What you should know if a UPS truck hits a pedestrian in Illinois

A UPS delivery truck can put you at risk in places you may expect to feel safe, such as a neighborhood street, parking lot or crosswalk. After a collision, you may have questions about what happened and what you should do next, especially if your injuries make tasks difficult. Here are the points to understand.

How UPS trucks can hit pedestrians

UPS pedestrian crashes can happen when a driver backs up, turns, pulls away from a delivery or maneuvers through a tight space. For example, you could cross in front of a truck at an intersection or walk behind it near a home while the driver prepares to leave. Other contributing factors may include:

• Failing to yield at a crosswalk
• Failing to watch for people nearby
• Distracted or inattentive driving
• Unsafe backing or turning

These situations can make it difficult for a driver to spot you before the vehicle moves into your path.

Who may be responsible for a UPS pedestrian accident?

The driver or UPS may have responsibility for your injuries, depending on how the collision happened and the driver’s work relationship with the company. If the driver failed to yield, failed to keep a lookout or drove carelessly, those actions could support a negligence claim. UPS may also face responsibility when the driver’s conduct falls within the scope of the driver’s work.

Illinois law gives pedestrians certain protections at crosswalks. When traffic signals do not control the crossing, drivers generally must stop and yield when you cross within a crosswalk under the circumstances described by state law. The law also requires you to avoid suddenly entering the path of a vehicle that creates an immediate hazard. This makes the location, traffic signals and circumstances surrounding the collision important when evaluating fault.

What to do after a UPS truck hits you

After a collision, seek medical care and preserve information about what happened as soon as you can. If your condition allows, take these steps:

• Report the crash and make sure authorities document it.
• Photograph the vehicle, roadway, crosswalk, traffic signals and your visible injuries.
• Collect contact information from people who witnessed the collision.
• Keep medical records, bills and other expenses related to your injuries.
• Avoid discussing fault or accepting a settlement before you understand your rights.

Prompt documentation can help preserve details that may become harder to establish later.

Protect your claim after a UPS pedestrian crash

Reviewing the crash report, medical records and available evidence with an Illinois personal injury attorney can help you understand your options and determine how the circumstances may affect your claim. Legal assistance can also help you identify evidence before it disappears or becomes difficult to obtain.

The personal injury lawyers at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca represent clients who have been seriously injured in an accident, including those involving UPS trucks. Call 312-724-5846 or send us an email to request a free consultation. We serve all of Illinois.