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06/10/2024

Faster Amazon Delivery Leads to Increase in Car Accidents

- The Pollard Firm, APC

Amazon delivery drivers are usually expected to deliver hundreds of packages a day, and it’s hard to imagine what that is like while navigating the roadways. Amazon delivery drivers must meet strict deadlines and are more likely to make mistakes on the road while they are trying to meet them. Speeding through neighborhoods, reversing too quickly, and running stop signs are just a few ways that they are trading safety for expectations. 

Stats on Amazon Delivery Truck Accidents

The most difficult part about narrowing down statistics on delivery drivers is that because they are third parties they are not being held accountable in conjunction with Amazon. They individually are being held liable and just like any profession, some drivers are safer than others. But even these “safer drivers” need to be aware of the larger vehicles that they are driving and the damage they can inflict. In 2020 Amazon reported 60 crashes per million miles driven by their delivery drivers and they are also resulting in more serious injuries than any other delivery company and rival that of incidents with semi trucks. This is mainly due to their abundance on the road, the pressures they face to meet deadlines, and the places these larger trucks need to get to in order to deliver their packages. If Amazon would lower its expectations and pressure to meet deadlines then drivers would be more capable of focusing on safety.

What is Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is anything that takes our attention away from the road visually, physically, or mentally. Distracted driving affects normal drivers but when it becomes your job to navigate roads while delivering packages it can be deadly. Delivering packages as an Amazon delivery driver you may be navigating unfamiliar roads, and neighborhoods while trying to meet deadlines and get the right packages to the right doorsteps. Messing with the navigation, trying to discern packages to owners while navigating roads safely is practically impossible. As much as we have become accustomed to fast shipping we need to give allowances so that everyone can be safer on the streets. 

Delivery Drivers Bad History With Short Delivery Windows

Investigations linked vehicle accidents by Amazon drivers to their deadlines and the tremendous pressures they face while trying to accomplish them. Before the pandemic, however, they only hired third-party drivers for seasonal demand and since then their drivers are mostly third-party contractors with little to no experience. This creates a fleet of large trucks navigating the roads with little concern for safety and no training. 

Delivery Drivers Complaints About Amazon Expectations

Do you know what a urinary funnel is? It’s something that a lot of delivery drivers are familiar with, unfortunately. This allows a driver to urinate into a container without having to find, drive, and stop at a bathroom which could potentially put them back up to 10 deliveries. From warehouse employees to delivery drivers the expectations set create a chaotic and demeaning workplace employees claim. And although Amazon disagrees with the pictures that drivers paint of their experiences there is no denying that drivers face impossible parking situations, high injury rates, and even higher deadlines. 

Can Delivery Drivers Sue The Company for Negligent Practices?

It may surprise you to know that Amazon’s delivery drivers are all independent contractors. Not only can this be the cause of more accidents, because they could be unfamiliar with the areas they are delivering in, but it allows Amazon to escape the liability if a driver causes an accident while delivering their packages. Their drivers have little training and the company intentionally leans into the legal ambiguities created to lower their requirements for drivers to be on the road. A lack of training and safety means that a lot of the delivery drivers are behind the wheel of vehicles that they are unqualified to drive. All while delivering packages as quickly as they can through neighborhoods where little kids ride their bikes. 

What to Do If You Are Involved in an Accident With an Amazon Delivery Driver

After any car accident, the first thing you should do is contact emergency services. Law enforcement and medical professionals to document the accident and assess if you are injured. These reports are vital for your case. You need to exchange information with the delivery driver, and determine if they were on the clock with Amazon. After that, the basics include:

  • Evidence collection at the scene of the accident
  • A Medical Diagnosis
  • Don’t speak to insurance adjusters
  • Never accept a settlement without a legal counsel
  • Hire an experienced attorney

Finding the Right Attorney for Your Case

If you have suffered an accident with an Amazon delivery driver you may have grounds for a personal injury case. Although the resolution may not always be straightforward due to the complex nature of Amazon’s driver policies your attorney will be able to help with any extra legal considerations. Your attorney will be able to collect any useful information pertaining to your case. With a company as protected as Amazon you need to have a strong legal representation. 

The Pollard Firm: Your Personal Injury Ally

When you are navigating a complicated legal issue it's difficult to give it your undivided attention while you’re trying to heal and reorganize your life. Complicated legal issues need someone dedicated to the research, time, and leg work that they need to produce successful results. Your family deserves compensation for any damages endured by a corporation’s greed and negligent practices.

Amazon delivery drivers are usually expected to deliver hundreds of packages a day, and it’s hard to imagine what that is like while navigating the roadways. Amazon delivery drivers must meet strict deadlines and are more likely to make mistakes on the road while they are trying to meet them. Speeding through neighborhoods, reversing too quickly, and running stop signs are just a few ways that they are trading safety for expectations. 

Stats on Amazon Delivery Truck Accidents

The most difficult part about narrowing down statistics on delivery drivers is that because they are third parties they are not being held accountable in conjunction with Amazon. They individually are being held liable and just like any profession, some drivers are safer than others. But even these “safer drivers” need to be aware of the larger vehicles that they are driving and the damage they can inflict. In 2020 Amazon reported 60 crashes per million miles driven by their delivery drivers and they are also resulting in more serious injuries than any other delivery company and rival that of incidents with semi trucks. This is mainly due to their abundance on the road, the pressures they face to meet deadlines, and the places these larger trucks need to get to in order to deliver their packages. If Amazon would lower its expectations and pressure to meet deadlines then drivers would be more capable of focusing on safety.

What is Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is anything that takes our attention away from the road visually, physically, or mentally. Distracted driving affects normal drivers but when it becomes your job to navigate roads while delivering packages it can be deadly. Delivering packages as an Amazon delivery driver you may be navigating unfamiliar roads, and neighborhoods while trying to meet deadlines and get the right packages to the right doorsteps. Messing with the navigation, trying to discern packages to owners while navigating roads safely is practically impossible. As much as we have become accustomed to fast shipping we need to give allowances so that everyone can be safer on the streets. 

Delivery Drivers Bad History With Short Delivery Windows

Investigations linked vehicle accidents by Amazon drivers to their deadlines and the tremendous pressures they face while trying to accomplish them. Before the pandemic, however, they only hired third-party drivers for seasonal demand and since then their drivers are mostly third-party contractors with little to no experience. This creates a fleet of large trucks navigating the roads with little concern for safety and no training. 

Delivery Drivers Complaints About Amazon Expectations

Do you know what a urinary funnel is? It’s something that a lot of delivery drivers are familiar with, unfortunately. This allows a driver to urinate into a container without having to find, drive, and stop at a bathroom which could potentially put them back up to 10 deliveries. From warehouse employees to delivery drivers the expectations set create a chaotic and demeaning workplace employees claim. And although Amazon disagrees with the pictures that drivers paint of their experiences there is no denying that drivers face impossible parking situations, high injury rates, and even higher deadlines. 

Can Delivery Drivers Sue The Company for Negligent Practices?

It may surprise you to know that Amazon’s delivery drivers are all independent contractors. Not only can this be the cause of more accidents, because they could be unfamiliar with the areas they are delivering in, but it allows Amazon to escape the liability if a driver causes an accident while delivering their packages. Their drivers have little training and the company intentionally leans into the legal ambiguities created to lower their requirements for drivers to be on the road. A lack of training and safety means that a lot of the delivery drivers are behind the wheel of vehicles that they are unqualified to drive. All while delivering packages as quickly as they can through neighborhoods where little kids ride their bikes. 

What to Do If You Are Involved in an Accident With an Amazon Delivery Driver

After any car accident, the first thing you should do is contact emergency services. Law enforcement and medical professionals to document the accident and assess if you are injured. These reports are vital for your case. You need to exchange information with the delivery driver, and determine if they were on the clock with Amazon. After that, the basics include:

  • Evidence collection at the scene of the accident
  • A Medical Diagnosis
  • Don’t speak to insurance adjusters
  • Never accept a settlement without a legal counsel
  • Hire an experienced attorney

Finding the Right Attorney for Your Case

If you have suffered an accident with an Amazon delivery driver you may have grounds for a personal injury case. Although the resolution may not always be straightforward due to the complex nature of Amazon’s driver policies your attorney will be able to help with any extra legal considerations. Your attorney will be able to collect any useful information pertaining to your case. With a company as protected as Amazon you need to have a strong legal representation. 

The Pollard Firm: Your Personal Injury Ally

When you are navigating a complicated legal issue it's difficult to give it your undivided attention while you’re trying to heal and reorganize your life. Complicated legal issues need someone dedicated to the research, time, and leg work that they need to produce successful results. Your family deserves compensation for any damages endured by a corporation’s greed and negligent practices.

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