Amazon ships packages to customers across the State of New Jersey. However, many of these packages are delivered by drivers that have not been properly trained. As a result, they are prone to cause accidents with other motorists while trying to perform their job. If you or a family member was injured due to the actions of an Amazon truck driver, contact an experienced New Jersey Amazon delivery truck accident lawyer.
The Reiff Law Firm is here to fight for you against large corporations like Amazon that often fail to take responsibility for the harm caused by their business practices. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact the Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940. You can also contact us online.
Common Causes of Amazon Truck Accidents in NJ
Truck drivers are required to operate their vehicles with care to avoid accidents with other motorists. However, there are a number of reasons why an Amazon delivery driver could be involved in a serious accident. The following is a list of common causes of Amazon truck accidents.
Tight Deadlines
Amazon is extremely popular for its two-day shipping policy for a variety of goods that are sold on their platform. However, this policy has also affected how delivery drivers perform their job.
When delivering packages for Amazon, many truck drivers have cited they are given unreasonable deadlines to deliver all the packages within a day. As a result, Amazon delivery drivers may not even have the time to stop to use the restroom without substantially affecting their delivery timeframes.
Under these tight deadlines, many drivers will attempt to speed or ignore certain traffic signals to ensure they can deliver packages quickly. This could easily result in a delivery driver seriously injuring another motorist.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is especially dangerous when a motorist is operating a truck. An intoxicated truck driver could easily misjudge a turn or cause a rollover accident because their judgment has been affected by alcohol or drugs. As a result, a truck driver could cause an accident that could even result in fatalities.
Fatigued Driving
The working hours of truck drivers are heavily regulated to prevent drivers for an excessive amount of time. However, if trucking companies do not enforce these rules, some truck drivers may exceed their hours in an attempt to earn more money. As a result, a truck driver could be on the road while drowsy, which would affect their reaction time.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Amazon does not own trucks or trucking companies for the purpose of delivering their packages. Truck drivers that deliver for Amazon typically work for a private trucking company or may even operate independently. This would make them responsible for frequently performing maintenance on their trucks.
To learn more about liability for an Amazon trucking accident, continue reading and speak with an experienced New Jersey Amazon truck accident attorney.
Filing a Lawsuit for an Amazon Trucking Accident
With the prominence of Amazon around the world, it is easy to expect that the company would be on top of all issues that may affect the company. However, accidents involving Amazon truck drivers are one common issue that the company faces. Many of these accidents become complex legal issues because Amazon has made it difficult to hold them responsible for the cause of an accident.
Amazon typically hires delivery drivers as independent contractors. The reason for this is so Amazon can claim they do not have control over the day-to-day actions of a delivery driver. This defense has helped Amazon avoid liability for many accidents caused by their delivery drivers.
However, a victim of a trucking accident can still file a claim against the truck driver or the company that employs them. A trucking company will likely be unable to use the same defense to avoid vicarious liability for the negligent actions of one of their drivers.
If the insurance carrier that provides coverage for the truck driver does not provide a victim with sufficient compensation for their injuries and other losses, the victim should consider pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.
When filing a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent Amazon driver, it is important to note that your claim is subject to the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations determines how long a plaintiff has to file a particular type of case against a defendant. In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years from the date of the accident that caused the injury.
As two years is a very strict deadline for a personal injury case, the plaintiff must ensure they work with an experienced lawyer to file their case as soon as possible. If a plaintiff fails to file their claim within the filing deadline, the court can bar the plaintiff’s claim if the defendant requests a motion to dismiss the case. If this occurs, the plaintiff may lose any avenue to pursue compensation for their injuries.
Our Experienced New Jersey Amazon Delivery Truck Injury Attorneys are Here to Fight for You
If your vehicle was struck due to a negligent Amazon delivery driver, you should consult with an experienced New Jersey personal injury attorney. Our dedicated attorneys have decades of legal experience, and we are here to provide you with the aggressive legal representation you need to pursue the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free case evaluation to discuss your claim, contact the Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940.