Accidents Involving Amazon Delivery Trucks in Maryland
What Happens if You’re in An Accident with an Amazon Delivery Driver?
Amazon delivery trucks have become an increasingly common sight over the years, both here in Maryland and all over the country. This isn’t too surprising, given that Amazon offers quick delivery on a huge variety of items; many of us appreciate the ease and convenience of having our purchases arrive on our doorstep within a day or two of ordering them. The downside to this convenience, however, is the increased likelihood of accidents involving Amazon trucks, simply because there are so many of them on the road making so many deliveries. If you’ve been in an accident with an Amazon delivery truck and you believe the accident was the other driver’s fault, you might be wondering what your options are. Let’s talk through the details a little bit.
Why do accidents with Amazon delivery vehicles happen?
Let’s face it, accidents happen – and they happen for any number of reasons. But if you’ve been involved in a crash with an Amazon delivery truck, there might be some factors in play that don’t necessarily apply to other accidents. For example, perhaps the truck driver was speeding because they were behind schedule and didn’t want their deliveries to be late. Maybe they were unfamiliar with the area in which they were driving and made a wrong turn. Or perhaps they were working an overnight shift and were too tired to focus properly.
Can you sue Amazon for a delivery vehicle accident?
The short answer to this is that it depends. The first thing you need to find out is whether or not the vehicle is owned and operated by Amazon directly. Sometimes it is, but many times it isn’t. Amazon often contracts out their delivery service to other companies (such as small trucking and logistics firms), who in turn hire drivers to fulfill the terms of the contract. So if your accident was with a driver who was hired by another company, that company would be held liable rather than Amazon. (According to Maryland law, employers are generally held accountable if their employees cause an accident while on the job – which is why most employers have insurance to cover these types of situations.)
Of course, before you think about suing Amazon (or anyone else) for damages sustained in a delivery vehicle accident, you’ll have to be able to prove that the accident was completely the other party’s fault. Remember that Maryland is a contributory negligence state, so if you’re even 1% at fault for the crash, you won’t be able to claim compensation. Consider hiring a capable personal injury attorney; you want someone with experience in these types of cases, who can make the strongest argument on your behalf.
If you’ve been involved in an accident with an Amazon delivery truck and you believe you’re entitled to compensation, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Parr in Baltimore, MD today to schedule your free consultation. We don’t receive a fee unless we win.
