Almost anything can be ordered online and delivered right to your door. As such, Amazon delivery trucks and vehicles are nearly as common as U.S. Postal Service vehicles. Unfortunately, this means accidents with Amazon delivery vehicles are becoming more and more common.
While there might be many possible causes of crashes with Amazon delivery trucks, some common examples include inexperienced drivers, reckless driving, and distracted driving. After an accident, you may sue the delivery driver or even the delivery service company they work for. Amazon is usually off-limits because their drivers are often independent contractors or employed by delivery service partners, not Amazon. When claiming damages, a lawyer can help assess your compensatory damages, including economic and non-economic injuries.
Reach out to our Amazon delivery truck accident lawyers to schedule a free case review by calling Legal Care New Jersey at (732) 838-9769.
Causes of Amazon Delivery Truck Collisions in Jersey City
Auto accidents are unpredictable, and Amazon delivery truck accidents are no different. You should discuss your accident with an attorney to determine how it happened and who is responsible. While every case is unique, certain causes of accidents are more common than others.
Inexperienced delivery drivers are not just a problem for people waiting on their packages but also a problem for other drivers on the road. Delivery drivers must balance multiple tasks at once. They must keep up with delivery schedules, be aware of incoming directions from their employer, and drive on busy roads and highways. If the delivery driver in your case was new, their inexperience might have caused the crash.
Reckless driving is another big problem with delivery drivers for Amazon. Considering how many deliveries Amazon makes every day, drivers are stretched very thin. Amazon has garnered a less-than-stellar reputation for overworking its drivers. It is not uncommon for Amazon delivery truck drivers to speed, run lights, and generally drive recklessly to keep up with their deliveries.
Distracted driving is a significant problem among Amazon delivery drivers and nearly all other drivers on the road. Amazon delivery truck drivers often rely on phones or tablets to keep up with delivery schedules and instructions from their employers. As such, they are often distracted while driving and might cause an accident because they are not paying attention to the road.
Who to Sue for an Amazon Delivery Truck Accident in Jersey City
Even if an accident only involves 2 drivers and vehicles, numerous parties might also be liable. Our Amazon delivery truck accident attorneys will help you determine who should be held accountable so your lawsuit is filed against the correct parties.
The Delivery Truck Driver
Often, the person driving the delivery truck during the accident may be sued for damages. The driver is usually the primary defendant, and other parties might be sued for any negligence they contributed to the accident. Many examples mentioned above regarding how these accidents might happen involve driver negligence.
Since New Jersey is a no-fault auto insurance state, you might have to overcome some legal hurdles involving your insurance before you can file a lawsuit. According to N.J.S.A. § 39:6A-4, drivers in New Jersey are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This insurance covers a driver regardless of fault.
When selecting an insurance policy, you may choose between a limited and unlimited right to sue. If you choose a limited right to sue, you may only sue the Amazon delivery truck driver if you experienced a serious injury. Such injuries include losing a body part or limb, significant disfigurement or scarring, displaced fractures, death, loss of a fetus, or other medically determined permanent injuries. You may file a lawsuit without overcoming any legal hurdles if you choose an unlimited right to sue.
Amazon
Ordinarily, when you sue an employee, you can also sue their employer under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. This rule holds that an employer might be held vicariously liable for damages caused by an employee’s negligence if that negligence occurred within the employee’s normal job duties.
Unfortunately, Amazon delivery truck drivers are often not employees of Amazon. Many of these drivers work as independent contractors or for other delivery service providers who have contracts with Amazon. This is often confusing since many delivery drivers operate trucks emblazoned with Amazon logos. Even so, you should ask your attorney whether you can sue Amazon for the accident.
Delivery Service Partners
Amazon often has contracts with other delivery companies they refer to as delivery service partners. These are usually third-party businesses that have contracted to make Amazon deliveries. While you might not have a claim against Amazon under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, you might sue the delivery service partner if they are the driver’s employer.
For example, a local delivery service company might have an agreement with Amazon to put their drivers behind the wheel of Amazon delivery trucks. After the accident, you might discover that the driver who hit you works for a company other than Amazon. Amazon might be off-limits, but the driver and the other company are not.
Claiming Damages for Accidents with Amazon Delivery Trucks in Jersey City
Damages reflect your injuries and losses, and they might be quite significant in cases involving severe crashes. Damages often reflect monetary losses directly incurred from the accident, but they might also include damages that did not necessarily take a financial toll. Even so, damages are measured in dollars and cents, and your attorney can help you accurately calculate your damages.
Your compensatory damages include economic and non-economic injuries. If your injuries were harsh, your medical bills might be very high. Even with insurance, they might be very expensive. You must also consider the damage to your vehicle and whether your vehicle needs to be replaced or repaired. You also might have lost income because you could not return to work. As you can see, economic damages tend to pile up fast.
Non-economic damages are often harder to assess because they do not relate to money or costs. Instead, these damages arise from painful personal experiences. For example, emotional and physical pain and suffering, humiliation, damage to your reputation, the loss of enjoyment of your life, and many other negative experiences may factor into these damages.
Call Our Jersey City Amazon Delivery Truck Accident Attorneys About Your Claims
If you were injured on the road, call our Amazon delivery truck accident lawyers at Legal Care New Jersey at (732) 838-9769 to schedule a free review of your accident and claims for no charge.
