Over the past two decades, Amazon has aggressively transformed itself from a fledging online retailer into a sophisticated transportation and logistics provider whose services include not only retailer support services like warehousing and inventory control, but also order fulfillment and delivery of those orders to buyers.
With the massive success of programs like Amazon Prime and Fulfillment by Amazon, interstates and secondary roadways are now filled with Amazon delivery vans and tractor-trailers, many of which may be operated by drivers unfit to be on those roads.
With the surge in traffic that has been created by this cargo, crashes involving Amazon delivery vans and 18-wheelers have dramatically risen.
Those affected by these crashes may be shocked to learn that Amazon claims not to be responsible for the harm caused by any of these crashes because the delivery drivers are “independent contractors.”
How can this be? Surely, the truck driver operating an Amazon-branded delivery van and wearing an Amazon uniform would be considered an Amazon employee.
You would also think that truck drivers hauling Amazon Prime trailers loaded with Amazon packages were Amazon employees. But Amazon takes the exact opposite position as an attempt to shield itself from accountability in truck crash lawsuits—all the while, still exercising control over these “independent contractor” drivers.
Because of this, once Amazon's potential involvement in an accident has been discovered, the process of holding Amazon accountable through a personal injuryLegal term for an injury to the body, mind, or psyche, as opposed to an injury to property. lawsuit can become complex. This is where the expertise of a truck accident attorney with experience navigating the legal maze surrounding liabilityLegal responsibility for one's acts or omissions. In negligence cases, liability includes proving negligence, proving causation, and resulting damages. issues becomes invaluable.
Referrals & Co-Counsel
Involved in a Crash?
No other law firm knows trucks quite like us. Our trucking law expertise and trial experience allow us to win multi-million-dollar results year after year.
Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
Referrals & Co-Counsel
No other law firm knows trucks quite like us. Our trucking law expertise and trial experience allow us to win multi-million-dollar results year after year.
Involved in a Crash?
Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
Amazon’s Transportation Model
Amazon is a sophisticated transportation provider that gets paid to deliver cargo from third-party sellers to buyers and end users. To fulfill these massive delivery needs, Amazon employs a network of drivers and companies for last-mile and middle-mile deliveries.
What is Middle Mile Delivery?
Middle-mile deliveryDelivery of goods from a warehouse or distribution center to fulfillment facilities. is the part of the delivery and supply chains that includes the transport of cargo from one fulfillment center to another.
In the case of Amazon, after cargo arrives at a fulfillment center from another fulfillment center, the goods are then stored and sorted for
What is Last Mile Delivery?
Where middle-mile deliveries usually involve the transport of cargo in 18-wheelers and box trucks on behalf of the sellers, last-mile deliveryMovement of goods from a transportation hub to their final destination. This is commonly a delivery of goods to a residence or business from Amazon, FedEx, DLH, UPS or similar companies. involves the final stage of transport to the consumers.
For Amazon, this usually is done in Amazon-branded delivery vans or drivers using unmarked – and sometimes their personal – vehicles.
Shipper or Something More?
Even though Amazon often expressly agrees to transport the cargo on behalf of its seller customers – and gets paid to do so, Amazon often attempts to characterize itself as merely a “shipper.”
In other words, Amazon would have the public believe that its role in shipping your Amazon order is not significantly different than someone dropping off a package in a box for pickup by a carrier like USPS, UPS, or FedEx. The reality, however, is far different.
A Contractor in Company Clothing
These delivery service partners (DSPs) and middle-mile drivers often operate vehicles that carry the Amazon logo and drivers may also wear Amazon-branded uniforms. However, should one of these vehicles be involved in a crash, Amazon claims these drivers are not Amazon employees but, rather, independent contractors.
Despite Amazon’s claim that drivers are “independent contractors,” Amazon still controls the operative details of this shipment as well as the method, manner, and means of the cargo’s transportation.
Those details include requiring drivers to use certain apps and technology that monitor and control nearly every aspect of the transportation process.
Through a combination of contract and digital oversight, Amazon monitors and/or controls the delivery/pick-up times and scores the drivers for:
1. On-time performance
2. Tender acceptance rates
3. Mobile application usage
Amazon also can communicate directly with drivers through their app and may monitor them with in-vehicle cameras. Messages can be sent to and received from drivers; Amazon also records whether the driver has seen, opened, and read the messages.
Additionally, Amazon's transportation department oversees deliveries continuously, stepping in when items are late, off-schedule, or fail to arrive by the set deadline. The company can impose penalties on drivers who do not meet these deadlines or fail to adhere to Amazon's standards. Furthermore, Amazon has the authority to inspect the facilities and records of those it contracts to haul cargo, and it enforces stringent guidelines through mandatory policies and procedures.
Standing Up for the Little Guy
Involved in a crash with an Amazon truck? The task of taking on larger companies with seemingly unlimited resources may seem daunting, but you don't have to take them on alone.
Truck accident attorney Matthew Wright is here to stand up for you. Board certified in truck accident law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy* and a leader in a national Amazon group that teaches other lawyers on how to build case strategies against Amazon.
Matthew and the other lawyers at The Law Firm for Truck Safety are here to help you fight back against corporate giants to ensure you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
Why Does This Matter?
For drivers and companies to deliver cargo on Amazon’s behalf, virtually any company that can fill out an application and obtain some minimum insurance can qualify, even with little or no significant experience in trucking or transportation.
Indeed, Amazon routinely employs companies that lack any operating history, have never undergone a safety audit and may even have histories of severe safety infractions. These dangerous practices can directly increase the risk of harm to the motoring public.
How Do I Know if It’s a Contactor or an Amazon Employee?
If you were involved in a crash with an Amazon vehicle, it may not always be obvious if Amazon can be named as a responsible partyA participant in a lawsuit. In a civil lawsuit, the party who sues is the plaintiff and the party being sued is the defendant. in your truck accident lawsuit, as Amazon usually has transportation providers sign “independent contractor” agreements.
An experienced truck crash lawyer, like those at The Law Firm for Truck Safety, can determine what liability Amazon may have if they were involved in your delivery vehicle crash.
Can I Recover Damages from Amazon?
Securing compensation for damages or injuries in accidents involving Amazon crashes can be challenging. Amazon has virtually unlimited funds to fight any and all allegations of harm made by crash victims. And, unfortunately, as a result, it’s those who need support the most who often find themselves navigating sophisticated legal attempts Amazon uses to shield it from accountability.
Working with an experienced truck accident attorney can greatly help you stand up to Amazon and similar retail giants, hold all parties accountable, fight back, and build a case strategy that breaks through the claims of immunity that retail giants and distributors may argue by hiding behind a veil of contractor fleets.
Finding the Best Attorney to Handle Your Amazon Car Accident Case
For those involved in an accident with an Amazon delivery vehicle or 18-wheeler, it is crucial to seek legal counsel from personal injury attorneys who are experienced in handling these complex cases.
At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, our lawyers understand the intricacies of these arrangements and are equipped to fight for the rights and compensation that accident victims deserve.
We have significant experience handling cases against Amazon where Amazon claims not to be responsible.
Seeking Justice After an Amazon Delivery Truck Accident
As the reliance on online shopping continues to grow, so does the importance of understanding the safety consequences of the delivery systems that support this convenience.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by a delivery truck bearing the Amazon logo or if you suspect your crash be related to an Amazon delivery -- even if there isn’t a visible Amazon logo – contact the truck accident attorneys at The Law Firm for Truck Safety today.
While the path to compensation can be complicated and draining, you and your family don’t have to navigate the legal maze alone. With the support of a skilled truck accident attorney experienced in handling Amazon cases, you will be able to push back, seek justice, and receive the compensation you deserve.
If you've been involved in a delivery truck accident and are seeking answers about your legal rights with your claim, contact The Law Firm for Truck Safety today. Our dedicated Amazon truck accident team is ready to help you understand your rights and navigate your legal options.
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