Los Angeles roads are a battlefield — the 405, the 110, surface streets jammed with rideshares, buses, and delivery vehicles racing against impossible schedules.
When a FedEx truck slams into a car, motorcycle, pedestrian, or cyclist, the damage is usually brutal. And unlike a normal crash, you’re not just dealing with some random driver and a basic auto policy.
You’re dealing with FedEx’s corporate defense machine, layered insurance policies, and a business model designed to shift blame away from the parent company.
Recent legal analyses of delivery-carrier crashes show FedEx collisions are common and often catastrophic — and they’re defended aggressively from the moment they happen.
That’s why this guide is direct, no-fluff, and built to help Los Angeles victims protect themselves and maximize every dollar the law allows.
Why FedEx Truck Accidents Are Different From “Regular” Car Crashes
A FedEx truck crash is different for three big reasons:
1) The injuries are bigger
FedEx delivery trucks, box trucks, and tractor-trailers outweigh passenger vehicles by thousands of pounds. The physics alone create devastating trauma: head injuries, spinal damage, multiple fractures, internal bleeding, amputations, and wrongful death.
2) Liability is more complex
FedEx often argues the driver was an “independent contractor” or part of a separate FedEx Ground service provider. That doesn’t end the case — it just means we dig deeper into who controlled the route, schedule, training, and safety rules. Courts have repeatedly scrutinized FedEx’s control over drivers in California.
3) The insurance is layered and strategic
There may be:
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the driver’s policy
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the contractor/company policy
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FedEx corporate liability coverage
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umbrella/excess policies
FedEx and their insurers know how expensive these cases get, so they move fast to protect themselves — not you.
Common Causes of FedEx Truck Accidents in Los Angeles
FedEx drivers are under constant pressure: more packages, tighter delivery windows, heavier traffic. That pressure shows up in predictable ways:
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Speeding to stay on schedule
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Unsafe lane changes / wide turns on tight LA streets
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Running red lights or rolling stop signs in neighborhoods
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Distracted driving from scanners, navigation, dispatch messages, or phones
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Driver fatigue from long shifts and intense route demands
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Improperly loaded cargo causing rollovers or spill hazards
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Poor maintenance (brakes, tires, steering) on high-mileage fleets
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Inadequate training or supervision of new drivers
Federal safety rules exist specifically to prevent these dangers — especially fatigue and maintenance failures — and violations are powerful evidence of negligence.
California crash data and national trucking studies show commercial and delivery-vehicle collisions remain a major source of serious injury and death.
Who Is Liable When a FedEx Truck Hits You?
FedEx cases are rarely “one-defendant” cases. Liability can stack across multiple parties:
Potentially responsible parties include:
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The FedEx driver
If they were speeding, distracted, fatigued, or driving recklessly. -
FedEx Ground / FedEx Express / FedEx Freight
If FedEx set unsafe schedules, failed to screen drivers, ignored safety violations, or controlled the operation in a way that contributed to the crash. -
Independent Service Providers (ISPs) / Contractors
Many FedEx Ground routes in LA are operated by contractor companies that hire drivers, maintain trucks, and carry their own insurance. -
Vehicle owners / leasing companies
If the truck had known mechanical issues or was negligently maintained. -
Maintenance or repair vendors
If negligent servicing caused brake/tire/steering failures. -
Shippers or loaders
Unsafe loading can cause rollovers, jackknifes, or cargo loss. -
Government entities (rare, but real)
If a dangerous road design, missing signage, or unrepaired hazard played a role.
“But FedEx Says the Driver Isn’t Their Employee…”
That defense is common — and it’s not the end of the story.
FedEx has a long history of operating through contractor structures that still involve significant corporate control, and California courts have repeatedly examined that control in other contexts. This matters because control = responsibility in negligence cases.
In other words: we don’t accept “not our driver” as an answer. We prove the truth.
The Evidence That Wins FedEx Truck Accident Cases
These cases are won on evidence — and the evidence disappears fast unless your lawyer locks it down.
Key proof includes:
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Truck “black box” / ECM data (speed, braking, throttle, steering)
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GPS and route tracking
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Electronic logging device (ELD) / Hours-of-Service logs
Driver fatigue violations are a major liability path. -
Dispatch + scanner records (shows pressure, timing, and distractions)
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Driver qualification file
Training history, hiring screens, prior violations. -
Drug/alcohol testing results
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Maintenance + inspection records
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On-scene photos, LA traffic cams, business surveillance
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Witness statements
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Accident reconstruction for speed/angles/impact forces
FedEx and contractors can legally destroy certain records after short periods unless we send preservation letters immediately. That’s why time matters.
What You Should Do Immediately After a FedEx Crash
Your health comes first. Your case comes second — but what you do right now affects both.
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Call 911 and get treatment.
Shock hides injuries. Adrenaline lies. Get checked. -
Tell police exactly what happened.
The report is foundational evidence. -
Photograph everything.
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FedEx logo, DOT numbers, license plates
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skid marks, debris, road layout
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your injuries and vehicle damage
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Get witnesses’ names + numbers.
People vanish after the scene clears. -
Do NOT give a recorded statement to FedEx or their insurer.
They’re trained to twist words into “comparative fault.” -
Do NOT sign anything.
Not a “medical authorization,” not a “release,” not a “quick settlement.” -
Call a FedEx truck accident lawyer in Los Angeles immediately.
Evidence preservation starts on day one.
Injuries We Commonly See in FedEx Truck Accidents
Because of vehicle mass and delivery-route chaos, injuries are often life-changing:
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussions
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Spinal cord injuries, herniated discs, paralysis
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Broken bones, crush injuries
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Internal bleeding, organ damage
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Severe lacerations, disfigurement
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Burns / chemical exposure (in freight cases)
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Wrongful death
If your doctor says you need surgery, injections, or long-term rehab, your claim value rises sharply — and FedEx fights harder to avoid paying.
What Damages Can You Recover?
Under California law, a FedEx truck injury victim can recover all losses caused by the crash, including:
Economic damages
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ER, hospital, surgery, rehab, PT, medication
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future medical care and life-care costs
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lost wages and benefits
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loss of earning capacity
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property damage and out-of-pocket costs
Non-economic damages
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pain and suffering
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emotional distress / PTSD
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loss of enjoyment of life
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disfigurement and disability
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loss of consortium (impact on spouse/family)
Punitive damages (in extreme cases)
If the driver or company behavior was reckless or willful (e.g., forcing unsafe hours, prior DUI, blatant safety violations), punitive damages may be available.
How FedEx Truck Accident Settlement Value Is Calculated
There’s no honest “average settlement” number for FedEx crashes — because the value depends on your specific injuries and proof.
Your case value increases with:
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Severity and permanence of injuries
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Need for surgery or long-term care
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Total medical costs (past + future)
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Lost income and future earning loss
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Clear proof of FedEx / contractor rule violations
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Strong liability evidence (black box, video, witnesses)
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How the injury affects your daily life
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Whether multiple defendants and insurance layers apply
Our job is to build a damages story so strong that FedEx can’t escape it.
Deadlines: How Long Do You Have to File?
Standard California deadline
Most FedEx truck accident victims have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit in California.
If a government entity is involved
If your crash involved a city/county/state vehicle, road defect, or dangerous public property, you may have as little as 6 months to file a government claim.
Miss the deadline and your case dies — no matter how strong it is. Period.
Federal Trucking Rules That Strengthen Your Case
FedEx trucks and contractors must follow strict federal safety rules. When they violate these rules and hurt you, it’s powerful evidence of negligence.
Key regulations include:
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Hours-of-Service limits to prevent fatigue
(driving time caps + mandatory rest) -
Driver qualification standards
proper licensing, training, safe driving history -
Drug and alcohol testing
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Routine inspections and maintenance records
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Cargo securement requirements
We subpoena these records early and compare them to the crash timeline. If FedEx cut corners, we expose it.
FedEx’s Playbook After They Hurt Someone
Here’s what FedEx (and their insurers) typically do after a crash:
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Call you fast with “helpful concern”
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Push a recorded statement
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Offer a quick lowball payout
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Claim the driver is a contractor and FedEx isn’t liable
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Delay, deny, and bury evidence
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Try to pin partial fault on you
California is a pure comparative negligence state, meaning they’ll try to shift even 5–10% blame to reduce what they pay.
We don’t let that happen.
Why You Need a Los Angeles FedEx Truck Accident Lawyer
Taking on FedEx without a serious trial firm is like stepping into a heavyweight fight with handcuffs on.
We level the field by:
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sending preservation letters immediately
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securing black-box data and route logs
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hiring elite accident reconstruction experts
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exploring every liable party and policy
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documenting damages with medical and economic specialists
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preparing every case like it’s going to trial
FedEx settles for real money only when they know you’re ready to beat them in court.
Why The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus
We’re Los Angeles truck accident lawyers. We don’t back down. We don’t blink at corporate defendants. And we don’t accept “standard settlement ranges” when your future is on the line.
When FedEx hurts our clients, we:
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attack liability from multiple angles
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prove corporate control and safety failures
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demand full compensation, not “delivery-company discounts”
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take cases to court when they refuse to be reasonable
You get direct access to a real attorney — not a call center, not a file-handler, not a “settlement mill.”
FAQS
“What if a FedEx truck hit my car in Los Angeles?”
You should get medical care, report the crash, preserve evidence, and contact a FedEx truck accident lawyer immediately. FedEx cases involve multiple insurance layers and fast-disappearing evidence.
“Can I sue FedEx if the driver was a contractor?”
Yes. Contractor status does not automatically shield FedEx. If FedEx policies, control, scheduling, or safety failures contributed, FedEx can still be liable.
“How much insurance does FedEx have?”
It varies by truck type and contractor structure. Many cases involve multiple policies, including commercial liability and umbrella coverage. A lawyer must identify every layer.
“What if I was partly at fault?”
California’s comparative negligence rules allow recovery even if you share fault — but FedEx will fight to inflate your percentage.
“How long will a FedEx truck accident case take?”
Some settle in months, serious-injury cases can take longer — especially if trial is needed. The timeline depends on medical recovery, evidence, and FedEx’s willingness to pay fairly.
Call The Law Offices Of Gerald L. Marcus Right Now
A FedEx truck accident in Los Angeles can wreck your body, your income, and your future — and FedEx will not pay what you deserve unless you force them to.
You get one shot to preserve evidence, prove liability, and demand maximum compensation.
If you or someone you love was hurt by a FedEx truck anywhere in Los Angeles or California, call The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus now at 818-784-8544 for a free, aggressive case review.
We’ll take the fight to FedEx — and we won’t stop until you get every dollar you’re owed.
We Don’t Back Down. We Dominate. Over $450 Million Won for Injury Victims.