Average UPS Accident Settlement in Florida

The United Parcel Service’s (UPS) brown vans are one of the most recognizable brand symbols in the world. Aside from the United States Postal Service (USPS), UPS is the largest parcel carrier operating in the US today. While Amazon’s trucks are popping up more and more often, their reach is not yet that of UPS. In 2020, UPS had more than 125,000 parcel delivery vehicles in operation bringing a total revenue of over $80 billion for the company. At the global level, UPS drivers delivered nearly 20 million packages per day in that same year.

With all these vehicles on the road, accidents happen; there is no way around it. Like all drivers on the road, UPS drivers sometimes make mistakes, which leads to accidents. Because of the relative size of UPS vehicles compared to most of the other cars on the road, accidents with UPS trucks are often more severe than typical car accidents. Not only are UPS vehicles bigger than most other cars, they are often loaded with weight, which further increases the amount of force (and damage) in UPS accidents. One of the main questions about UPS lawsuit settlements that we get at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk is: What is the average UPS accident settlement in Florida? The answer to this question depends on your individual circumstances.

What Is the Average UPS Lawsuit Settlement?

The truth is, there is no average UPS lawsuit settlement. Every car accident is different, as is every car accident with a UPS vehicle. The amount of damages, the type and scope of insurance policies involved, and even the lawyers involved with a given UPS lawsuit can all affect the size of a UPS lawsuit settlement. In sum, the size of your UPS lawsuit settlement depends entirely on the circumstances of your case. 

What Factors Affect the Size of a UPS Lawsuit Settlement?

There are many factors that impact the size of any potential UPS lawsuit settlement. Some of the factors will increase your settlement amount, while others will decrease it. Conversely, some factors can go both ways. If some of the following factors apply to your case, your settlement amount will go up, relatively speaking:

• Hospitalization,
• Emergency medical transport,
• Surgery,
• Physical rehabilitation,
• In-home help or in-home caregiving,
• A death,
• The loss of a limb or other bodily function,
• “Totalling” your vehicle,
• Malicious intent on the part of the driver,
• Mental health or other psychological issues arising out of the accident, and
• Permanent or temporary disability.

How Can I Maximize My UPS Lawsuit Settlement?

There are a few things you can do that will help you maximize your UPS lawsuit settlement. Perhaps chief among these is to retain the services of an experienced car accident attorney. Even better is to retain the services of a car accident attorney with specific experience in litigating against UPS or other parcel delivery services. If you hire an attorney to represent you, UPS is more likely to take your claim seriously. Without an attorney on your side, UPS is much more likely to try to get you to accept a settlement that does not fully cover your damages. Furthermore, car accident attorneys are adept negotiators, and there is no substitute for their prior experience.

Aside from hiring an attorney, there are other ways to maximize your settlement. One of the best ways of maximizing your settlement is carefully documenting all the damages you suffered. Take pictures of your car after the accident to illustrate damages. Then take your vehicle to a few different repair shops to have the damages appraised. The more appraisals you get, the better. You should also document your injuries. Maintain a record of any medical procedures or evaluations you have done, and consider asking your doctor to provide as much detail as possible. When you receive medical treatment, always document any invoices or other bills you receive. Maintaining a journal of any physical or emotional distress you have will also help you prove the damages you suffered. Such a journal will also help you get the medical treatment you need. At the end of the day, without documenting the damages you suffer, you will face an uphill battle recovering them.

What Is It Like to Deal with UPS and Their Insurers?

Fortunately, dealing with UPS and their insurers is a bit more straightforward than working with other parties. The main reason for this is that UPS is self-insured. Most companies that operate commercial vehicles contract with a third-party liability insurer. That means that most of the time, instead of working with an insurance adjuster that works for the company directly, you are dealing with an entirely separate entity. That entity then needs to get approval from the liable party before you can agree to any settlement. Not so with UPS. Since UPS is self-insured, you are dealing with a direct representative of the company. That means fewer parties are involved, which translates to less red tape. As a result, settlement negotiations with UPS are often quicker and more efficient than those with a commercial party who uses a third-party liability insurer.

If You Need to File a UPS Lawsuit

If you need to file a UPS lawsuit in Florida, Abrahamson & Uiterwyk can help you get the settlement you deserve. For more than 30 years, our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys has helped more than 20,000 clients recover damages in all forms of personal injury cases. We have successfully litigated against private parties, but also against large commercial parties including UPS. To date, we have helped our clients recover hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

With our experience on your side, you can rest easy and focus on your recovery. Check out our client testimonials page to hear what our other clients have to say, then call us today for your free consultation!