Amazon is a private company that seems to have an economic hold on the public. As the company continues to grow exponentially, Amazon delivery trucks and vans have become increasingly common, causing more accidents.
Amazon delivery drivers are often the primary defendants in delivery truck accident cases because their actions often directly cause the crash. You might even be able to sue the company that hired the driver. Generally, you cannot sue Amazon because the driver is likely an independent contractor, not an Amazon employee. Many accidents happen because of driver negligence, including distracted driving, speeding, and driver inexperience. In your lawsuit, you can claim damages related to economic expenses and non-economic losses.
Amazon goes to great lengths to make suing them or their drivers difficult. Still, our experienced Birmingham, AL delivery truck accident lawyers can help you get the compensation you need from the liable parties. For a free case review, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Who is Liable for an Amazon Delivery Truck Accident in Birmingham, AL?
After an accident, the first thing we must do is figure out who caused the accident. In most cases, the first person that should be investigated is the delivery driver. Since drivers are at the wheel when accidents happen, they are often directly responsible for the crash. Our Birmingham, AL Amazon delivery truck accident attorneys can help you find evidence of the driver’s negligence and prove it in court.
Other drivers on the road, in addition to the delivery driver, might also share some blame. For example, if a negligent driver recklessly cut off the delivery driver, but the delivery driver was speeding and unable to stop safely, so they swerved into your vehicle, both drivers might be liable for the accident.
In most cases, Amazon delivery drivers are not Amazon employees. Instead, they work for private delivery service providers with Amazon contracts. In such cases, you can sue the delivery service company that hired the driver under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. According to this doctrine, employers may be liable for their employee’s negligence if the negligence occurred within the scope of the employee’s job.
Can I Sue Amazon After an Accident with an Amazon Delivery Truck in Birmingham, AL?
One of the biggest questions people have after being injured in an accident with an Amazon delivery truck is whether they can sue Amazon itself. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is usually no. People are often surprised to learn that many, if not most, drivers in Amazon trucks and vans are not Amazon employees. Instead, they are independent contractors.
Many drivers in Amazon delivery trucks are employed by other delivery companies with contracts to work with Amazon. The drivers in the blue Amazon trucks and vans are not Amazon employees. The above-mentioned legal doctrine of respondeat superior does not apply to cases involving independent contractors. There must be an employer-employee relationship. Our Birmingham, AL Amazon delivery truck accident lawyers can help determine if such a relationship exists.
Many delivery drivers do not even work for a private delivery company. Instead, they work as an Amazon Flex driver. These drivers use their own vehicles to make deliveries and often work according to their own schedules. As such, they are also considered independent contractors, and Amazon is usually not vicariously liable for accidents.
It is still worth looking into a lawsuit against Amazon. Many people in the legal field believe that since Amazon heavily regulates drivers, it should be held liable for their negligence. Amazon imposes very tight schedules, and many drivers report intense pressure to make deliveries as quickly as possible. This often leads to reckless driving and a greater risk of accidents.
How Amazon Delivery Truck Accidents Can Happen in Birmingham, AL
Distracted driving is a significant cause of many accidents involving Amazon delivery trucks. Amazon delivery drivers rely on various technologies and communication devices to do their jobs. They must communicate with Amazon or the delivery company they work for and rely on things like GPS to direct them to their next delivery location. As such, it is very easy for delivery drivers to become distracted, and they could cause serious accidents.
Speeding is a big problem with Amazon delivery drivers. Even though many drivers are not Amazon employees, they are still heavily regulated by Amazon. As such, Amazon imposes very strict delivery schedules, and drivers are expected to make many deliveries quickly. To get the job done, many drivers end up speeding, sometimes recklessly, and they cause very bad accidents. Our Birmingham, AL Amazon delivery truck accident lawyers can help you use things like speeding tickets and traffic cameras to prove the defendant was speeding.
Inexperienced or careless delivery drivers are another common cause of accidents with Amazon delivery trucks. Drivers might not be thoroughly vetted before they are hired. Amazon Flex drivers often have no prior experience as delivery drivers and only do deliveries for Amazon to make a little extra money. The driver’s lack of experience might lead to accidents.
Possible Damages You Can Claim After an Amazon Delivery Truck Accident in Birmingham, AL
In your lawsuit, you can claim various damages for the losses and injuries you endured. A good way to begin calculating damages is to examine economic damages related to monetary losses and expenses. Once we have those numbers, we can evaluate non-economic damages that encompass painful personal experiences that did not necessarily come at a financial cost.
Economic damages in an Amazon delivery truck accident case are likely to be predominantly made up of your medical bills. Accidents with large trucks tend to be severe, and plaintiffs often have serious injuries that require extensive medical care. In many cases, plaintiffs must pay for long-term care for their injuries, and economic damages may be quite high. Plaintiffs can also claim economic damages related to vehicle damage or other property and lost income from missing work.
Non-economic damages are more subjective and based on your unique experiences after the accident. Mental and physical pain and suffering are good examples of non-economic injuries. These experiences are extremely difficult to endure, but they typically cost no money. Even so, our Birmingham, AL Amazon delivery truck accident attorneys can help you get financial compensation.
Contact Our Birmingham, AL Amazon Delivery Truck Accident Attorneys for Help Now
Amazon is an enormous company with a complex network of delivery routes and drivers. Our Birmingham, AL Amazon delivery truck accident attorneys can help you get compensation for damages after a crash. For a free case evaluation, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
