Serious accidents and injuries have been associated with Amazon vehicles, drivers, and Delivery Service Partners. In November 2021, a ProPublica investigation identified more than 60 accidents involving Amazon delivery contractors since June 2015 that caused serious injuries and cost the lives of 10 people, as reported by the New York Times. Fatal and catastrophic Amazon delivery truck accidents include:
- A nine-month-old baby who was killed when a driver delivering Amazon packages rear-ended her mother’s jeep in a rented box truck
- A 24-year-old man who was rear-ended by an Amazon delivery van and sustained brain and spinal cord injuries that left him confined to a motorized wheelchair
What Are the Complexities in Determining Liability After a Life-Altering Accident With an Amazon Vehicle?
If Amazon delivery driver negligence caused the crash, the driver can be held liable. The question is – can Amazon be held liable as well? Amazon claims, as its drivers are hired through third-party delivery companies, it is not legally responsible for the actions of those drivers on the job.
However, Amazon sets the standards for its drivers and monitors their performance. The company has installed cameras and artificial intelligence surveillance in its delivery trucks and employs that technology to closely track drivers’ actions. It monitors backup, speed, acceleration, cornering, braking, texting, phone calls, and seat belt usage. Cameras with AI technology can even detect when a driver yawns.
Amazon determines how many deliveries a driver should make in a 10-hour shift. It establishes and assigns routes and monitors driver performance. It can essentially fire drivers by telling its delivery partners to take them off the road. It has been argued that Amazon can be held liable for accidents its delivery drivers cause because it forces them to rush beyond the point of safety and focuses on speed of delivery without consideration for public safety.
What Evidence Should You Gather After a Dallas Amazon Delivery Truck Accident?
Gather as much evidence as possible at the scene of the accident if you are able after a crash caused by an Amazon delivery driver:
- Exchange names, contact information, insurance information, and driver’s license numbers with the other drivers involved in the crash.
- Get names and contact information for any eyewitnesses to the accident.
- Take as many pictures as you can of the accident scene. Show the damage to the vehicles, their relative positions, skid marks or crash debris on the road, traffic signals or signs, and road signs in your photos.
- Take pictures of any visible injuries you sustained.
- Get a copy of the police report when it is available.
- Get medical treatment as soon as possible, for your health and safety, and to establish a record of your injuries as evidence in your claim.
What Elements of an Amazon Delivery Truck Accident Will a Personal Injury Attorney Examine?
After a serious Amazon delivery truck accident, our Dallas truck accident attorneys will examine all the elements of the case. Factors to consider may include Amazon’s AI surveillance cameras, which may induce anxiety in drivers who feel they are being constantly watched. Another element may be the unrealistic standards Amazon sets for its drivers, setting daily quotas that put pressure on drivers to rush through their deliveries. We may examine the hiring process, contracted drivers, and other relevant factors.
If you have been seriously injured in a crash caused by a delivery driver in Dallas, call The Lenahan Law Firm at (214) 295-1008 to schedule a free consultation. Our Dallas personal injury attorneys have a successful track record recovering compensation for our clients. We can advise you of your options under the law.