Amazon Delivery Truck Accident Attorneys

FIGHTING FOR VICTIMS OF ACCIDENTS WITH AMAZON TRUCKS

Amazon continues to expand, recently opening up a large warehouse in South Jersey at the Pureland Industrial Complex. Located on Center Square Road, this new 200,000-square-foot warehouse is a sortation center that will employ between 300 to 500 workers, sorting packages to be packed on trucks and sent out for speedy delivery.

Sortation centers like this are essential in making sure Amazon can provide same-day delivery, with a later cut-off for ordering times. It also means more Amazon delivery trucks on the road, and more employees working at breakneck speed in the warehouse in an effort to get packages out on time. And all of this means the potential for more accidents involving Amazon as an employer.

Contact our Amazon Truck Accident Lawyers today at 1-800-681-3550 or using the form below for a free consultation.

Can You Sue Amazon for a truck accident and Win?

 You may wonder who is actually responsible when you get into a truck accident with an Amazon delivery truck.  In most situations – you cannot directly sue Amazon, but that doesn’t mean that you can receive damages for your injuries.  This is because Amazon generally employs independent contractors as delivery drivers and the vans you see on the road are not actually owned by Amazon, but by a division of Amazon logistics called Amazon Delivery Partner Services.

 In some cases – the driver may even be self employed and only operating one delivery truck.  Again – this does not mean that you cannot receive financial compensation.  Amazon requires all deliver drivers to carry liability insurance and it’s these insurance carriers that are responsible when you’ve been in an Accident with an Amazon truck.

What should I do after an accident with an Amazon delivery truck?

 If you or your vehicle is hit by an Amazon delivery truck your first priority should be to focus on your safety first.  If you aren’t able to get up you should wait for emergency services to arrive first.  If you can move, you should immediately do the folowing:

Call 911: Step one in any delivery truck accident is to call 911 and immediately report the accident, as well as your injuries.  It’s very common for drivers to encourage victims to “keep this under the table” but doing so can be a serious detriment to your case.  Make sure a report is filed with the police and you’ll later need it when you speak to a personal injury attorney.

Take Video and Photo Evidence: It’s vital that you take as much photo and even video evidence of the accident, your injuries, and the general scene of the accident as soon as you are physically able to.   This information will be extremely important your case if you decide to retain an attorney.

Collect As Much Information As You Can From The Driver: As you generally are not going to be suing Amazon directly for your accident you should collect as much information as you can from the driver – this would include: their full name and address, their insurance information, what contracting company they are employed by, who is the legal owner of their vehicle, as well as their phone number and license place.

Get Screened By A Doctor For More Serious Injuries: Many injuries from car accidents won’t be immediately visible – such as whiplash or back injuries.  You may even have hairline fractures that won’t immediately be obvious without an x-ray.

Consider a Free Consultation With An Amazon Accident Attorney: It never hurts to ask for free advice from a personal injury attorney.  Most personal injury attorneys don’t require payment until you settle your case, and they will generally offer a free consultation to see whether or not you have a case. 

Workers at Amazon Are at Risk of Injury on the Job

Amazon is set to employ over 50,000 people in the state of New Jersey alone this year. These high numbers will undoubtedly cause an increase to workplace injuries, as Forbes has reported that Amazon warehouse employees are at significantly higher risk of injury than workers at competitors warehouses. 

Amazon workers are prone to injuries on the warehouse floor such as:

• Slip and falls
• Being pinned by heavy machinery
• Falling off a ladder
• Injuries from lifting heavy packages
• Injuries to truck drivers during deliveries

The reason for these high rates of workplace injuries? Research suggests that the company’s obsession with speed is the culprit.

Free Consultations for Amazon Truck Accident Victims

It can be confusing for victims of a truck or car accident with an Amazon truck to know where to start after an accident.  It can be difficult to identify the truck or driver, and oftentimes large companies like Amazon take extreme care to make sure any legal preceedings are difficult and drawn out.  This doesn’t mean you can’t seek damages for your injuries – but it will be important to make sure you’re using an experienced attorney.

Can Amazon Workers Receive Workers Compensation if Injured on the Job?

If you were injured while working at an Amazon sortation center, you will need to report the injury as soon as possible to your employer, and keep detailed records of your medical bills and other associated costs. 

Amazon is likely to have their insurance company offer a settlement in this case, but it’s important that you don’t just accept their first offer. Insurance companies notoriously send out a lowball offer when first attempting to settle a workers comp claim, so it is recommended that you speak to a workers compensation lawyer first before accepting any offer they make. This will help ensure you get a fair and just settlement amount that properly compensates you for your injuries and losses. 

Maryland GovPics, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Amazon Delivery Truck Accidents

Not only are workers at Amazon warehouses prone to accidents and injuries, but the general public is also at risk due to the increase of Amazon delivery vehicles on the road any time a new sortation center is opened. 

Amazon delivery drivers are notoriously overworked, with drivers reporting they need to make over 160 stops per shift, while Amazon tracks their every move. Drivers have reported working up to fourteen hours a day, and being unable to stop even to take time and use the restroom. 

Amazon Avoids Responsibility for Accidents Involving Delivery Drivers

ProPublica launched an investigation into accidents caused by Amazon delivery drivers, finding that Amazon has been escaping responsibility for its role in the serious injuries caused by their delivery drivers. Drivers working for Amazon are actually third-party workers, meaning they don’t work directly for the company, allowing Amazon to side step their own culpability whenever something goes wrong. 

The investigation uncovered more than 60 accidents in the four year period between 2015 and 2019 that were caused by Amazon delivery drivers that resulted in serious injuries, and 10 deaths. But that number is likely only a fraction of the actual accidents that have occured, because many people injured by Amazon delivery trucks don’t end up suing, and if they do, they’re often not able to identify or prove that Amazon was involved in the crash. 

Holding Amazon Accountable

Amazon doesn’t disclose information regarding accident rates or safety records for its contractors. It has also stated repeatedly that it is not responsible for the actions of its contractors, and that the delivery service partners assume the liability and responsibility for all legal costs, covering “all loss or damage to personal property or bodily harm including death”. 

All this means that it is incredibly difficult to file a lawsuit against Amazon if you were involved in an Amazon truck accident. The lawyers at Richard Hollawell have years of experience helping victims receive the compensation they deserve, helping you cover the costs of medical expenses, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages. Contact our office at 1-800-681-3550 or use the contact form on our website to schedule your free Amazon accident consultation today.