Large, 18-wheeler Amazon trucks crowd the Texas highways, and Amazon delivery vans have become increasingly familiar sights lumbering through Austin neighborhoods. While Austin residents have come to rely on the convenience of Amazon’s doorstep delivery, accidents involving Amazon trucks and vans can have devastating consequences for others sharing the roadway with these much larger, heavier vehicles. A fully loaded Amazon truck may weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, far outweighing a typical 4,000-pound car.
Austin residents who suffer injuries in accidents involving Amazon vehicles face a legal challenge as well as difficulty recovering from their injuries. Obtaining compensation for damages like medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering requires an investigation with compelling evidence of liability.
Shaw Cowart employs some of the best truck accident lawyers in Austin, dedicated to helping accident and injury victims navigate the complexities of their claims and fight for the compensation they deserve. Their experienced legal team can assist in gathering crucial evidence, negotiating with insurance companies, and pursuing justice against large corporations like Amazon.
Is Amazon Responsible for Damages After an Amazon Truck Accident?
Despite the familiar Amazon logo adorning their delivery trucks and vans, injury victims in accidents soon learn that Amazon insulates the company from direct liability by using third-party contractors to deliver their goods. Under Amazon’s Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program and their Flex driver program, the company uses independent contractors and third-party delivery services to transport retail goods between their warehouses and directly to customers. By not using company employees to operate delivery vehicles, Amazon is rarely held liable for damages despite increased scrutiny by the courts, many of which assert that Amazon’s practice of involvement in all aspects of deliveries and constant contact with drivers is more of an employer-employee relationship than one with a contractor.
Recovering compensation after an Amazon accident typically involves filing a claim against the delivery contractor rather than Amazon itself.
Proving Liability for an Amazon Truck Accident Claim In Austin
Hiring an experienced Amazon delivery accident driver is the best way to move forward on a compensation claim. An attorney investigates the accident, determines the at-fault party, and documents evidence of liability by showing the following:
- That the responsible party owed a duty of care to the injury victim, such as the duty to follow traffic laws
- They breached this duty through careless or reckless negligence
- The breach of duty directly caused the accident and injuries
- The injury victim suffered damages from the injury
The burden of proving fault in an accident falls on the injury victim making the claim for compensation for their damages.
What Can I Recover In an Austin Amazon Truck Accident Claim?
Many accidents involving heavy Amazon delivery vehicles involve far more than just simple property damage to a car. When an accident causes serious injuries, the expenses involved quickly add up. Common damages recovered in successful claims include:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Anticipated future medical costs
- Compensation for lost earnings
- Future income loss/diminished future earning capacity
- Compensation for pain and suffering
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, additional damages such as compensation for the loss of vision or hearing, loss of limb, scarring, disfigurement, or PTSD might be available. If a loved one died in an Amazon truck accident in Austin or the surrounding area, a close family member can recover compensation for their losses through a wrongful death claim.
How Can an Austin Amazon Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
Despite Amazon’s attempts to avoid liability, there are ways to gain financial accountability after an Amazon truck accident. Call Shaw Cowart today to speak to a truck accident attorney who can help.