Why Amazon Delivery Accidents Happen and What to Do About It:
Amazon is one of the most popular online retailers in the world. With its fast and free shipping, it’s no wonder that so many people choose to shop with them.
However, as with any large company who funds hundreds of thousands of delivery vehicles around the world, sometimes things go wrong. In this article, we will discuss Amazon delivery accidents and what you can do if you’re ever involved in one.
What causes Amazon delivery accidents?
There are many reasons why Amazon delivery accidents happen. The most common cause is human error. This can be anything from the driver being distracted or tired, to reckless driving to meet time quotas.
- Distractions
Amazon delivery drivers are highly capable. They are required to undergo rigorous training in order to meet Amazon’s delivery driver standards. However, training isn’t always enough. Amazon also requires drivers to agree to constant monitoring, from yawn detecting, to text and phone messaging.
These might keep drivers focused on the road sometimes, but you’ll find later that it’s not always the case. Drivers often follow a GPS system, which takes their focus away from the road, and also need to respond to constant communications with their dispatchers. Distracted drivers are dangerous —no matter how quickly your package arrives.
- Tired and overworked drivers
Another common cause of Amazon delivery accidents is tired and overworked drivers. Some Amazon drivers are working 12-hour shifts with little to no time for breaks. This obviously leads to fatigue, which is just as dangerous (if not more dangerous) as distracted driving.
As you may already know, Amazon doesn’t directly employ their delivery drivers. Instead, they enter into partnership with delivery companies. This provides the delivery companies with plenty of business, but meeting Amazon’s strict time requirements is required. This often leads to overworked and underpaid delivery drivers. So your free delivery actually does come at a cost.
- Reckless driving
Reckless driving among delivery drivers occurs for the same reason why drivers are tired -Amazon’s time and delivery quotas. Sometimes, in order to meet these quotas, drivers will take shortcuts or engage in risky driving behavior. This obviously increases the chances of an accident happening. In fact, most Amazon delivery accidents occur due to reckless driving —another cost of free delivery.
What to do if you’re involved in an Amazon delivery accident:
- Assess the situation
An Amazon delivery accident can be a very stressful experience. Not only are you dealing with potential injuries, but also property damage and the hassle of dealing with insurance companies.
If you’re involved in an Amazon delivery accident, the first thing you should do is assess the situation. Have you or anyone else in the vehicle been injured? If so, you should seek medical attention.
- File a police report
The next thing you should do is call the police and file a report. This is important for insurance purposes and will also help create a record of what happened. Make sure you give the police officer a detailed account of how everything happened.
- Seek professional help
Do not admit fault, or even hint at the thought that you might have been —even if you think you may have been at fault. Instead, contact an attorney who specializes in delivery truck accidents.
These are often complicated waters to navigate, so it’s important to have professional help. For more information on who you can talk to if you’ve been injured in a delivery truck accident in the Los Angeles area, visit JT Legal Group.
Once you’ve done that, you should also contact Amazon and let them know what happened. They will likely want to do an investigation and may ask you for additional information. However, doing this with your attorney present might make the process easier.
Unfortunately, recovering compensation from Amazon is more difficult than it should be, due to Amazon’s limited liability. Since they don’t hire truck drivers directly, but instead create partnerships with delivery companies, Amazon is not always held accountable —despite the many distractions and often unsustainable workload they require of drivers.
However, there is currently a lawsuit being filed against Amazon for this very reason. You can learn more about it, and how you can help here.
Conclusion
Amazon delivery accidents are unfortunately becoming more and more common. While there are many reasons for this, the most common seem to be distracted driving, tired and overworked drivers, and reckless driving. If you or someone you know has been involved in an Amazon delivery accident, it’s important to seek professional help as soon as possible to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.