A FedEx truck hit you, so you assume you file a claim against FedEx. Then a letter arrives from a company you have never heard of, explaining that FedEx was not the driver's employer. Our West Palm Beach FedEx truck accident lawyers at Felice Trial Attorneys know how that structure works and how to pursue everyone actually responsible for your injuries.
We represent drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians hurt by commercial delivery vehicles across Palm Beach County. Call (561) 444-8822 anytime for a free case review.
Can You Sue FedEx If Their Truck Hit You?
Sometimes directly, and sometimes only after establishing the connection. It depends on which part of the FedEx network was operating the vehicle. Some FedEx drivers are direct employees, which generally makes the company responsible for their negligence on the job. Others drive for independent contractors that run FedEx routes, and there FedEx's first response is that the driver was not theirs.
This is not a technicality. It decides which insurance policies you can reach, and in a serious injury case that difference can be enormous.
Who Is Liable in a FedEx Truck Accident?
Liability depends on which FedEx operation the driver worked under, and often more than one party shares responsibility. Sorting this out early shapes the entire claim.
FedEx Express style operations
Where the driver is a direct employee, responsibility generally flows to the company under the long-standing rule that an employer answers for an employee's negligence committed on the job. These claims tend to be more straightforward, though disputes still arise over whether the driver was on a personal errand at the time.
FedEx Ground style operations
Ground routes are typically run by independent service providers, often called ISPs. The ISP hires the drivers and carries its own commercial insurance. FedEx contracts with the ISP, so its lawyers argue there is no responsibility beyond that contractor.
Other parties
Depending on the facts, a maintenance company, a cargo loader, a vehicle or parts manufacturer, or another motorist may share fault as well.
A practical tip: look closely at the vehicle. Smaller lettering on the truck, often reading that it is operated by another company, is frequently the first clue to which structure applies.
What If FedEx Says It Was Not Their Driver?
Expect that argument, and do not treat it as the final word. The response is to examine how much control the company actually exercised over the work, rather than how the contract labels the relationship.
Courts looking at these arrangements have considered questions like who set the routes and delivery standards, who required the branding and uniforms, who controlled the scanning and reporting technology, and whether the contractor depended entirely on one company for its revenue. Where the control runs deep, injured people have pursued the parent company through theories such as operational control, agency, and negligent selection of contractors.
Whether that succeeds turns on the specific evidence, which is why the investigation into the corporate relationship starts immediately.
Told that FedEx is not responsible for your crash? Call (561) 444-8822 for a free review before you accept it.
What Evidence Matters After a FedEx Truck Crash?
The evidence that decides these cases is mostly electronic and mostly perishable. Commercial trucks generate data that a passenger car does not, and much of it is overwritten within weeks if nobody demands that it be preserved.
Key evidence includes:
- Electronic control module data, often called the black box, showing speed and braking
- Driver hours of service and logs
- Dashcam or onboard camera footage
- Vehicle maintenance and inspection records
- The contractor's driver hiring, training, and safety records
- The crash report, witness accounts, and nearby video
Larger commercial trucks may also fall under federal safety rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, covering driver hours, maintenance, and qualifications. A violation of those rules can strengthen a claim considerably.
What Is a FedEx Truck Accident Claim Worth?
It depends on the severity of your injuries, your future medical needs, lost income, and which policies can be reached. Delivery truck crashes often cause serious injuries, because a loaded commercial vehicle carries far more mass than a car, and the difference shows in the harm it causes.
In Florida, your own Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, pays part of your first medical bills regardless of fault, capped at $10,000 and paying nothing for pain and suffering. Serious injuries move past that into a claim against the responsible parties.
Fault matters too. Under Fla. Stat. 768.81, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of blame and barred only if you are more than 50% responsible.
What to Do After a FedEx Truck Accident
Get medical attention first, then document the vehicle carefully, because identifying the operating company is the single most useful thing you can do at the scene.
- Photograph the entire truck, including any smaller lettering naming an operating company
- Capture the truck number, license plate, and DOT number if visible
- Call the police so an official crash report exists
- Collect witness contact information
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with a lawyer
We handle other delivery vehicle claims as well, including:
- Amazon delivery vehicle accidents, and
- Larger commercial cases through our West Palm Beach truck accident lawyers.
Why These Cases Need a Trial Firm
A national carrier and its contractors will have investigators working before you leave the hospital. Matching that pace means sending preservation demands for logs and black box data immediately and building the corporate relationship evidence from day one. Our insurance defense background is why we know which records exist and how long they last.
About Timothy C. Felice, Founder and Lead Trial Attorney
Tim Felice founded the firm around trial work, and commercial vehicle cases are the clearest example of why that matters, since carriers settle these fairly only when the alternative is a jury. He has been admitted to the Florida Bar since 2005 and earned his law degree at Nova Southeastern University's Shepard Broad Law Center. He handles serious vehicle collision, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury claims, and takes referrals from other firms for litigation.
Our Results
We have recovered more than $85 million for injured clients across our practice areas, including serious vehicle collision and catastrophic injury claims. Every case turns on its own facts, so prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Commercial cases in particular reward doing the regulatory and records work that a quick settlement practice skips.
Ask Felice
Answers to the questions people search after a delivery truck crash. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a FedEx truck accident claim in Florida?
Generally two years from the date of the crash, under Florida's statute of limitations. This was shortened from four years by tort reform in 2023. Truck data and logs are also purged on short cycles, so early action protects both your deadline and your evidence.
Do I need a lawyer for a delivery truck accident?
For a serious injury, yes. These claims involve corporate defendants, multiple insurers, layered contracts, and federal regulations. Insurers move quickly to control the narrative, and injured people who handle it alone rarely reach the full coverage available.
What if I was a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a delivery truck?
You may have a strong claim. Delivery vehicles stop frequently, back up in tight spaces, and operate in residential areas where people walk and ride. Those injuries tend to be severe, and the same questions about who employed the driver still apply.
Can I recover if the truck driver says I caused the crash?
Often yes. Florida reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault and bars it only if you are more than 50% responsible. Commercial carriers routinely try to shift blame, which is why independent evidence such as black box data matters so much.
What does a FedEx truck accident lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fee unless we recover for you, and your first consultation is free. There is no cost to find out whether you have a case.
Are FedEx drivers employees or contractors?
Both models exist in the network. Some drivers are direct employees of the company, while many delivery routes are run by independent contractors that hire their own drivers. Which one applies to your crash affects who you can pursue, and it is not always obvious from the truck alone.
What happens if a FedEx truck damaged my parked car?
You can make a property damage claim through the responsible party's commercial coverage. Photograph the vehicle and any lettering before it leaves, and file a police report. If you were inside the vehicle or nearby and were injured, the claim becomes an injury claim as well.
How long do delivery truck accident cases take?
Typically longer than an ordinary car accident. Corporate defendants investigate aggressively and dispute responsibility, and identifying the correct entities takes time. Straightforward claims may resolve in months, while contested serious-injury cases can take a year or more.
Should I accept the settlement the trucking insurer offered?
Not before you know what your claim is actually worth. Early offers usually arrive before the full extent of your injuries is known, and accepting one closes your case permanently. Have the offer reviewed first, since the review costs you nothing.
Logs and Black Box Data Do Not Wait
Driver logs, electronic control module data, and dashcam footage are kept on short retention schedules. A preservation letter sent this week can save evidence that will not exist next month.
Call (561) 444-8822, available 24/7, or visit us at 3 Harvard Circle, West Palm Beach, FL 33409.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this page or contacting Felice Trial Attorneys does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is unique, and prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Case result figures reflect gross recoveries across multiple matters and do not reflect the net amount received by any individual client after fees and costs. References to how courts have analyzed corporate and contractor liability describe general legal principles and do not predict the outcome of any particular claim. Company names are used for identification purposes only and do not imply any affiliation or endorsement. Florida statutes, deadlines, and procedures referenced here are subject to change, and you should consult a licensed Florida attorney about the specific facts of your situation. Florida's statute of limitations is strict, and missing it may bar your recovery.