Determining Liability for FedEx Accidents in Illinois

 Posted on August 25, 2025 in Delivery Driver Accidents

A crash with a FedEx vehicle can have grisly results. If you have been injured in one of these accidents, you should know that you have a right to pursue compensation for your damages, which may include your medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, and loss of income. Before you file a personal injury claim, however, consider seeking out legal representation.

At Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., no case is too big or small for us. Our Orland Park, IL personal injury attorney is prepared to fight for your rights after a FedEx accident. We will work to hold all of the liable parties accountable for your damages.

When Can a FedEx Driver Be Held at Fault?

To recover compensation from a motor vehicle accident in Illinois, you must prove that you were not more than 50 percent responsible for the crash (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). Some common examples of fault on the part of a delivery driver include:

• Fatigued driving

• Distracted driving

• Excessive speeding

• Ignoring traffic signage

At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we can investigate the crash to look for evidence that points to the driver’s fault. Video footage of the accident may show that the delivery driver violated a traffic law or acted recklessly. We can also look for black box data showing the driver’s speed, braking inputs, and steering at the time of the accident.

Is FedEx Responsible for Delivery Driver Accidents?

Under the legal principle of vicarious liability, employers can be held liable for accidents caused by employees. However, not all FedEx drivers are employees of the company. FedEx often uses independent contractors to make deliveries, which puts a layer of separation between the company and its drivers. We will work to establish a link between the contractor and the company, especially if FedEx exerted a high degree of control over the driver.

FedEx could also be held liable for negligence in hiring or training its drivers. If an underqualified driver was sent out on a delivery route, we will fight to hold FedEx responsible.

Third-Party Liability for FedEx Accidents in Illinois

Depending on the specific cause of the accident, other parties could be made to pay for your damages. Other liable parties in a FedEx crash may include:

• Manufacturers: If the delivery vehicle was shipped out with a critical defect, the manufacturer may have been partly responsible for the crash.

• Mechanics and maintenance companies: If the company responsible for maintaining FedEx’s vehicles did not address a clear issue that contributed to the crash, it could be held liable.

• Cargo loaders: If the crash was caused in part by an overloaded vehicle or an improperly secured load, the cargo loaders could be held at fault.

Contact an Orland Park, IL FedEx Accident Lawyer

FedEx accidents tend to be much more complicated than regular car accidents since there may be multiple entities at fault. At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., our Cook County, IL personal injury attorney will fight for your full compensation, working to identify every responsible party. Call our offices at 708-321-1223 to schedule a free consultation today.