Is Amazon Liable for Delivery Truck Accidents?
As Amazon broadens its reach and moves towards $1 trillion per year in revenues, there is a fleet of pressured drivers struggling to get packages to you in time. If you have been injured in an Amazon delivery truck accident, the Atlanta truck accident attorneys at Hall & Lampros, LLP can help.
Usually, you cannot sue Amazon for what its drivers do because they do not technically work for the company. You can still file an insurance claim when an Amazon delivery driver was to blame for the accident. There may be some limited circumstances under which you can sue Amazon directly.
Contact the Atlanta truck accident law firm Hall & Lampros today to explore the legal process and how you may get the financial compensation you deserve. We will listen, learn and act on your behalf.
The Amazon Delivery Process Creates Danger for You
There are over 1.6 million Amazon packages delivered each day in the United States. Each one of these packages is shipped in a van or truck to the purchaser’s doorstep. To get to your home, the Amazon package would need to go through an efficient logistics process. The last step is when the order goes from a fulfillment center onto the truck.
Amazon drivers are under a considerable amount of strain. They have a large list of deliveries to make to customers who are expecting their packages. The drivers are on unfamiliar roads, pulling into and out of traffic. Not only do the drivers have to walk and lift packages, but they also have to navigate Atlanta area roads, which are challenging for anyone. Amazon is known to sacrifice safety in the name of speed to keep their customers happy. In addition, Amazon gets more than its money worth from its drivers by imposing impossibly high quotas on them.
You Can Only Sue Amazon When the Driver Was Their Employee
The question whether Amazon is liable for a delivery truck accident depends on which type of truck was involved in the accident. Amazon has its own tractor-trailers that transport goods across the country. These vehicles are owned by Amazon and driven by company employees. If you have been in an accident with a truck driven by an Amazon employee, the company would be liable if their driver was at fault
Like many other logistics and transportation companies, Amazon tends to work with third parties to make deliveries. The company outsources work to protect itself from liability and save money on things like employee benefits and workers’ compensation insurance. Amazon “employs” almost 300,000 drivers across the globe, but these people are not actually company employees. They have the legal status of independent contractors, meaning that they work at an arms’ length from Amazon.
You Can Still File an Insurance Claim
Still, you have some legal recourse if you have been injured in an accident with an Amazon delivery driver, even if they do not work for the company. Delivery truck drivers carry $1 million of liability insurance coverage. Amazon provides drivers with a commercial insurance policy. Drivers may have additional coverage of their own, especially if they are a small business. Since the driver may be personally liable if the damages exceed the insurance policy, they may purchase an additional one.
The standard rules of liability apply, meaning that you have to prove that the driver was to blame for the accident before you can qualify for financial compensation. You must negotiate a settlement with Amazon’s insurance company, which is not always easy. These insurance companies try to keep as much of the premiums that Amazon pays them as possible. You need a truck accident lawyer in Atlanta to negotiate your claim to give you the best possible chance of financial recovery.
Negligent Hiring and Retention Lawsuits Against Amazon
There is a slight chance that you could sue Amazon directly for delivery driver accidents, although it would not be an easy case. Amazon has a legal obligation to carefully scrutinize the drivers with whom it chooses to partner. In addition, the company must also cut ties with drivers who have shown themselves to be dangerous. Your truck accident attorney could review your case and help determine whether you can sue Amazon for negligent hiring and retention. You could also challenge whether Amazon properly classifies the drivers as independent contractors, but that could be a difficult case.
Contact an Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer Today
You can take control of your own destiny by calling the Atlanta truck accident law firm Hall & Lampros to discuss your case. We will speak to you during a free initial consultation, where we will learn more about you and what happened. You can begin the process of getting the legal help you need by sending us a message through our website or calling us today at 404-876-8100.
Chris has successfully represented numerous clients in catastrophic personal injury, employment law matters, class action, consumer protection, business tort, and legislative matters involving multi-million-dollar damages.