You would be hard-pressed to find someone in Alabama or even the whole United States who has not ordered at least one thing from Amazon. Amazon delivery trucks are common sights on the road, and accidents are a growing problem.
Accidents with Amazon delivery trucks and vans often occur because delivery drivers are inexperienced, speeding, or committing common traffic violations. Accidents can be severe, and damages may include medical expenses, property damage, lost earnings from your job, and emotional anguish. To prove your claims and get fair compensation for your damages, we need evidence establishing how the defendant caused the crash. Photos and videos from the accident scene, delivery and business records, and witnesses might all be crucial pieces of the puzzle. In your lawsuit, you can sue the delivery driver who hit you in addition to their employer. Since many drivers are independent contractors rather than Amazon employees, Amazon is usually off-limits.
Call the offices of Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 and schedule a review of your injury claims with our Amazon delivery truck accident attorneys to get your case started.
Common Factors in Amazon Delivery Truck Accidents in Auburn, AL
Exactly what causes an accident is hard to say, but some common characteristics of Amazon delivery truck accidents are worth examining in your case. One big problem among Amazon delivery drivers is a lack of experience. Driving a delivery truck is not the same as driving a normal vehicle. The vehicle is larger, full of cargo, and makes frequent stops in sometimes odd places. A new driver without proper training is more likely to make a mistake and cause an accident.
Amazon delivery drivers are infamously overworked. They are frequently tasked with making many deliveries in a relatively short period, especially around the holiday season. As a result, drivers tend to speed, drive recklessly, and park in places they shouldn’t so they can make deliveries as fast as possible. This combination of speed and recklessness can be disastrous, and many accidents result from such behavior.
Even minor, common traffic violations can cause serious accidents. Considering the pressure delivery drivers are under, mistakes and traffic violations are much more likely. In addition to speeding, a delivery driver might forget to signal a turn, run a stop sign, or drive the wrong way down a one-way street. Although these violations seem minor and are rather common, they are still dangerous, and delivery drivers may be liable for accidents.
Possible Damages in Auburn, AL Amazon Delivery Truck Accident Lawsuits
Damages from collisions with Amazon delivery trucks tend to be serious. Delivery trucks are often bigger and heavier than typical cars, and they usually do a lot of damage to the victim. Medical bills for such accidents can be expensive. Emergency room treatment, surgery, x-rays, scans, and even prescriptions add up to huge bills. These damages should absolutely be claimed in your lawsuit.
In addition to physical injuries, you might lose valuable property in a collision with an Amazon delivery truck. Chief among your property damage concerns is the loss of your vehicle. Considering that many Amazon trucks are bigger and heavier than normal cars, there is a good chance that your car is totaled. You might have also lost expensive personal belongings in the crash that should be accounted for.
One potential source of significant economic damages is your income. After a crash, you might be badly injured and unable to work. While a few days or even a few weeks of leave from your job might be covered by paid time off, you might lose income if you are out of work for the long term. In such cases, you can claim the value of your lost wages as part of your damages.
You may also claim damages unrelated to money but should still be financially compensated. The physical pain from your injuries might be excruciating, and many injured victims live with long-term or even chronic pain after the accident. On top of that, the collision might take a tremendous toll on your emotional or mental state. These painful experiences are very subjective, so juries usually have the final say on how much they are worth.
Liable Parties in Amazon Delivery Truck Accidents in Auburn, AL
Although many accident victims turn to the delivery driver when filing a lawsuit or insurance claim, there might be other parties that should be held accountable for your accident. Among these potential defendants is the delivery company that employed the driver. However, many Amazon drivers do not technically work for Amazon, meaning Amazon is usually shielded from liability.
The Delivery Driver
Usually, the primary defendant in Amazon delivery accident lawsuits is the delivery driver. The delivery driver is often directly responsible for the accident and your injuries. Identifying the driver should be simple, as drivers involved in accidents are required to remain at the scene until the police arrive. However, if the delivery driver fled the scene, you might be unable to identify them for your lawsuit until after a police investigation.
Delivery Companies
Contrary to what many people assume, Amazon does not employ many Amazon delivery drivers on the road. Amazon might not even own many of the vehicles delivery drivers use to do their jobs. Instead, Amazon partners with what they refer to as Delivery Service Partners. These are private businesses that contract with Amazon to deliver Amazon packages for a fee.
Since employers may be held vicariously liable for their employee’s negligence, you might be able to sue the delivery company that the driver works for. Identifying the company might be hard as Amazon delivery drivers often wear Amazon uniforms and even drive vehicles emblazoned with Amazon logos. An attorney can help you determine who employs the delivery driver.
Amazon
Since many Amazon drivers are legally employed by Delivery Service Partners rather than Amazon, you usually cannot sue Amazon based on the employer-employee relationship with the delivery driver. Amazon is often shielded from liability in these cases, barring very exceptional circumstances.
Even so, talk to your lawyer about possibly suing Amazon. Although it is unlikely, many legal professionals believe that Amazon controls far too many aspects of delivery drivers’ jobs, and they should not classify drivers as independent contractors. It is possible that the laws surrounding Amazon’s liability might change by the time you file your lawsuit.
Call Our Auburn, AL Amazon Delivery Truck Accident Lawyers About Your Case
Call the offices of Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 and set up an evaluation of your injury claims with our Amazon delivery truck accident lawyers to get your case started.
