Washington Amazon Truck Accident Attorney
When Amazon first started, it sold used college books. Today, you can buy just about anything on the site, including tiny house kits. Amazon’s dominance in the e-commerce landscape has led to a vast and (mostly) efficient logistics network, including a significant presence on Washington roads.
The promise of 2-day shipping and low prices entices many of us to keep clicking the “Add to Cart” button over and over again. In 2023, Amazon delivered approximately 5.9 billion packages around the world, an increase of 13.5% over 2022, according to Supply Chain Digest.
Unfortunately, with the increase in Amazon trucks, related accidents have also risen. Understanding the causes, impacts, and legal recourses when it occurs is the kind of supportive information that a skilled Washington Amazon truck accident lawyer can provide.
If you’ve been hurt by an Amazon truck or van delivery driver, you have a right to compensation for your injuries. Call or email us at Trucking Injury Law Group to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.
Amazon Delivery Trucks—a Legacy of Injury and Loss
Amazon isn’t just delivering more packages each year; it’s also getting them into the hands of its customers faster than ever. However, per Business Insider, drivers carrying Amazon packages were also responsible for more than 60 injury-causing accidents and at least 13 deaths between 2015 and 2019.
- In December 2023, a jury awarded a Philadelphia family $44 million in damages per an ABC 6 Action News story.
- In March 2021, an Amazon delivery van crashed into the vehicle that 24-year-old Ans Rana was riding in. He suffered spinal cord injuries and brain injuries, as discussed by the news outlet Bloomberg.
- In Jan. 2019, a driver carrying Amazon packages crashed into 9-month-old Gabrielle Kennedy’s mother’s jeep. The infant was killed in the crash, per an article published in The Seattle Times.
The actual number of Amazon-related accidents could likely be much higher. This is because the online retailer relies on a vast network of contracted truck companies and delivery drivers, according to Go By Truck News.
These trucks and delivery vans may or may not show Amazon branding, and delivery drivers may not even wear the easy-to-recognize “Prime Blue” uniforms.
The Most Common Causes of Amazon Truck and Delivery Van Crashes
At Trucking Injury Law Group, our legal team is familiar with the most common causes of Amazon truck accidents in Washington, including:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver inexperience
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driver inattention
- Impaired driving (from drugs or alcohol)
- Mechanical failure
- Tire breakdown
Many Amazon accidents can be traced back to driver error. These errors are often a direct result of Amazon’s business practices, including its promise of 2-day shipping for Prime customers. When fulfillment workers and drivers are held to tight delivery windows with impossibly high quotas, accidents are inevitable. These common causes will be investigated by your Washington Amazon truck crash lawyer as they build the narrative of your claim.
Injuries Associated with Big Truck and Delivery Van Wrecks
Delivery vans and big trucks like 18-wheelers tend to weigh a lot more than smaller passenger vehicles like cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans. In crashes involving a bigger commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and a smaller car, the big truck will win every time.
Injuries and deaths are much more common among passenger vehicle occupants. Some of the most common injuries that victims suffer include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Broken bones
- Organ damage
- Deep cuts and lacerations
- Facial injuries
- Loss of limb (amputation)
- Death
These are serious, life-altering, and often traumatic injuries, and treatment for them can be costly and time-intensive. Intense psychological damage and lingering pain can persist for a lifetime. Whether you’ve suffered one of the injuries above (or some other type), get in touch with our attorneys to better understand your right to demand financial compensation for losses you’re sure to have. Our initial consultations are always free.
Can I Sue Amazon for a Delivery Truck Accident?
As the largest online retailer in the United States, Amazon has a responsibility to its customers and workers. However, the company does not appear to take this responsibility seriously.
Amazon has repeatedly denied responsibility for truck accidents involving its delivery trucks or contracted drivers. The company’s most effective barrier to legal responsibility is its classification of its drivers.
When Amazon has been sued for truck crashes in the past, it has shielded itself from liability by asserting that its delivery drivers are not technically employees. This is the exact type of defense that an experienced Washington Amazon truck accident lawyer will be prepared to tackle.
A History of Unsafe Trucking Practices at Amazon
Amazon has repeatedly prioritized expanding its logistics and delivery network over the safety and well-being of its drivers, other motorists, and customers. One report showed that proposed safety requirements would have included mandatory drug testing for drivers.
Executives cut these and other safety standards to save money.
Unqualified or unsafe truck drivers were routinely hired as the company strove to rapidly expand its fleet, including drivers with night blindness or who admitted to using medical marijuana.
Safety concerns permeate every stage of an Amazon order, from the warehouse to the final delivery. Amazon warehouses have injury rates that are twice as high compared to non-Amazon warehouses, according to Vox, and nearly 20% of Amazon delivery drivers suffer injuries every year, per CNBC.
What To Do After an Accident with an Amazon Vehicle
What you do after an accident with an Amazon delivery vehicle matters. It’s strongly recommended that you follow these top seven steps:
- Call 911. Ask that police and an ambulance be sent to the scene of the accident right away.
- Seek appropriate medical care. Allow emergency responders to evaluate your condition at the scene and let them transport you to the hospital in an ambulance if necessary. Otherwise, seek care at the nearest emergency room or with your primary care doctor.
- Exchange information with the driver. Be sure to get their driver’s license and employer information.
- Take pictures and videos. Before you leave the scene, take pictures and videos of the crash site. Ask a friend or family member to return to the scene to take pictures if you were unable to do so.
- File a police report. Washington state requires that all accidents involving injury, death, or at least $1,000 in property damage be reported to the police.
- Keep records of everything. No bill or letter from the insurance company is too small or inconsequential. Keep copies of everything related to your case in a safe place.
- Schedule a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer. You deserve to know what your legal options are. Schedule a free meeting with an attorney from Trucking Injury Law Group.
Don’t worry if you can’t complete every one of our recommended steps. No matter what stage of the claims process you’re at, we’re here to help.
If you’ve been injured in a crash with an Amazon delivery driver, an experienced delivery truck accident attorney can be your steadfast guide through a complicated legal system as you attempt to recover fair compensation for your losses.
The Compensation a Washington Amazon Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You Get
In most truck accident cases, compensation can be broken down into economic and noneconomic losses.
Your economic damages are your tangible and calculable financial losses. These may include:
- Medical bills (including costs for past, current, and future care)
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Loss of benefits
- Property damage
- Domestic services (like housekeeping and childcare)
- Transportation costs
Noneconomic damages are less tangible and do not come with a price tag. What they compensate you for are the real and lasting ways that your life has forever been changed, such as:
- Ongoing pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship or consortium
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- Disfigurement
And if you’ve lost a loved one because of an Amazon driver’s negligent or reckless actions behind the wheel, you and your family might also be able to recover compensation for funeral and burial expenses, among other losses. Your Washington Amazon truck collision lawyer will help you calculate all your current and future expenses to come up with a reasonable amount to present to the insurance carriers involved with your claim.
Why Work With Us?
Truck crash attorneys have a single unifying goal—to advocate for injury victims and help them seek justice and fair compensation.
When you choose to work with a Washington truck accident attorney from our firm, you’ll have the backing of a legal team wholly dedicated to you and your case.
You can count on us to:
- Provide a free initial consultation to determine whether we are the right fit for your case and your needs.
- Collect and analyze all relevant evidence.
- Communicate and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
- Correctly value your truck accident case so that you don’t miss out on any financial compensation that you’re due.
- Work with outside experts when necessary, including health care professionals and accident reconstruction specialists.
- Negotiate a full and fair settlement on your behalf or take the at-fault party to court if they refuse to play fair.
Most importantly, when you choose Trucking Injury Law Group, you’ll know you always have someone on your side.
Reach Out to Trucking Injury Law Group
If you or a loved one was injured in an Amazon truck accident in Washington, we’re here for you.
Our dedicated Washington truck accident attorneys are experienced in standing up for those who need help. We won’t back down when facing off against big companies like Amazon, and we’re ready to put the full force of our legal expertise behind you and your case.
Since we believe that financial resources should never be a barrier to accessing essential legal information, we proudly offer completely free case evaluations to injury victims and their families.
Don’t wait to take action if you were involved in one of many Amazon truck crash—every state limits the amount of time you have to file a truck accident claim. Contact us today to start your case before the time limit runs out. Our Washington Amazon truck accident lawyer is ready to help.
