What Washington Drivers Need to Know About Delivery Truck Crashes

delivery truck crash

During the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are staying home and taking advantage of delivery services. While being able to buy products online is a good thing, the increased number of delivery trucks on the street will most likely lead to more truck crashes. We already know based on reporting from news outlets that Amazon drivers are saying they’re overwhelmed and overworked during the pandemic, which is a near-guaranteed recipe for a surge in deadly truck wrecks.

Amazon Sales Are Surging, but the Company’s Safety Record Remains Questionable

Amazon, which is based in Seattle, has been doing so well lately that founder and CEO Jeff Bezos sold approximately $3 billion in stock in his company at the beginning of August. Additionally, Amazon’s online grocery sales tripled in the second quarter of 2020.

Amazon is known for convenience, product variety and fast shipping, but the company is also notorious for a careless attitude toward delivery crashes and drivers’ welfare. The company has been accused of pressuring drivers to meet deadlines, which in turn causes the drivers to act recklessly. Critics also say Amazon hires undertrained contractors and avoids responsibility for wrecks through a complex system of contracting.

From June of 2015 to the end of 2019, drivers who were delivering Amazon packages got into more than 60 crashes, which led to 13 deaths and many serious injuries. In one case, the company allegedly let a driver who had night blindness on the road without restrictions.

Even though Amazon drivers have caused injuries and deaths, the company avoids liability and claims it doesn’t pressure its drivers to go faster. Instead of taking responsibility, Amazon uses contracting relationships to shift responsibility to other companies and individual drivers.

Safety Tips for Driving Near a Delivery Truck

If you’re driving in Washington and you see a delivery truck, give the vehicle the right of way instead of speeding to get ahead of it. When you’re on the highway, a truck might want to get in front of you; it’s best to avoid speeding up let the driver pass. You should stay far behind delivery trucks at turn signals because they need a lot of room to turn safely. Also, leave plenty of space if you’re behind a delivery truck on a hilly road — trucks can roll backwards when they stop on an incline.

Above all, remain vigilant when you’re around a delivery truck. Remember that the driver may be stressed, fatigued, and distracted. Treat every large truck on the road as a potentially deadly hazard.

If you see an Amazon delivery driver behaving recklessly, you should call 911 and then call Amazon at (844) 311-0406 to report the incident. The line is open 24/7. If you see a delivery driver from any other company driving dangerously, you should get in touch with the company to report the behavior. You can also call the FMCSA to report an unsafe driver or company; read our blog article on the subject to learn more.

RELATED: Here’s How You Can Report an Unsafe Trucking Company

Hurt in a Crash? A Delivery Truck Crash Lawyer Can Help

Amazon is just one company delivering packages on our roads; almost every company that offers delivery services, from Shipt to FedEx, is seeing increasing volume during the pandemic. If you’re a Washington driver, you need to watch out for delivery trucks in order to protect yourself from getting into a crash. And if you’ve already been injured in a wreck, you should contact an experienced truck accident lawyer who can help you exercise your legal rights and potentially recover financial compensation.

Hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer will give you the best chance to get justice and compensation. Delivery truck crashes often lead to complex insurance claims, and it will be hard to file a claim or lawsuit without help from an experienced attorney.

For instance, what will you do if an Amazon delivery driver hits into you? Can you sue Amazon, or do you have to sue the contracting company who hired the driver? Will your claim cover the pain and suffering you have endured as well as your medical bills and lost wages? What if there were multiple vehicles involved in the crash?

By hiring an experienced delivery truck crash lawyer, you can get answers to these critical questions and many more. And instead of worrying about the claims process, settlement negotiations, and potential litigation, you’ll be able to focus on your medical treatment and your physical and emotional recovery process. Meanwhile, you’ll know that your case is being handled by an expert who has a track record of success handling these complex cases.

RELATED: Truckers Are Providing for Us During Coronavirus Outbreak, but the Industry Needs to Prioritize Safety

Injured in a Truck Wreck? Morgan Adams Is Ready to Fight for You

If you’ve been injured in a delivery truck accident or other large vehicle crash, please call the Seattle Truck Law team at (866) 580-4878 or use our online contact form to set up your free initial consultation with our attorneys today. When you choose us to handle your case, you won’t pay any fees or expenses unless we get you compensation for your injuries.

Please don’t delay in contacting us. Time is of the essence in a personal injury case, and the sooner you contact our attorneys, the greater advantage we will have in gathering evidence, investigating your claim, and advocating on your behalf.

Reference

Gurley, L.K. (2020, July 1). Amazon Delivery Drivers Are Overwhelmed and Overworked by Covid-19 Surge. Vice. Retrieved from https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/m7j7mb/amazon-delivery-drivers-are-overwhelmed-and-overworked-by-covid-19-surge

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.