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Serving Injury & Accident Victims
in Maryland, Virginia, and DC
Serving Injury & Accident Victims
in Maryland, Virginia, and DC
Amazon trucks are a common sight across the country. No matter where you live in Maryland, Virginia, or DC, you’ll see them constantly darting in and out of neighborhoods and business districts.
Recent years have seen even more Amazon trucks on the road. In the fall of 2018, Amazon purchased thousands of delivery vans and leased them to independent contractors (delivery service partners) who invested as little as $10,000 to earn profits of over $4 million a year. When the pandemic began, volume increased explosively as more and more shopping moved online. Today, the online shopping giant ships approximately 19 orders per second.
Although Amazon does train and monitor their drivers, human error can still cause serious and even fatal accidents. If it happens to you, you need and deserve a truck accident lawyer who has the experience, resources, and determination to fight for your compensation. At DuBoff & Associates, Chartered, we have a reputation for excellence in truck crash cases and will protect your rights in an accident claim.
An Amazon truck delivery accident can result from a number of reasons. These causes include but may not be limited to:
Commercial truck drivers are required to follow certain laws regarding driving times and rest periods, but these rules don’t apply to most Amazon drivers. This can lead to drivers working in unsafe conditions, which can result in potentially fatal accidents.
When you’ve been injured in a truck delivery accident involving an Amazon vehicle, you might wonder whether or not you can sue Amazon directly.
Truck drivers delivering cargo for Amazon are often independent contractors hired by Amazon Delivery Partner Services, which is a division of Amazon Logistics. They are not direct employees of the company. In a truck accident case against an Amazon delivery truck, this difference can have a huge impact on who you sue and how you receive compensation.
In most cases, you cannot file a lawsuit directly against Amazon after an accident involving a delivery vehicle. However, Amazon requires all of its contractors to carry liability insurance known as Amazon Flex Insurance coverage, which covers up to $1 million in injuries and damages suffered by third parties.
However, in order for you to seek compensation under this policy, the Amazon delivery driver must be on the clock. If the accident occurs after the driver is off duty, Amazon Flex insurance will not cover the damages and you will have to sue the driver directly.
If you’ve been struck by an Amazon delivery truck or van, take the following steps to strengthen your personal injury claim.
If you’ve been in an auto accident, the first thing you need to do is call 911 and request the police. They will come and, after inspecting the scene and taking statements from everyone involved, create a detailed report. This report is crucial for seeking compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurer, so ask the police to send you a copy.
If the driver remained at the scene, get their contact and insurance information. Don’t say anything that could be construed as accepting blame, such as “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you!” Confine your conversation to information exchange.
If anyone witnessed the accident, talk to them and get their contact information too. Their statements can serve as evidence when you go to file your claim.
The police will take photos of the accident scene when they arrive, but you should also take pictures if you can. Photograph your vehicle, the scene of the accident, and any injuries suffered by you or your passengers.
After an accident, you should always seek medical attention, even if you do not believe you have been injured. Often, the extent of a person’s injuries isn’t evident until hours or days after the accident. Your health care team will document your injuries and provide evidence for your compensation claim.
You stand the best chance of getting the compensation you need by reaching out to a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Claims involving Amazon delivery vehicles can be extremely complicated and without legal representation, you could end up with a lot less money than you deserve.
In addition to collecting police and medical reports, your lawyer will take steps to preserve vital evidence related to the accident:
Accident victims who hire a lawyer tend to get better results than those who don’t. You and your family deserve an advocate who isn’t afraid to take on Amazon, its insurers, and their counsel to get the money you need to recover.
How much you receive in an Amazon truck delivery settlement will depend on several factors. In the end, you should be compensated for all expenses incurred in the accident, including both your recovery costs and any lost income, as well as lost income and decreased earning ability.
Your truck accident lawyer will use your medical reports, previous pay stubs, treatment invoices, and professional opinions from medical and vocational experts to assign a value to your claim. They will then negotiate for this amount and take your case to court if the insurer refuses to make a fair settlement offer.
If you’ve been severely injured in a truck delivery accident, facing a large corporation like Amazon can be intimidating and overwhelming. The skilled attorneys at DuBoff & Associates, Chartered are here to help you navigate the process and ensure that you receive the compensation you need to get your life back on track. Call us today at 866.210.6720 for a free consultation.
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