In recent years, delivery van traffic on our city and neighborhood streets has increased significantly. Online shopping and e-commerce expansions, like the addition of Amazon facilities in Pasco and Pullman, have seen the frequency of deliveries in both city and rural settings explode, along with increased risks for accidents between vans, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists.

More large vans moving along busy city streets and narrow neighborhood corridors means more opportunities for car crashes at intersections, on tight residential streets, and in loading zones. Risky behaviors, including distraction and speed, may be more common when drivers are balancing a tight delivery schedule. This places everyone on the road at increased risk for injury. When you are harmed in a delivery van accident in Washington, having an experienced and local legal team helps to ensure you are treated fairly as you seek the full compensation you are due.

What Causes Delivery Van Accidents in Washington?

Delivery vans are larger than passenger cars, can have significant blind spots, and are often running on tight schedules. Combine those factors with human error, and you have the perfect recipe for disaster.

Among the top causes of delivery van accidents in Washington are:

Speeding and following too closely. Going too fast for conditions and tailgating both impact stopping distance and ability. Due to the weight of a loaded delivery van, this can turn a minor infraction into a major crash. Washington’s Traffic Safety Commission cites speed as a factor in over 30% of all fatal crashes in our state.
Distraction. From route apps, texts from dispatch, and navigation pings to non-work distractions like music selection and eating on the road, delivery drivers can face excessive attention drain. Washington is among the worst states in the nation for distracted driving.
Failure to yield in neighborhoods. Left turns across traffic and quick stops at driveways and curbs are common causes of delivery van accidents around schools, in apartment communities, and near dense retail. These factors can also cause crashes in smaller and more isolated neighborhoods.
Fatigue and unrealistic schedules. Tired drivers make mistakes. Although delivery vans don’t typically require a CDL or fall under the regulations of the FMCSA, maintaining a realistic schedule, complete with sufficient breaks, is essential for preventing accidents. Drowsy driving can be fatal.
Improper loading/overweight vans. Overloaded or poorly secured cargo affects handling and braking. Hard stops and swerving can also send loose packages flying, increasing the risk of an accident.

Delivery van accidents can result in serious injury, including brain and spinal cord damage. If you have been injured or a loved one has been injured or killed in a delivery van accident in Washington, Fuller & Fuller is here to help you pursue justice through swift legal action.

Contact a Washington Delivery Van Accident Lawyer for FREE

If you have been injured by a delivery van in Tacoma, Olympia, or anywhere in Washington, call Fuller & Fuller at 800-570-4878 to schedule a FREE and confidential consultation today. We have been fighting for victims of serious injury in Washington for more than 50 years. We can help you understand your options and rights, and assist you in determining how best to move forward with your case.

Liability for Delivery Van Accidents in Washington

When you are injured in a delivery van accident, there might be several people who share liability. Some of these people may have been miles away from the crash. This can add layers of complexity to these already complex cases.

Parties that may share liability in a delivery van crash include:

The driver for things like speeding, distraction, impairment, and failure to yield.
The driver’s employer for issues including unrealistic scheduling, forced skipped breaks, or poor fleet maintenance.
A contracting company (Delivery Service Partner), also known as DPSs, are local delivery contractors used by large corporations like Amazon. DPSs dictate routes, safety rules, performance metrics, and vehicle standards similar to an employer.
A rental or leasing company for negligent maintenance or improper rental. Large corporations have used delivery vans from Budget, Penske, Ryder, and more.
Third parties, such as shippers or warehouse workers, road contractors, and negligent property owners who increase risks.

In some cases, the injured driver may also have played a role in an accident. Because Washington is a comparative fault state, you can still pursue damages if you played a role in your accident with a delivery van. Your recovery will be reduced, however, by your percentage of fault.

Establishing liability is not always an easy task, especially when commercial carriers are involved. During your FREE case review with one of the accident and injury law specialists at Fuller & Fuller, we will listen to your story, discuss how liability is established, and help you determine how to move forward with your claim.

How Is Fault Determined in a Delivery Van Accident?

There are a number of ways the attorneys at Fuller & Fuller may work to identify who can be held liable for an accident with a delivery van. These include:

Reviewing evidence from phones, dash cams, traffic cameras, nearby businesses, residential doorbell cameras, and witnesses to the crash.
Reviewing 911 Audio and CAD logs to analyze what happened in the moments after the crash.
Inspecting impacted vehicle data, such as telematics, GPS information, and route devices.
Looking over company and driver files for hiring practices, training, license status, prior incidents, route assignments, and more.
Analyzing maintenance and loading logs to make sure the van was safe to operate and cargo was properly secured.
Reviewing DPS workflow, including safety rules, dispatch, route pacing, and device policies.

FMCSA HOS rules may apply as well. These limit how often and how long a commercial driver can operate a large vehicle without a break. HOS rules are often violated when drivers are forced to meet unrealistic delivery schedules.

Injured in a Delivery Van Accident? Fuller & Fuller Is Here to Help

When you are involved in a delivery van accident in Washington, you deserve a law firm that will stand by your side and fight for your rights. Fuller & Fuller is a family-run law firm serving Olympia, Tacoma, and communities statewide since 1972. We understand that an injury is more than hospital bills and missed work. We are here to listen to your story, personalize your losses, and fight for compensation that addresses all of the ways your injury has, and may continue to impact your life.

Marya Fuller and John Mango are experienced, dedicated, and proven trial attorneys who build strong cases and fight hard against powerful corporations to help victims of serious injury get justice. We treat you like family isn’t a slogan, it’s how we’ve practiced for 50+ years, and a continuing commitment to making sure our clients are informed and protected as we seek every penny they are due. When you need help after a crash with a delivery van, we’re here to listen, support, and pursue maximum compensation.

Talk to a Washington Delivery Van Accident Injury Attorney for FREE

To schedule your FREE consultation with one of the delivery van accident attorneys at Fuller & Fuller, contact us online or call our Olympia or Tacoma office right away. We serve victims of serious injury in Puyallup, Kent, Tumwater, Parkland, and throughout Washington.