, and you suffered damages. Section 1714 of the California Civil Code says that everyone must take reasonable care.
Premises liability might apply if the state of the property led to your accident. Property owners must keep things in a way that is reasonably safe.
According to California Vehicle Code Section 21950(a), drivers must give way to pedestrians in crosswalks.
Time limit: Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, you usually have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Questions that are often asked
Is it possible to sue FedEx if a driver hit me while they were delivering a package?
You can file a claim against FedEx and/or the driver. Whether or not you can sue FedEx directly depends on whether the driver was an employee or an independent contractor, whether FedEx’s policies played a role, and what kind of insurance applies.
What if the driver for FedEx was an independent contractor?
Your claim is harder to prove because you are an independent contractor. California law looks at the real working relationship. Even if contractors are classified correctly and have insurance, FedEx may still be responsible.
What if I got hurt in a store parking lot while a FedEx delivery was going on?
The FedEx driver, the company, and the property owner may all be responsible. Your lawyer will look at all the options to get you the most money.
Will insurance pay my claim, or do I need a lawyer?
Even though it’s not required by law, hiring a lawyer greatly increases your chances of getting better. Studies show that victims who hire lawyers get a lot more money back, even after paying for their lawyers.
How long do I have to make a claim after a FedEx accident?
In California, you usually have two years from the date of the accident. But you should start right away because evidence disappears and witnesses become harder to find.
What if the FedEx driver left before I could get their contact information?
Write down any identifying information you can find. Using FedEx’s records of which drivers were in which areas, an attorney can use investigative tools to find the driver who was at fault.
When to Get in Touch with a FedEx Accident Lawyer
If you were hit by a FedEx truck, if a truck’s bad positioning caused a crash, if FedEx denies responsibility, or if you get low settlement offers, you should call a FedEx accident lawyer right away. If you have serious injuries that need surgery or long-term care, you should always get legal help.
Get in touch with a FedEx truck accident lawyer at Big Ben Lawyers
You don’t have to deal with this problem alone if you’ve been hurt in a FedEx drop-off accident. We at Big Ben Lawyers know how hard these accidents are on the victims and their families. We look into things very carefully, collecting GPS data, maintenance records, and statements from witnesses. We talk to FedEx and their insurance companies for you, so you don’t have to deal with tactics that could hurt your claim.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t have to pay us anything unless we get you money. We will look over your case for free and talk about your accident and your rights.
Don’t let FedEx or their insurance company take advantage of you. Call Big Ben Lawyers right now to set up a free meeting with a lawyer who has worked on FedEx truck accident cases before. We’re here for you all the time. You can call us now or go to our FedEx Truck Accident Lawyer service page.
We care most about your recovery. While you focus on getting better and rebuilding your life, let us fight for the justice and money you deserve.