Amazon is one of the fastest-growing delivery services in the United States. To meet consumer demand for quick delivery on a large scale, Amazon is putting more delivery drivers on the road, and potentially putting motorists at an increased risk of being injured in an Amazon delivery van accident. Delivery drivers are often pressured to deliver hundreds of packages per day, sometimes resulting in rushed or careless driving that leads to the injury or death of innocent victims.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 3 million people were injured in car accidents in 2019. If you are the victim of an Amazon delivery van accident, it is important to know and understand your legal right to seek compensation for your injuries through an insurance settlement or personal injury claim. Consider visiting with a knowledgeable, compassionate lawyer at Labrum Law Firm at (615) 338-9500 to understand how we may be able to help you with your case.
Why You Should Seek Immediate Medical Attention
If you were involved in an Amazon delivery van accident or any other car accident, you should seek immediate medical attention as soon as possible following the incident.
Car accidents are stressful events, and adrenaline or the shock of the accident can sometimes mask symptoms of injuries. Prompt medical evaluation and treatment after an accident ensure that your injuries are identified and treated timely. If you were in an accident and have not already sought medical help, do so as soon as possible for your health and safety.
Another important reason for seeking medical attention shortly after a car accident is to establish a foundation for a personal injury claim. Insurance companies often try to minimize the compensation paid to car accident victims and might try to attribute the victim's injuries to pre-existing conditions. Documenting the victim's injuries after an Amazon delivery van accident establishes a relationship between the accident and the victim's injuries. This can help preserve your right to seek fair compensation for your injuries under the law.
What To Do After an Amazon Delivery Van Accident
There are many important actions for victims and their families to take following a car accident. Here are a few things that victims of Amazon delivery van accidents might want to do following a crash to help preserve evidence, protect victims' rights, and possibly support a case for a personal injury claim. Following an accident, victims should consider the following steps:
- Seek immediate medical attention, as discussed above
- Contact law enforcement for assistance, and obtain a copy of the accident report
- If physically and mentally able, document the position and condition of each vehicle following the accident by taking photos or video footage
- Avoid making a recorded statement with the insurance company until victims know and understand their rights
- Consider contacting an experienced personal injury attorney for help seeking compensation for injuries and losses
Is Amazon Liable For Delivery Van Accidents?
Many people assume that Amazon is automatically liable if one of their drivers caused an Amazon delivery van accident. However, many Amazon drivers are independent contractors who are not directly employed by Amazon, and the State of Tennessee requires nearly all drivers to have automobile insurance. This means that an insurance settlement or personal injury claim would usually involve the independent contractor or its insurance company, rather than Amazon itself. Determining liability and knowing where and how to seek compensation are complex legal issues. A skilled lawyer can assist victims with sorting out liability issues and focusing legal efforts in the right direction.
Possible Compensation After an Amazon Delivery Van Accident
Victims of Amazon delivery van accidents might be entitled to several different types of compensation. Depending on the nature and severity of the accident, victims might be able to receive compensation for:
- Medical expenses for injuries and care related to the accident
- The estimated cost of any future medical treatments for accident-related injuries
- Property damage to the victim's vehicle as a result of the accident
- Lost wages from time off of work after the accident
- Loss of future income, if the accident rendered the victim unable to work
- Noneconomic losses for pain and suffering because of the car accident
The compensation in each case is unique. Insurance companies determine how much compensation to offer car accident victims by using complex formulas. Victims might be confused, overwhelmed, and left questioning whether a settlement offer is fair and just under the law. If a settlement agreement cannot be reached, a victim might have the right to file a personal injury claim in court. An understanding lawyer at Labrum Law Firm might be able to help you seek legally adequate compensation for your injuries and losses from an Amazon delivery van accident.
Filing a Civil Court Case Following a Car Accident
If settlement negotiations fail, car accident victims may have the right to seek compensation for a personal injury claim through a lawsuit in civil court. Tennessee law limits the time victims have to file a personal injury claim to one year from the date the accident occurred. The state of Tennessee also places limits on the amount of compensation victims can receive for noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Victims of Amazon delivery van accidents in Tennessee should know and understand their rights under state law, so they can preserve their right to seek compensation. If a loved one died because of an accident caused by an Amazon delivery driver, family members might be able to seek compensation through a wrongful death claim in civil court.
How a Lawyer Can Help With Your Amazon Delivery Van Accident Case
Car accidents often leave victims shaken, confused, and unsure of their rights. Victims of Amazon delivery van accidents might feel added pressure and intimidation from a large corporation, its subcontractors, and its army of insurance adjusters. Thankfully, car accident victims do not have to navigate the legal process alone. A knowledgeable lawyer might be able to help you deal with insurance companies, negotiate a settlement, or build and bring a personal injury case to court. If you were the victim of an Amazon delivery van accident or other car accident, learn how a lawyer at Labrum Law Firm at (615) 338-9500 can help fight for your right to receive fair and just compensation under the law.
