Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, even more households have taken to shopping for all sorts of goods, including clothes, general supplies, and groceries on Amazon. This has amounted to an immense volume of packages being delivered daily by thousands upon thousands of delivery drivers on stringent schedules. All things considered, it is no surprise that numerous accidents can be traced back to Amazon and its armada of trucks and drivers. If you are one of the many individuals who have been injured by an Amazon delivery driver, you have the right to pursue compensation from Amazon and its insurance company.
Do I Qualify for an Amazon Delivery Accident Case?
If you are injured due to the fault of an Amazon delivery driver, or even a defective Amazon truck, our commercial transportation accident attorneys are prepared to take your case all the way to trial unless Amazon makes a settlement offer prior to any trial that is satisfactory to you. Our first goal, always, is to do everything we can to ensure a fair and just settlement of your case.
Before signing anything, or accepting any offer Amazon or its insurer offers you, you should talk to an experienced trial attorney. Doing so before you speak to an insurance agent can be greatly beneficial because Amazon and its insurance company are (a) more likely to take you seriously and (b) less likely to offer you a low settlement payout.
If you were in an accident, it is important to consider the following questions before you proceed:
- Were you injured in the accident?
- Was the other party largely or wholly at fault for the accident?
If you were injured, you might or might not know if the other party is at fault. Only an experienced commercial accident lawyer can help you answer the second question. If the answer to both questions is yes, then there is a strong chance that you have a legal claim and are entitled to substantial compensation. Because Amazon is a multinational corporation worth more than a trillion dollars, and because its drivers are independent contractors, its insurance policies are not the same as that of the everyday commuter. This is one of the many reasons why hiring an experienced attorney to handle these complex issues on your behalf often essential to ensure your rights are protected.
The Question of Coverage & Amazon Flex Insurance Claims
Getting into an accident with an Amazon delivery truck driver is similar to getting into an accident with any other driver on the road, except the other party just so happens to be working for one of the largest companies on Earth. Thus, many victims of these accidents are at a loss for how to approach the issue of an insurance claim and may not know whether they should go through Amazon customer service, Amazon claims department or hire an experienced attorney.
When a driver, hired through an Amazon Delivery Service Partner or Amazon Flex, is at fault, accident victims may face a jumbled insurance nightmare due to the contracted company’s own rules, regulations, and insurance coverage. Perhaps worse, in the rare instance in which an Amazon employee is involved in an incident. Amazon’s website provides minimal to no information regarding what to do should you be injured by one. This is yet another reason why you should never deal with the defendants directly, but should hire experienced and knowledgeable legal counsel to help determine the best course of action for your protection.
As for Amazon Flex, Amazon provides each Flex driver with liability coverage, contingent collision and comprehensive coverage, and with uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage. In the event of an accident for which the Flex driver is at fault, their Flex insurance will cover up to $1 million in property and bodily injury damages. However, this insurance policy is not automatically given to every Amazon truck driver. Instead, the delivery driver must opt for personal comprehensive and collision coverage in order to be additionally protected by Amazon’s insurance.
It is not out of the ordinary to be injured by a driver who was not aware of this technicality and, thus, does not have adequate insurance coverage. You should be on your guard that a poorly insured driver, or their lawyer, might try to pressure you to settle for less than you deserve. Be sure to consult an experienced commercial vehicle accident lawyer to ensure your rights are protected before you agree because you still might be entitled to much more consultation. And remember, it costs you nothing for such a consultation.
The fact of the matter is that severe injuries seriously affect a person’s quality of life, either in the long run or for a short period of time. It is not fair that you should have to suffer and go into debt because of someone else’s fault. If you were injured due to an Amazon delivery driver’s negligence, you have the legal right to pursue compensation through an insurance claim or a personal injury suit.
Choosing an Attorney
You do not have to hire an attorney to assist you in your claim, but it is in your best interest to do so. When deciding to hire an attorney it is important to consider a law firm that is highly trained and experienced in handling auto, commercial vehicle, and truck accident cases. They will be able to effectively and efficiently help you uncover evidence, formulate a strong argument, negotiate with the other side, and present your case to a judge and jury if necessary.
Our team at Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman has the experience necessary to give your claim a great chance of reaching a favorable resolution. Our law firm is home to legal professionals nationally recognized for their success against some of the world’s largest Fortune 100 companies such as UPS, Walmart, General Motors, Ford Motor Co., Boeing, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Merck, and many U.S. airlines. Don’t stand alone with your case. Contact Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman online today to get started with a free consultation with experienced truck accident lawyers. They will stand up for you.