Amazon Truck Accident Lawyer

Amazon has made many people’s lives easier by providing timely delivery of almost anything they could want. With a massive presence worldwide, there’s an increased risk of Amazon truck accidents as the company’s fleet grows. The company currently operates a fleet of over 40,000 trucks and 30,000 branded vans [1]. 

With so many trucks on the road, including Flex drivers in their personal vehicles, the chance for auto accidents with these vehicles is more common than you might think. If you’re in an accident with an Amazon truck, it’s not as simple as a typical accident.

Working with an experienced Amazon truck accident lawyer is the best way to navigate through your accident claim and receive the compensation you deserve. 

Understanding Accidents Involving Amazon Delivery Trucks

Since 1994, Amazon has become one of the world’s largest online marketplaces. With such substantial growth comes a massive shift in logistics, including larger numbers of trucks on the road. The more trucks on the road, the more chances for accidents to happen. 

The accident rates among Amazon truck drivers continue to grow. More than 60 crashes between 2015 and 2019 resulted in serious injuries to Amazon drivers or other drivers [2]. While 60 might not seem like a large number over four years, it’s pretty significant. 

This doesn’t include all the minor accidents that Amazon truck drivers are involved with that don’t make it to major new stations. According to CNBC, one in five Amazon delivery drivers suffered injuries from truck accidents in 2021 alone [3]. 

Common Causes of Amazon Truck Accidents

Just like with standard car accidents, there are many reasons why Amazon truck accidents happen. Accidents don’t always have to cause serious injury or death. Some occur due to negligence, other drivers’ negligence, or operational pressures. 

Speeding is dangerous in a passenger vehicle but even more so in larger Amazon trucks. An Amazon delivery driver driving over the speed limit can lead to accidents. 

Drivers operating Amazon delivery vans tend to work long hours to meet their delivery schedules. This can lead to exhaustion or driver fatigue, which makes them less alert on the road and unable to react quickly enough to avoid car accidents. 

An Amazon delivery vehicle isn’t small and handles differently than a passenger vehicle. Accidents can occur if the Amazon delivery truck driver isn’t given proper training to drive it.

Amazon drivers aren’t the only ones who can get into car accidents because of the weather, but with larger vehicles and bad weather, it’s more common for them. Poor weather conditions can cause mishandling and situations where the driver can’t control the vehicle. 

Distracted driving is a major cause of accidents. Whether looking at the navigation for too long, looking at their phone, listening to music too loudly, talking with someone, or zoning out, distracted driving can lead to potential accidents. It can also be considered reckless driving, as the driver is less concerned about the safety of themselves and others on the road. 

When Amazon delivery trucks aren’t properly maintained, mechanical issues can lead to accidents. Regular inspections to keep up with maintenance are vital to prevent an Amazon driver from being a victim of or causing an accident. 

Amazon employees are required to load the delivery truck properly to ensure it’s safe to drive. Improper loading can cause cargo to move around, leading to unstable vehicles. 

Injuries Sustained by Truck Accident Victims

Accidents involving Amazon trucks can cause many different injuries. Some result in no real injuries besides soreness; some are minor, and some are far more serious.

The force of the impact from a crash involving an Amazon vehicle can lead to broken bones in various parts of the body. 

Sudden movements at high speeds can cause victims to jerk their heads too quickly, leading to neck injuries, mobility issues, and chronic pain. 

Lacerations can come from the seat belt, glass, or other debris from the accident. If there’s a fire due to the accident, there’s a chance the victim might suffer burns.

Accidents caused by Amazon vehicles and other large vehicles can cause serious head injuries, mainly traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). This can lead to long-term cognitive or physical impairment. 

In more serious accidents, blunt force trauma to the victim can cause internal injuries. Internal bleeding is very serious, requires immediate medical attention, and can even be fatal. Another major injury that these accidents can cause is spinal cord injuries. These can lead to partial or complete paralysis. 

Of all the potential sustained injuries from Amazon vehicle accidents, many forget about the psychological trauma. Many victims suffer from anxiety, PTSD, and even depression when dealing with life-changing injuries. 

Types of Cases Our Amazon Truck Accident Attorneys Handle

If you’ve been in an accident involving an Amazon delivery vehicle, you need a law firm that understands how to handle these unique personal injury cases. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we have the experience to handle the following delivery truck accidents: 

Rear-end collisions are common accidents for all drivers, including Amazon truck drivers. They happen when the delivery truck hits the back of another car with its front. These accidents often occur due to reckless driving or speeding. 

Side-impact accidents, commonly known as T-bone accidents, mostly happen at intersections. T-bone accidents are when delivery drivers hit the side of another vehicle. Victims tend to have serious injuries if they’re on the side where the vehicle was hit.

Head-on collisions are some of the most dangerous accidents because they involve a truck hitting another vehicle head-on while driving in opposite directions. These tend to cause the most head injuries and fatalities. 

Other accidents that delivery drivers can get into are underride and override accidents. An underride accident occurs when a small car slides under the truck. An override accident is similar in that a smaller car is under the truck but occurs when the Amazon truck drives over the smaller vehicle.

Rollover accidents can happen when drivers aren’t paying attention, speeding, or due to weather conditions. They occur when the truck driver loses control of the vehicle, and it begins to roll over. 

Amazon drivers can sometimes cause jackknife accidents during slippery road conditions. A jackknife accident happens when the truck’s trailer swings out, forming a 90-degree angle. 

Hit-and-run accidents are what they sound like. These are when the driver hits another car or person and then drives away, fleeing the scene.

Amazon trucks can also hit pedestrians and bicycle riders. Pedestrian and bicycle accidents happen more often in urban areas, where pedestrians are more likely to share the road with drivers. 

Multi-vehicle pileups happen when several vehicles are involved in an accident. A truck may have caused the accident, and then more cars were involved, or the Amazon truck may have become part of an existing pileup. 

The last common Amazon delivery truck accident occurs during the loading or unloading process. Drivers who do not follow proper procedures put themselves and others at risk for injury.

What to Do Following an Amazon Delivery Truck Accident

If you’ve been in a car accident with an Amazon truck, knowing what you need to do immediately following the accident will help you get the compensation you deserve. Depending on the seriousness of the accident, you might not do the following in the exact order. Here’s what you should do: 

• Seek Medical Attention: If you’re injured, you’ll want to get checked out immediately. Even if you feel okay and believe the injuries are minor, seeing a doctor is a good idea, as many can present themselves later and be far more serious than anticipated. 
• Report the Accident: Contact law enforcement to report the accident. Any information they can provide in their report will benefit you when you seek compensation. 
• Take Pictures: If you can, take pictures of the accident scene.  
• Exchange Information: Share your information with the others involved and vice versa. 
• Let Your Insurance Company Know: Once you’re away from the accident scene and able to, call your insurance company to report the accident. 
• Call a Personal Injury Lawyer: Working with an experienced accident lawyer who knows the intricacies of personal injury cases and Amazon vehicle accidents will help. 

How an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney Can Help

If you’ve been injured in an accident involving an Amazon delivery truck, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you secure the compensation you deserve. Our experienced legal team understands the complexities of dealing with corporate giants like Amazon and their insurance companies, ensuring you get the maximum compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

We specialize in personal injury cases, including truck accidents, and are dedicated to fighting for your rights every step of the way. Let our personal injury attorneys handle your case so you can focus on your recovery, knowing that we are committed to obtaining the best possible outcome for your financial future.

A personal injury lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers will help you with the following: 

• Comprehensive Case Evaluation: They’ll review your case’s details and determine how to proceed with your personal injury claim. 
• Gathering Evidence: Lawyers will gather evidence like the police report, witness statements, and more to help build your personal injury case. 
• Dealing with Insurance Companies: Insurance companies try to minimize payments, but your personal injury lawyer will make sure you receive fair compensation based on your claim. 
• Calculating Damages: Attorneys will help calculate the damages on your behalf. They can even find things you might not have considered when making your claim. This includes medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, etc. 
• Expert Testimony: Lawyers will look for experts to verify the information in your claim. 
• Litigation: While most attorneys can reach a fair settlement without litigation, they will take your case to court if necessary. 

Determining Liability for Amazon Delivery Truck Accidents

Something important to know about an Amazon car accident is that it’s not always the person behind the wheel of the Amazon delivery van who’s liable for an accident. Sometimes, other parties are at fault. Some potentially liable parties in these accidents include: 

• Amazon: The company itself can be liable for the actions of its drivers based on its hiring and operational practices. 
• Delivery Contractors: Independent contractors for Amazon can still be held liable as they partner with Amazon. 
• Manufacturers: The manufacturers of Amazon delivery vehicles can be liable if mechanical errors impact the accident. 
• Delivery Drivers: The Amazon truck driver can be held accountable for the accident if negligence is the cause. 

Independent Contractor Status and Its Impact on Liability

Amazon also has independent contractors who deliver for them, which can impact liability. These individuals can be held personally responsible but also as drivers for Amazon. That’s why most require Amazon Flex insurance coverage with auto liability coverage of up to one million dollars [4]. 

Proving Liability for an Amazon Delivery Truck Accident

In many cases, proving liability is one of the most challenging parts of a personal injury claim. There are a lot of different ways to prove who’s liable. Some of the ways to establish liability are: 

• Examine the Amazon delivery van driver’s work schedule to determine whether fatigue is a factor.
• Look at company records to see if all safety regulations are being followed. 
• Establish the driver’s hours and breaks by looking at time logs. 
• Look at the driver’s movements with delivery route logs. 
• Utilize GPS data to verify the driver’s location and potential speed. 
• Review the driver’s interactions and activity on the driving app.
• Look for any communication records with dispatch or others. 
• Examine dispatch records to make sure proper instructions were given. 
• Pull maintenance logs and records to ensure the vehicle was safe to drive. 
• Verify hours and rest periods with electronic logging devices (ELDs).
• Look for any surveillance footage. 
• Utilize any evidence from the accident scene.

Damages Our Amazon Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help You Recover

Getting in an accident with an Amazon delivery truck is stressful. Our truck accident lawyers can help you recover damages and receive the compensation you deserve, even in wrongful death cases. Through our experience with these cases, we’ve seen victims entitled to damages like: 

• Medical expenses for current and future needs due to the accident; 
• Lost wages while they can’t work;
• Pain and suffering from emotional and physical distress;
• Property damage to fix or replace the vehicle; 
• Loss of consortium if personal relationships were impacted; 
• Punitive damages in the case of gross negligence or intentional misconduct; 
• Wrongful death damages for victims’ families.

The Value of Amazon Truck Accident Claims

How much you’ll receive with your Amazon accident personal injury claim will vary depending on several factors. It’ll depend on the severity of the accident, who’s liable, and what you need following the accident. For example, you won’t be awarded money for medical costs if you don’t need medical care. 

Depending on the state, if you are partially liable for the accident, you may be awarded compensation based on comparative fault, which can reduce your overall compensation. 

Insurance Coverage for Amazon Delivery Drivers

Amazon offers its drivers insurance to help in the event of an accident. It includes liability overage and can even cover Amazon Flex drivers. 

The Time It Takes to Settle an Amazon Truck Accident Claim

How long it takes to settle an Amazon accident claim will vary. It depends on how complex your case is, how severe the injuries are, and the availability of evidence to assist with the claim. Claims usually take between a few months and a year. 

You Have Limited Time to Take Legal Action

Each state has a statute of limitations for filing personal injury claims. The statute of limitations is usually between one and six years old, but it can vary. In Kentucky and Louisiana, the statute of limitations is only one year, but in North Dakota, it’s six.

Contact an Amazon Truck Accident Attorney Today!

When you’re involved in an Amazon truck accident, securing fair compensation can be challenging due to the complexities of dealing with a major corporation and its insurers. The team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has a proven track record of successfully fighting for clients injured in truck accidents, and we are committed to pursuing the highest possible settlement.

You can trust that your case will be handled with expertise and dedication, helping you move forward with the financial support you need. We handle all our cases on a contingency fee basis, so we only earn our fee when you earn your settlement. 

Call our law firm at (888) 424-5757 or fill out our online form to book your free consultation. 

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Resources:  [1] Capital One; [2] CBS News; [3] CNBC; [4] Amazon