Amazon is expected to surpass FedEx and UPS and become the largest package delivery company in the United States. But with the increased production, Amazon is also facing safety scrutiny for driver injuries and delivery vehicle accidents.
As accident attorneys with a proven track record against major transportation companies, we have seen a rise in delivery vehicle accidents, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. A recent report found that Amazon delivery vehicle drivers experienced one injury per five full-time-equivalent workers. One of the leading causes of these injuries to drivers was Amazon delivery accidents.
If you are injured in an accident with an Amazon delivery truck or van, the award-winning accident attorneys at Wisner Baum are prepared to fight for maximum compensation for you and your family. Our firm understands what it takes to win big cases against big companies. With more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients across a broad range of practice areas, your case is in good hands with us.
Amazon Delivery Vehicle Quotas Might be to Blame for Accidents
Since Amazon entered the package delivery space in 2018, some have wondered if increased delivery demands and intense driver quotas threaten safety on the roads. A recent report from the Strategic Organizing Center (SOC), titled “The Worst Mile”, outlined the stressful delivery quotas that Amazon “Delivery Service Partner” (DSP) drivers face every day:
“Claims in one lawsuit state that during peak times, Amazon expected a DSP operator in Sacramento to deliver 350-400 packages per day per van. To complete this number of deliveries in a 10-hour shift, drivers would need to park, sort, deliver, and document a delivery approximately once every 1 to 2 minutes—presuming they do not take any breaks.”
Faced with unrealistic quotas, it is no wonder that Amazon delivery drivers are involved in more and more accidents. It is difficult to determine the exact number of Amazon delivery accidents because the company uses an army of contractors to deliver packages, and Amazon accident statistics are not publicized. However, based on the sheer number of drivers and the company’s DSP agreement, some critics say that Amazon’s stringent delivery standards may increase the risk of accidents that can hurt or kill people.
“The real issue is Amazon’s sky-high production pressure and delivery quotas which push Amazon workers to work too fast and DSP drivers to risk injury as they rush to hit delivery targets,” the report says.
Amazon DSPs are contractually required to "defend and indemnify" the company in cases involving "death or injury" to any human being in an accident, according to the Detroit News. Nevertheless, Amazon can still be held accountable in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, even if the Amazon delivery vehicle driver involved in the accident is an Amazon DSP or was hired under Amazon Flex.
Of course, victims are likely to face a jumbled insurance nightmare due to the contracted company’s rules, regulations, and insurance coverage. As attorneys with experience litigating these claims, we believe Amazon accident victims should retain legal counsel to represent their interests to help level the playing field.
Amazon Delivery Van Accident Kills Child in Irvine, California
On August 16, 2022, an Amazon delivery van struck a 23-month-old girl in an apartment complex in Irvine. The accident happened at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the little girl dead at the scene.
Authorities say the Amazon van, which was operated by a third party, hit the child near the 300 block of Estancia. With no witnesses to the accident, police officials are working to find surveillance footage. The Irvine Police Department issued a statement on the accident indicating that drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor. An investigation is ongoing.
Woman Injured in Amazon Delivery Van Accident Gets $5 Million
In June of 2022, a California jury returned a verdict for an Amazon delivery accident victim worth $5 million. Plaintiff Anita Sun Eisenberg of California filed a personal injury lawsuit against Amazon after she was involved in an accident with a company delivery van.
An Amazon delivery vehicle ran over Eisenberg in a parking lot, which allegedly caused her to suffer a severe crush injury to her leg, neck and back, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS. At trial, Amazon did not dispute that Eisenberg sustained a serious injury to her ankle and leg. However, defense attorneys disputed Eisenberg’s CRPS claim in addition to the severity of the alleged neck and back injuries.
In the end, the jury was unpersuaded by the defense and awarded the plaintiff $5 million. Attorneys for the plaintiff do not anticipate an appeal from Amazon. Eisenberg is a 43-year-old entrepreneur and beauty aesthetician who appeared on the popular reality television show Shark Tank prior to the Amazon accident.
Were You Involved in an Amazon Truck Accident? An Experienced Lawyer Can Help You
Victims of Amazon truck accidents have legal rights. While it may be true that Amazon hires its delivery vehicle drivers as independent contractors to distance themselves from accident liability, there are still legal avenues for victims to pursue justice and compensation.
Is Amazon liable for an accident? Or the third party?
Companies are generally liable for negligent or wrongful actions of employees working within the course and scope of their job duties. Because Amazon uses third party contractors, Amazon could argue that it was misled on safety practices by the third party involved in the accident. At the same time, the third party could argue that Amazon created unrealistic quotas for deliveries, which potentially encouraged dangerous driving.
Regardless of who is liable, you as the victim need a lawyer who is not afraid of taking on any defendant, whether it is Amazon or one of its independent contractors. The accident attorneys at Wisner Baum have decades of experience litigating cases against major companies.
If you need help after an Amazon truck accident, we are here for you. Contact us or call (855) 948-5098 for a free and confidential case evaluation.