Amazon/FedEx Truck Accidents: Can Victims Sue The Company?
Amazon and FedEx are two of the largest companies handling hundreds and thousands of packages daily, delivering to locations all over the U.S.A and overseas. With thousands of delivery trucks working for these companies, an Amazon/FedEx truck accident can occur quite often. Although these companies carefully screen and select their delivery truck drivers, accidents can still happen due to the long hours on the road and other unforeseen circumstances.
Thus, if you or someone you know has been injured in an accident involving a delivery truck from one of these companies, you may be wondering who can be held liable. Can you sue the company? What kind of compensation can you receive? An experienced truck accident lawyer can help answer these questions and more. For accident victims based in Hallandale Beach, Florida, the law firm of Jared Spingarn, P.A. is the best place to seek a free consultation with an accident attorney. Read on for more information about Amazon/FedEx truck accidents and how to seek legal help.
How often do Amazon/FedEx delivery truck accidents occur?
In a single year, Amazon and FedEx delivery drivers carry billions of packages to various locations worldwide. So it is not surprising that delivery truck accidents can occur at any time.
According to FedEx crash data from 2017 to 2019, there were 442 delivery truck accidents of which 13 were fatal. As for car accidents involving an Amazon delivery van or truck, there were at least 10 fatal accidents recorded in the same period. It is of note that FedEx delivery vehicles are often seen to be much safer compared to other companies.
A delivery truck accident can result in serious personal injuries to all parties involved in the crash. If you or someone you know has been involved in an Amazon/FedEx truck accident, do not hesitate to seek legal help. Truck accident attorneys from Jared Spingarn’s firm can investigate the circumstances of your case and help you receive the maximum compensation that you rightfully deserve through a truck or car accident claim.
Want to know the Seven Steps of a Thorough Accident Investigation? Click here to read the detailed article.
What are the common causes of a delivery truck accident?
FedEx and Amazon truck accidents can occur due to various reasons, but in most cases, truck accident victims are left to deal with serious injuries and huge medical bills.
Some delivery truck accidents are caused by the negligence of the delivery driver, while some are caused by the poor conditions of the vehicles themselves. In most cases, driver fatigue is a huge factor as delivery drivers spend long hours on the road and drive well into the night. The following are the most common causes of Amazon/FedEx truck accidents:
- Delivery driver fatigue
- Poorly maintained vehicles
- Distracted driving
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence
If you were in an accident with an Amazon/FedEx delivery driver, make sure to seek medical attention immediately. After which, get in touch with a personal injury attorney from Jared’s law firm to schedule a free consultation and begin your attorney-client relationship.
To find out whether Amazon can be held responsible for motor vehicle accidents involving their delivery trucks, read this informative article. Click here!
Do Amazon and FedEx own their entire fleet of delivery trucks?
As mentioned, both these companies have thousands of vehicles and delivery drivers who travel on various routes daily. However, not all these drivers are employed by the delivery companies themselves. In fact, most delivery drivers are categorized as independent contractors.
These independent contractors are responsible for their vehicles, which means Amazon and FedEx don’t actually own all the commercial vehicles that you see delivering packages daily. Independent contractors own delivery vans, trucks, and other vehicles that are used to transport Amazon and FedEx packages.
Amazon
An independent contractor who drives an Amazon truck or van is contracted by Amazon Logistics under the Amazon Delivery Partner Services division. Amazon Logistics is Amazon’s in-house shipping and delivery service that competes with major delivery companies such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL.
Since most Amazon delivery drivers are actually independent of the company, a sticker or decal with the Amazon logo is placed on their vehicle. This helps make customers aware that they are carrying out official Amazon delivery services.
FedEx
Like Amazon, FedEx also employs independent contractors to help with package deliveries. These drivers are categorized as owner-operators who work under the FedEx Ground network. Owner-operators usually have their own vehicles and deliver packages on behalf of FedEx.
Who can be held liable in a delivery truck accident? Can I directly sue Amazon or FedEx?
After a delivery truck accident, Amazon/FedEx truck accident victims can file a claim against the company, but it will be difficult to win if the driver is an independent contractor. This is because Amazon and FedEx can argue that they are not responsible for the actions of their independent contractors. However, Amazon and FedEx can still be held liable in certain circumstances.
Delivery Truck Driver
In a car accident involving Amazon or FedEx, the delivery driver will be held liable if he or she was at fault. To prove fault, the injured party must show that the driver was negligent in some way.
For example, if the driver was speeding or driving under the influence, Jared Spingarn can argue on your behalf that these factors caused the accident, leading to a pile-up of medical bills, lost wages, and possibly long-term medical treatment. In this case, the driver will have to pay for any damages and injuries that they caused through their insurance company.
Delivery Company
The delivery company can be held liable if it did not properly screen or train its drivers. An independent delivery driver may own a personal vehicle or work for a delivery company. This company is responsible for ensuring that its drivers are qualified to operate a commercial vehicle. If the company failed to do this, then it can be held liable under what is known as the doctrine of vicarious liability.
Vehicle Manufacturer
In some cases, the vehicle manufacturer may also be held liable for the car accident. This is usually the case if there was a mechanical defect in the Amazon/FedEx truck that led to the accident. For example, if the brakes failed or there was an issue with the steering wheel, then these problems could have caused or contributed to the accident.
To hold the manufacturer liable, Jared Spingarn will need to prove that the Amazon/FedEx truck was defective and that this defect caused the accident. He will also need to show that the manufacturer did not properly maintain the truck, which led to the mechanical problem.
Amazon/FedEx
As mentioned, in a car accident caused by a Fed/Ex or Amazon truck, these large companies are likely to evade fault because they mainly work with independent delivery drivers. So, what are the cases wherein victims can sue these companies?
Amazon and FedEx can also be held directly liable if it can be shown that they were negligent in hiring or supervising their drivers. For example, if Amazon or FedEx knew that a driver had a history of reckless driving but still hired him, Amazon/FedEx can be held liable for any accidents that the driver or independent contractor causes.
Another example is if a delivery truck was not properly maintained and an accident occurred as a result. If a delivery truck, for instance, had faulty brakes but did not fix them, Amazon/FedEx would be held partly liable if an accident occurred because of the faulty brakes. Although FedEx or Amazon accident lawyers will likely argue that it is not their fault, they can still be found responsible because of Florida’s Comparative Negligence Rule.
If you were in an Amazon/FedEx truck accident, contact Jared Spingarn today to discuss your legal options. Amazon/FedEx truck accidents can be complex, so it’s important to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. Schedule a free consultation with Jared to get started.
Discover the correct way to write an incident report by clicking here for a more comprehensive guide!
Conclusion
Can Amazon/FedEx truck accident victims sue these companies? Yes, but it can be difficult to prove that Amazon or FedEx is at fault. And because these companies focus on working with independent companies that own several delivery vans or trucks, the liability for car accidents usually falls on the delivery driver or company. However, this does not mean that Amazon and FedEx cannot be held directly liable for the accident.
Accidents caused by delivery vehicles can lead to serious injury and a lifetime of various medical treatments or assisted living. If you were involved in an accident with a FedEx or Amazon delivery vehicle, the best way to make your way through the legal process is to hire a personal injury lawyer. By having reputable attorney Jared Spingarn by your side, you are assured that your attorney-client relationship is focused on receiving the financial compensation you deserve.
>> If you sustained personal injuries in a FedEx or Amazon-related accident in Florida, don’t hesitate to reach out to the law offices of Jared Spingarn, Accident Attorney at 1-954-781-2316 for a Free Case Review or drop a message on their Contact Us page. <<
