E-commerce has taken the United States by storm – and consumers are already gearing up for another holiday season that will have hundreds of thousands of Amazon delivery trucks out there on the roads delivering packages straight to doorsteps.
Unfortunately, many of those deliveries will end up in accidents due to fatigued drivers or drivers who are distracted as they try to find unfamiliar addresses, navigate new roads and maintain contact with their dispatchers or listen to their GPS devices.
What do you need to do if you’re in an accident with an Amazon delivery truck? Here are the steps to follow so that you can ensure your safety, protect your legal rights and prepare for the claims process ahead:
Prioritize your safety: Call emergency services
Safety is your immediate priority. Call 911 as fast as possible and get emergency medical assistance and the police to the scene. Even if your injuries and your passengers’ injuries seem minor, it’s always wisest to have a professional check you out – and you absolutely need to have a police officer create an official report.
Do not move your vehicle unless your location is putting you in additional danger or you’re instructed to do so once the police arrive on the scene.
Gather evidence: Document the scene
Police reports are “bare bones,” in most accident cases – and pictures can count for a lot. If you can (or if there’s someone available who can do it for you, such as a passenger or witness), start collecting photos from the scene. Good shots to take include:
- Visible damage to either vehicle
- The position of each vehicle on the road
- The relative position of each vehicle to the other
- Any skid marks or debris from the wreck in the road
- The traffic conditions and weather
- Any traffic signs that might be relevant
- The license plate of the delivery van
- Any identifying marks on the van itself that indicate ownership
- Any visible injuries that you or your passengers may have
You should also try to get the names and contact information of any Good Samaritans who witnessed the accident and stayed to give their report. As soon as possible, write down everything you remember about the moments leading up to the wreck and after – including anything the driver may have said to you.
Get the details: Exchange information with the other driver
The officer who responds to the scene should facilitate this process, but do not leave the scene of the accident (unless you are transported to the hospital due to the critical nature of your injuries) without obtaining the driver’s name, contact information, employer’s name and insurance carrier.
Protect yourself: Seek legal guidance
If you were injured by an Amazon delivery truck driver, do not assume that your claim will be straightforward. In many cases, the trucks bearing Amazon logos are actually “Delivery Service Partners” (DSPs) who may have their own insurance companies. Amazon may insist that they have no liability at all – even though Amazon is directing all the action. In some cases, such as when an off-duty driver causes a wreck, the liability may lie solely with their personal insurance.
It can take a skilled delivery truck accident lawyer to understand where liability lies and obtain fair compensation for your losses.