Who’s Responsible When You're Injured in a Delivery Van Accident?
Delivery trucks are everywhere on our roads. With the rise of online shopping and fast shipping, drivers are rushing to meet deadlines and manage tight schedules. Unfortunately, this urgency often leads to collisions that can leave people seriously hurt.
A delivery van accident can cause injuries ranging from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries, and determining who’s responsible can be far from straightforward. At Schefman & Associates, PC, we’ve helped many clients through the aftermath of these complicated crashes. Our Bloomfield, MI commercial vehicle accident lawyers know how quickly confusion and frustration set in after an accident.
Questions about liability, insurance coverage, and medical bills can feel overwhelming, especially when multiple parties, such as delivery companies, drivers, and contractors, may share responsibility. We work closely with victims to identify who’s at fault, handle insurance negotiations, and pursue justice and recovery. Call today for a consultation.
Determining Responsibility After a Delivery Van Accident
Determining the proper liable party in a delivery van accident depends on several factors, including employment relationships, ownership of the vehicle, and whether the company's safety regulations or state laws were violated. Because delivery services use a mix of company-owned vehicles, leased trucks, and independently contracted drivers, determining the correct liable party is not always straightforward. There are generally three main targets:
The delivery driver: If the driver acted carelessly—speeding, texting, or running a red light—they may be personally liable for the crash.
The delivery company: When the driver is an employee or contracted vendor, the company can typically be held accountable.
Third parties: Maintenance providers, other motorists, or even manufacturers of defective parts may share fault.
When more than one party may be responsible, our firm works to uncover every contributing factor to confirm accountability. That process often involves reviewing delivery schedules, driver logs, and company safety policies.
Common Causes of Delivery Van Accidents
Delivery vehicles are large, frequently operated under time pressure, and often travel through congested neighborhoods early in the morning and even late at night, relying on mapping software that forces the driver to look away at a small screen. Each of these factors increases the likelihood of an accident. Frequent causes of delivery van crashes include:
Driver fatigue: Long shifts with few breaks can impair reaction time and focus.
Distracted driving: GPS use, texting, or scanning addresses can take attention off the road.
Poor maintenance: Worn brakes, low tire pressure, or faulty lights make collisions more likely.
Improper loading: Overloaded or unbalanced cargo can cause rollovers or loss of control.
Aggressive driving: Delivery deadlines sometimes encourage risky behavior, like tailgating or unsafe lane changes.
Understanding how these cause accidents helps us piece together the events leading to a crash and determine whether negligence was involved and who might be liable. When companies fail to enforce safety rules or adequately train their drivers, they can be held liable for the harm that results.
How Employers and Contractors Affect Liability
Many delivery companies use contractors rather than direct employees. While this can make it harder to determine who’s responsible, accountability still exists. A company can’t escape liability by labeling a driver as an independent contractor if it exercises significant control over that person’s work.
When the driver is a true independent contractor, liability may fall on them personally. However, insurance coverage carried by the contracting company can sometimes still apply. Determining the right legal path often requires analyzing insurance policies and employment records in detail.
Proving Negligence in Delivery Van Accidents
Establishing negligence requires showing that someone failed to act with reasonable care. This often involves collecting evidence that demonstrates exactly how the delivery van accident occurred. Key evidence may include:
Black box or GPS data: Reveals the vehicle’s speed, route, and braking before the crash.
Delivery logs: Show whether the driver was overworked or behind schedule.
Maintenance records: Help identify whether the vehicle was unsafe to operate.
Eyewitness statements: Confirm dangerous driving or traffic violations.
By piecing together these elements, we can build a strong case showing who breached their duty of care. Whether it’s the driver, the delivery company, or a third party, each responsible party can be held accountable for their role in the crash. Whatever you do, make no statements to a commercial driver in these circumstances.
Injuries Commonly Caused by Delivery Van Collisions
Because delivery vans are heavier than passenger cars, accidents often cause severe injuries. Even at lower speeds, the force of impact can be devastating. Injuries suffered in a delivery van crash include:
Head and brain injuries: These can lead to memory problems, migraines, and cognitive issues that require long-term care.
Back and spinal injuries: Herniated discs or spinal cord trauma may result in partial paralysis or chronic pain.
Broken bones and fractures: Serious breaks can need surgery and months of rehabilitation.
Internal injuries: Damage to organs or internal bleeding may not appear immediately.
Emotional distress: Victims may experience anxiety, post-traumatic stress, or sleep disruption after a violent collision.
Because symptoms sometimes appear gradually, seeking medical care immediately after a delivery van accident is crucial. Timely treatment not only protects your health but also creates documentation that supports your legal claim.
Insurance and Liability in Delivery Van Accidents
After a crash, one of the most confusing aspects is dealing with insurance companies. Delivery vehicles may be insured under commercial policies, personal policies, or fleet coverage, and each has different rules. Schefman & Associates, PC helps clients identify all possible insurance sources, which may include:
The delivery company’s commercial policy: Covers vehicles owned or leased by the business.
The driver’s personal policy: Applies when the driver uses their own vehicle for deliveries.
Third-party coverage: May come into play if another driver or vehicle defect contributed to the accident.
Handling multiple insurers can be time-consuming and frustrating. Adjusters may dispute coverage or attempt to minimize payouts. We manage all communication and negotiation to protect your rights while you recover.
Compensation Available to Victims
Motor vehicle collisions with a delivery van can trigger both economic and non-economic losses. Generally, your own no-fault insurance in Michigan will cover your medical and PIP benefits. However, what if you suffer wage loss beyond the Michigan statutory maximum allowed under no-fault's 3-year payments? The delivery van may be liable. Those are your economic damages. But you are also entitled to non-economic damages, depending on the severity of injuries, the length of recovery, and the impact on daily life. Our firm works with medical professionals and financial experts to accurately assess current and future damages. This approach helps confirm that settlements reflect the full scope of harm suffered.
Preventing Future Delivery Van Accidents
Holding companies accountable doesn’t just benefit one victim—it encourages safer practices industrywide. Delivery businesses that prioritize safety protect both their workers and the communities they serve. To reduce accident risks, companies should:
Implement strict training programs: Teaching drivers how to handle fatigue, distractions, and cargo safety.
Maintain vehicles regularly: Partnering with certified mechanics reduces the likelihood of brake or tire failures.
Monitor driving behavior: Using GPS and telematics to identify unsafe habits early.
Promote reasonable scheduling: Preventing exhaustion that leads to mistakes.
When businesses fail to take these precautions, they expose drivers and the public to unnecessary danger. Holding them accountable through legal action helps promote responsibility across the industry.
Contact Us Today
Recovering from a delivery van accident can take time, but victims don’t have to go through it alone. At Schefman & Associates, PC, we help injured individuals and families work through the aftermath of delivery-related crashes. Our firm handles every stage of the process—from investigating the cause to negotiating with insurers—so our clients can focus on recovery.
We proudly represent clients throughout Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, as well as communities across Oakland County, Wayne County, Macomb County, and Washtenaw County. Contact our office today to discuss your case and learn how we can help you move forward with confidence.
