Amazon has quickly grown to be one of the largest online retailers in the world, and delivers billions of Amazon packages throughout the United States each year. This means that there are countless Amazon delivery trucks and vans on the road at any given time. While Amazon is certainly a convenient way to shop, the sheer amount of Amazon trucks on the road means that Amazon delivery drivers are responsible for auto accidents almost every day. While Amazon does take precautions when it comes to training their drivers, there is still room for human error that can result in serious and even deadly accidents.
About Amazon
Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos in Seattle, Washington. The company went public in 1997 and primarily sold books, music, and videos. The company quickly grew and began selling additional products such as software and video games. Today, Amazon is a multinational technology organization that offers a variety of goods and services, including e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and digital streaming. It is one of the top companies in the United State’s information technology industry and ranks alongside Apple, Facebook, and Google.
Amazon owns a number of sub-companies that offer a variety of services. These companies include Amazon Drive, AmazonFresh, Amazon Prime, Kindle, Echo, Alexa, Kindle Store, Fire TV, and Amazon Studios. Amazon also owns more than 40 subsidiaries that include Audible.com, CreateSpace, Goodreads, Junglee, Shelfari, Lab126, Ring, and Whole Foods Market. As of 2020, the company held $321,195 million in assets and employed an estimated 1,298,000 individuals.
Amazon relies on several transportation services to deliver its packages to buyers. These services are owned by Amazon and include Amazon Logistics, Amazon Air, Amazon Prime Air, and Amazon Flex. Amazon also uses Amazon Delivery Partner Services to hire independent contractors to deliver packages throughout the United States and around the world.
Amazon Delivery Truck Accident Data
Because Amazon relies on independent delivery service companies that are hired through Amazon Delivery Partner Services, finding data on auto accidents caused by Amazon delivery drivers is nearly impossible. In fact, many of the trucks and vans driven by Amazon drivers are Sprinter-style vans such as the Ford Transit 250 that often have no indication of the company on the exterior. These vans are just below the weight limit that would require the oversight of the Department of Transportation, meaning very little data is available through this reliable source.
While exact data is not available, other facts are. These facts include that many Amazon delivery drivers are responsible for making up to or more than 250 package deliveries a day, which puts immense pressure on the driver to fulfill their quota within their eight-hour work shift. Additionally, public records show hundreds of auto accidents caused by vans or tractor-trailer trucks delivering Amazon packages since 1025, with at least 10 of those accidents resulting in a death. There have also been at least 100 lawsuits filed against Amazon directly.
Even this small amount of data is an indication that there are several accidents caused by Amazon drivers on a regular basis.
What Are My Options After Being Involved In An Accident With An Amazon Delivery Driver?
You have a number of options following an accident caused by an Amazon delivery driver. The option you choose will largely depend on the result of the accident. For example, if the collision only resulted in minor damage to your vehicle, you may choose to simply work with the at-fault driver to settle the dispute without involving insurance. However, if the accident results in injury to you or a loved one, you’ll likely want to take things a step further by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. If necessary, you may even need to pursue legal action to get the compensation you need and deserve.
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Common Causes Of Amazon Delivery Truck Accidents
There are several common causes that result in an accident caused by an Amazon delivery truck or van driver. These causes include:
- The driver is in a rush to complete all of their deliveries and practices unsafe driving
- Reckless driving and/or speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Hampered visibility as a result of packages in the windshield area
- Distracted driving, such as texting or talking on the phone while driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Ignoring traffic signals such as stop lights or signs
While other commercial truck drivers are required to practice safe driving habits to avoid fatigue, most Amazon drivers are not subjected to these strict requirements. This can result in drivers working under unsafe conditions and can lead to dangerous and even deadly accidents.
Injuries That Can Result From A Crash With An Amazon Delivery Truck
As with other truck and auto accidents, an accident caused by an Amazon delivery truck or van can result in mild to major injuries. The injuries sustained will depend on the weight of the Amazon van or truck, how quickly the automobiles were traveling at the time of collision, and the severity of the accident.
Examples of injuries incurred during an auto accident with an Amazon delivery truck or van include:
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spine injuries
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Fractured bones
- Cuts, lacerations, and burns
- Back and neck injuries
- Seat belt injuries
- Paralysis
- Wrongful death
What To Do After An Amazon Delivery Truck Accident
The following are steps accident victims should take immediately following an accident caused by an Amazon delivery truck driver:
Contact Law Enforcement
The first thing you should do after an auto accident is call the police. They will come to the scene and perform various tasks that will ultimately provide you with concrete documentation of the collision. Be sure to ask for a copy of the police report, as this is vital information when seeking compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier.
Take Pictures
While the police will take photos of the scene of the accident while onsite, you should also take pictures as well if you’re able to do so. Get images of the vehicles involved in the collision, any injuries you or your passengers sustained, and the scene of the accident.
Seek Medical Attention
You should always elect to seek medical attention following an accident, even if you don’t feel you’ve sustained any injuries. Many injuries incurred during an auto accident aren’t realized until hours or days later. If you elect to not seek medical attention and end up with an injury days or weeks after the accident, you could risk missing out on compensation for those injuries due to a lack of medical documentation immediately following the collision.
Contact A Personal Injury Lawyer
If you choose to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver’s company or Amazon itself, you’re going to want dedicated and experienced professionals on your side. These types of accidents often involve a number of legal issues that can be difficult to understand, especially following the stress of being involved in a car accident. The attorney you work with will be able to provide you with the services you need to ensure you go to court with a solid case.
Can You Sue Amazon After An Accident With An Amazon Delivery Truck?
If you’ve recently been injured as a result of an accident with an Amazon delivery van or truck, you may be curious about whether you can sue Amazon directly for your injuries. Unfortunately, most individuals who are involved in Amazon delivery truck accidents cannot sue Amazon directly for compensation. This is because many of the trucks and vans driven by Amazon delivery drivers are not owned directly by Amazon, and the driver is not a direct employee of Amazon. Typically, Amazon delivery drivers are independent contractors that are hired and employed by Amazon Delivery Partner Services, which is a division of Amazon Logistics. As a result, the defendant in a court case would be the company that hired the independent contractor rather than Amazon itself.
Because Amazon drivers are not directly hired by Amazon, the company is able to get out of direct liability when drivers are involved in auto accidents. So, in short, in most cases you cannot sue Amazon directly after an accident with an Amazon delivery truck or van. However, Amazon does require all of its contractors to have liability insurance, which means you can seek compensation. The liability insurance required is known as Amazon Flex Insurance coverage. This insurance plan offers auto liability coverage of up to $1 million. This means that when a delivery driver is responsible for an auto accident, the insurance plan will cover up to $1 million in injuries and damages suffered by third parties.
One thing to know is that this insurance is only viable if the Amazon delivery driver is “on the clock.” This means that if the accident happens after the driver has clocked out, the Amazon Flex insurance will not cover injuries or damages.
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Contact Florin|Roebig Truck Accident Attorneys
Going up against a large corporation such as Amazon can be intimidating and overwhelming, especially if you’ve been severely injured or traumatized. Florin|Roebig is here to help and would be happy to walk you through the steps and ensure you get the compensation you deserve following such a traumatic event. Call us today for a free consultation at (800) 226-6581.
