Amazon has become one of the biggest product supply and delivery companies globally. They’ve surpassed FedEx and rival UPS and the Post office for package deliveries daily. They have their own fleet of drivers and vans and use “Flex” drivers. These “Flex” drivers are not always professional commercial drivers. Sometimes, they’re just ordinary gig workers.
If you are involved in an accident with an Amazon driver, it makes a difference whether they’re an official Amazon driver or a Flex driver working for Amazon part-time. If you were hit by a truck or van with an Amazon logo, you should contact an attorney right away. At Brauns Law, we’re here to help you determine what to do after an accident involving an Amazon delivery van.
How Amazon Van Accidents Happen
Amazon drivers are no different than any other drivers. They are just as likely to become distracted, talk on their phones, speed, run traffic signals, and do other things that cause accidents.
Amazon has created the Amazon Flex program to maximize the number of available drivers. Like Uber and Lyft, Flex allows ordinary drivers to pick up supplement income by delivering for Amazon part-time.
The problem with Flex is that drivers may be inexperienced or unaccustomed to the demands of delivery driving. They may feel pushed to meet deadlines or hurry to make deliveries. As gig workers, they may not be held to the same standards as regular employees, who come into a warehouse or office every day. All these things can lead to Flex drivers being more prone to accidents than Amazon’s regular van drivers.
Vans themselves are prone to the same issues as any commercial vehicle. They are large and difficult to maneuver and have blind spots that are only partially relieved by the side mirrors. It is easy for their drivers to forget that cars may be beside or behind them when they stop abruptly. Van accidents are common on crowded streets and busy parking lots.
Injuries Suffered in Amazon Van Collisions
If you were hit by an Amazon delivery van, you could suffer severe injuries, including:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Cuts and lacerations
- Neck and back injuries, spinal cord damage, and nerve damage
- Head trauma and brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Burns and scarring
- Pain and suffering and emotional anguish
Compensation For an Amazon Van Accident
As with any personal injury claim, you should be able to make the same claims for compensation after an Amazon van accident as you would for any vehicle accident. Some of these claims would include:
- Medical expenses, including hospital bills, therapy, and rehabilitation costs
- Medication bills
- Lost income and wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
The problem with obtaining compensation after an Amazon van or driver accident will be proving that the driver was “on duty” and driving for Amazon at the time of the accident.
According to ridesharing and drive sharing laws, Amazon Flex delivery drivers must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 liability insurance. This covers any injuries or damage when they are on duty. You must then prove that they were “on duty” at the time of the accident.
If the driver was in an Amazon delivery van, there is no question that they were driving for Amazon. However, if they were in their vehicle, they may claim, or Amazon may claim, the driver was on a break, running an errand, or not on their clock when the accident happened. Therefore, it’s essential to get all insurance information from all drivers at the time of an accident.
Drivers may deny working for Amazon for fear of being shut out of other Amazon jobs or because they were at fault and don’t want Amazon to refuse to hire them again. On the other hand, they might not have been on Amazon’s clock, and you will need to seek compensation from the driver’s own liability insurance.
How Brauns Law Can Help
Once you contact an Atlanta personal injury attorney like Brauns Law, we will start working to prove that the driver was working for Amazon at the time of the accident. This can be established through a review of documents we can obtain from Amazon and the other driver:
- Delivery logs. These records will show what packages were picked up by the driver and when they were delivered or dropped off at the location. During the time between deliveries, the driver must have been “on duty” and thus covered by Amazon’s insurance.
- Witness statements. Drivers may not have the Amazon logo on their personal vehicles. Witness statements could prove that the driver delivered packages before and after the accident.
- Deposition testimony. The driver may be reluctant to admit they were driving for Amazon for various reasons. Getting them to admit it could help make your case.
Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule in determining fault. If you are found to be less than 50% at fault in an accident, you could recover fair compensation, but if your fault is 50% or greater, you cannot recover anything. Having an experienced Amazon accident attorney representing you will improve your chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been involved in an Amazon van or delivery driver accident, you need the Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC on your side. Call us or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.
