Undefeated Texas Truck Accident Lawyer
As one of the largest delivery companies in the world, 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks operated by United Parcel Service (UPS) are a common sight on roads and highways throughout the United States. However, while the majority of the company’s deliveries are made without incident, thousands of crashes involving UPS trucks are reported every year.
All too often, these UPS truck accidents prove catastrophic for the innocent occupants of smaller passenger vehicles, who typically bear the brunt of the impact in a collision with any large commercial truck.
About United Parcel Services
UPS was founded in 1907 in Seattle, Washington, by James E. Casey. Originally named the American Messenger Company, it specialized in delivering packages, notes, and even food on foot and bicycle.
By the 1930s, UPS had expanded beyond Seattle to major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, pioneering a common carrier service that allowed for the delivery of packages between retail stores and customers. During the post-war years, UPS continued to grow across the United States, and by 1975, the company was offering delivery services nationwide.
Today, UPS operates more than 130,000 delivery trucks, cars, vans, 18-wheelers, and motorcycles in 220 countries and territories worldwide. In 2023, UPS delivered 5.7 billion packages in the United States alone, amounting to roughly 22.3 million packages per day.
UPS Truck Safety Violations
UPS trucks generally weigh between 25,000 and 27,000 pounds when fully loaded. Their considerable size and weight significantly more braking time compared to standard passengers, which poses a risk if a UPS driver needs to stop suddenly to avoid road hazards. These drivers must also contend with tight delivery deadlines, which may incentivize many to speed, even when their truck is fully loaded.
According to the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Safety Measurement System (SMS), over a 24-month period ending January 31, 2025, UPS drivers were cited for 2,722 unsafe driving violations. The most common infractions included:
- Speeding 6-10 mph over the limit: 532 instances
- Speeding 11-14 mph over the limit: 391 instances
- Lane restriction violations: 339 instances
- Speeding 15 mph or more over the limit: 296 instances
- Failure to obey traffic control devices: 258 instances
Common UPS Truck Accidents
In the 24 months prior to February 14, 2025, 2,469 UPS truck accidents were reported to the FMCSA database. Those crashes resulted in 850 injuries and 71 fatalities. Some of the most common types of crashes involving large commercial trucks like those operated by UPS include:
Jackknife Accidents
A UPS semi-truck can jackknife when the trailer swings out at an angle from the cab. This loss of control can lead to multi-vehicle crashes, particularly on highways where other motorists have little time to react.
Truck Rollovers
Large delivery trucks and 18-wheelers have a high center of gravity, making them vulnerable to rollover accidents. When this occurs, the truck may block multiple lanes of traffic and cause catastrophic damage to nearby vehicles.
Tire Blowouts
When a tire blows out on a UPS truck, other motorists may find it difficult to avoid flying debris. The sudden loss of stability can also cause the truck to swerve into other lanes, rollover, or even jackknife.
Wide Turn Accidents
Large UPS trucks require extra space to execute turns, especially in urban areas. If a driver miscalculates the turn or fails to check for smaller vehicles, the truck can swing into an adjacent lane or trap another car between the curb and the trailer.
Underride Accidents
When a smaller vehicle crashes into the rear or side of a UPS tractor-trailer, it can become wedged underneath due to the truck’s high clearance. These collisions are among the most deadly, often caused when a truck stops abruptly or changes lanes without signaling.
Lost Load Accidents
If cargo isn’t properly secured inside a UPS 18-wheeler or delivery truck, it may shift, fall onto the road, or even cause the truck to tip over. Debris in the roadway can force other drivers to swerve, leading to a dangerous chain-reaction crash.
Rear-End Collisions
UPS trucks require significantly more stopping distance than passenger cars, particularly when fully loaded. If a driver is speeding, distracted, or following too closely, they may be unable to stop in time, causing a violent rear-end crash.
Blind Spot Collisions
Large UPS trucks have extensive blind spots on all sides, making it difficult for drivers to see smaller vehicles. If a driver fails to check before changing lanes or merging, they may collide with a vehicle already occupying the space, sideswiping it or forcing it off the road.
Causes of UPS Truck Crashes
Like any other commercial trucking accident, a crash involving a UPS vehicle can occur for any number of reasons. However, in many cases, these collisions are entirely preventable and are the result of negligence on the part of the UPS truck driver or the company itself.
Some of the most common causes of preventable UPS truck accidents include:
Equipment Failures
Worn-out brakes, malfunctioning parking brakes, or tire defects can cause a driver to lose control, leading to jackknife accidents, rollovers, or rear-end crashes. Mechanical failures are especially dangerous at high speeds or in heavy traffic, where other drivers have little time to react.
Inadequate Maintenance
UPS trucks log thousands of miles every week, resulting in significant wear and tear. If essential repairs are delayed or overlooked, critical systems such as brakes, steering components, and tires can wear out, increasing the likelihood of a crash.
Failure to Conduct Safety Checks
Routine safety inspections are intended to identify potential hazards before a UPS truck leaves the distribution center. When drivers or maintenance crews skip these crucial checks, issues like underinflated tires, faulty lights, or unsecured cargo can go unnoticed, increasing the risk of serious accidents.
Driver Fatigue
When UPS drivers work long hours under tight delivery schedules, they may become too exhausted to safely operate a truck. Fatigue slows reaction times, impairs judgment, and can even cause a driver to nod off while driving. A drowsy driver may fail to brake in time, drift into another lane, or make critical errors that can result in a catastrophic wreck.
Distracted Driving
Handling a UPS truck requires full attention, but distractions like GPS devices, radios, or even a quick glance at a phone can take a driver’s eyes off the road. Even a momentary can cause a driver to miss traffic signals, fail to see a slowing vehicle ahead, or drift into another lane.
Driver Impairment
Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or even certain prescription or OTC medications can drastically reduce a driver’s competence behind the wail. Impaired drivers struggle with reaction times, depth perception, and decision-making, increasing the likelihood of a crash.
Driver Error
Maneuvering a large UPS truck requires skill and experience, but mistakes can happen when a driver misjudges a turn, follows too closely, or changes lanes without checking blind spots. Errors like failing to signal, overcorrecting, or miscalculating stopping distances can lead to crashes that could have been avoided with proper training and caution.
Improper Loading of Cargo
If a UPS truck’s cargo is not properly loaded or secured, it can shift during transit, throwing off the truck’s balance and making it harder to control. This can lead to rollovers, jackknife accidents, or lost loads that create hazards for other motorists.
Compensation After a UPS Truck Accident
When a UPS truck crash involves other vehicles, the occupants of smaller passenger cars often sustain life-altering injuries that require months—or even years—of recovery, such as:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Spinal Cord Damage
- Bone Fractures
- Internal Organ Damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Permanent Disability
Truck accident victims and their families are entitled to seek compensation for the physical, financial, and emotional damages incurred due to negligence on the part of the trucking company or its driver. Depending on the specific circumstances, this can include compensation for:
Medical Expenses
Victims of UPS truck accidents may require emergency care, surgery, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment for months or even years. This typically includes the full cost of past and future medical expenses, including prescriptions, medical devices, and home healthcare.
Lost Wages & Reduced Earning Capacity
If injuries prevent someone from working, they may be entitled to compensation for lost wages. If their injuries keep them from ever returning to work, they may also be able to recover damages for lost earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering
Truck accident victims can also seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional trauma they’ve endured. Chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, and the inability to enjoy life the way they once did can all be factored into a settlement or lawsuit.
Disfigurement & Permanent Disability
Some injuries leave lasting scars—both physically and emotionally. Severe burns, amputations, and other disfiguring injuries can impact a victim’s confidence, mental health, and quality of life. If a UPS truck accident leaves someone permanently disabled or with visible scars, they may be able to recover damages for the lifelong impact of those injuries.
Punitive Damages
In cases where a UPS driver or the company acted with extreme negligence or recklessness, victims may be able to seek punitive damages. Unlike other types of compensation, which are meant to cover losses, punitive damages are meant to punish bad behavior—such as knowingly putting unsafe trucks on the road or forcing drivers to violate hours-of-service regulations.
Wrongful Death Damages
If a UPS truck accident results in a fatality, the victim’s family may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In Texas, for example, spouses, children, and parents can seek compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and the emotional devastation of losing a loved one.
How to Protect Your Rights After a UPS Truck Accident
If you or a loved one were hurt in a UPS truck accident, the company and its insurer will do everything in their power to avoid paying you and your family all that you’re owed. Expect them to move quickly, deploying a range of tactics meant to weaken your claim, including attempting to shift blame to you, downplaying the seriousness of your injuries, and even misplacing or destroying critical evidence proving UPS and its driver were at fault.
If you’re going to receive the maximum compensation possible for all of your injuries and losses, you need to act just as fast and aggressively.
Call 911 Immediately
Your safety should always come first. Call 911 to report the accident and request emergency medical assistance if anyone is injured. A law enforcement officer will respond to the scene and create an official police report, which can serve as critical evidence later. Be sure to give a detailed and accurate account of what happened.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you feel okay after the crash, it’s crucial to get checked by a doctor as soon as possible. Some serious injuries, like internal bleeding or whiplash, may not show symptoms right away. Delaying medical treatment could not only put your health at risk but also give UPS’s insurance company a reason to question your claim.
Document the Scene
If it’s safe, gather as much evidence as possible at the crash site. Take photos of the vehicles involved, as well as any visible damage, skid marks, road conditions, and traffic signs. Get the UPS driver’s contact and insurance information, as well as details about the truck, such as its license plate and USDOT number. If there were witnesses, ask for their names and contact information—their statements could be critical to your case.
Do Not Speak With UPS or Its Insurers
You may receive a call from UPS’s insurance adjusters shortly after the crash. They may sound helpful, but their goal is to minimize what they have to pay. Never agree to give a recorded statement, and don’t sign anything without talking to an attorney first. Anything you say could be twisted and used against you to reduce or deny your claim.
Preserve All Evidence
It’s s crucial to preserve everything related to the accident. Keep a copy of the police report, save any dashcam footage, and write down or record everything you can about the moments leading up to the crash and the accident itself. You should also save copies of all medical records, bills, prescriptions, and receipts related to your injury. Document every doctor’s visit, physical therapy session, and any treatment you receive.
Do Not Discuss the Accident or Your Injuries
Avoid talking about the crash with anyone except your lawyer, and never post anything about it on social media. Even a seemingly harmless comment can be used against you. UPS, its insurer, and its legal team will likely monitor your social media accounts for anything they can use to dispute your claim.
Contact Our Undefeated Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here
With Billions recovered for clients across Texas and throughout the United States, our Undefeated Truck Accident Lawyers don’t just win – we set records, including
- #1 Largest Truck Accident Settlement in Texas ($32 Million)
- $23.5 Million Settlement for Texas Truck Accident Victim
- Record-Breaking Wrongful Death Settlement in Distracted Driving Crash ($35 Million)
- $37.5 Million Wrongful Death Verdict
- #1 Largest Accident Verdict in Texas
- #2 Largest Accident Verdict in Texas
If you or a loved one were injured or tragically killed in a UPS truck accident, call 1-888-603-3636, use the chat form on our website, or send us a confidential email through our Contact Form by clicking here.
All consultations are free, and you won’t pay us a dollar unless we win your case.