Were you injured in an accident with an Amazon vehicle? This article by our South Carolina truck accident attorney covers when you can file an insurance claim with Amazon and what steps you need to take to help you receive a full and fair recovery. (3-minute read)

Amazon has thousands of cars on the roads making deliveries every day. Those vehicles include:

  1. Amazon Prime semi-trucks;
  2. Amazon delivery vans; and
  3. Amazon Flex cars (delivery drivers driving their own personal vehicles).

No matter what type of Amazon vehicle hit you, whether it was a semi-truck, sprinter van, or a passenger car, the accident should be covered by a commercial insurance policy as long as the driver was on duty at the time of the crash. This is true even if the at-fault driver was a contracted employee driving their personal vehicle or a vehicle owned by a third-party shipping company.

 

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Columbia Wreck with an Amazon Delivery Vehicle?

Multiple parties may be held both legally and financially responsible after a wreck with an Amazon vehicle. If the collision involved an Amazon Flex driver, both the driver and Amazon can be held liable. If you were hit by an Amazon truck or delivery van, the responsible parties may include a third-party shipping company (listed on the car accident report), Amazon, and the individual driver. 

 

How to File an Insurance Claim with Amazon After a Wreck

1. Consult with an experienced auto accident attorney.

Car accident cases with Amazon can get sticky, especially since Amazon hires so many independent contractors to deliver its goods. Amazon is also known to deny liability in car accidents caused by delivery drivers, which can make it difficult for an individual to receive a full and fair recovery. Not to mention, Amazon has endless resources at their fingertips, enabling the company to hire lawyers, experts, and anyone else that may be able to help minimize the amount of compensation you’ll receive from the insurance company. Take advantage of a free consultation with a Columbia car accident lawyer to make sure your rights are protected before you speak with Amazon or an insurance adjuster about the accident.

2. Contact the insurance company listed on the accident report to start your claim.

If you were hit by an Amazon Flex driver, you can also contact Amazon directly to inform the company about the accident by emailing [email protected]. If the truck or van that hit you was owned by a third-party shipping company, you will simply need to contact the insurance company listed on the accident report. In both situations, do not admit fault and do not disclose too much information about the wreck. Adjusters have a tendency to twist your words to minimize your recovery. To learn more about what to say to the adjuster, visit this article.  

3. Contact your own insurance company to ensure they are aware of the accident. Even if you were not at fault, it’s important to notify your insurance company of the accident. This will be helpful if you need to file an underinsured or uninsured motorist claim to help cover your damages.

 

Insurance Coverage Available for People Injured in an Amazon Wreck

The insurance coverage available to you after a wreck with Amazon will depend on whether you were hit by an Amazon Flex vehicle or an Amazon Prime delivery truck/van.

 

Amazon Flex Insurance Coverage

If you were hit by an Amazon Flex driver, the damages from the accident should be covered by Amazon Flex’s insurance policies. This is only true if the driver was at fault and was on the clock at the time of the accident. If the Amazon driver was not on the clock, both you and the at fault driver will have to rely on his/her personal vehicle insurance to cover damages.

As seen in the table below, Amazon insures its Flex drivers for liability, comprehensive/collision, and uninsured and underinsured motorists.

 

Insurance Policy Limits What It Covers
Liability Up to $1,000,000  Property and bodily injuries for third parties (the other driver/passengers)
Comprehensive Up to $50,000 Damage to driver’s vehicle (only if the driver has a personal comprehensive/collision coverage Policy)
Uninsured/Underinsured Drivers Up to $1,000,000 Covers Amazon drivers that were hit by uninsured or underinsured drivers

 

So, if the Amazon Flex driver was at fault, you should be able to file an insurance claim against Amazon’s liability policy for up to $1,000,000 to cover damages from the accident, which may include medical bills, loss wages, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

 

Amazon Prime Trucks and Delivery Vans Insurance Coverage

Unfortunately, insurance coverage for Amazon delivery trucks and vans is not as straightforward as Amazon Flex insurance. Amazon uses a large network of third-party shipping and logistics companies to deliver its packages, which means that the insurance available to you after an accident with one of these vehicles will depend on the insurance policy held by the third-party shipping company. The good news is that Amazon requires its partners to maintain auto insurance, so you should be able to file a claim with the company’s liability insurer for the harm caused by the accident. The insurance information for the company should be listed on your car accident report.

It is possible to file a claim against Amazon directly. In fact, many individuals injured in Amazon car accidents have attempted to do so; however, the eCommerce giant has been known to shirk responsibility for accidents caused by its delivery partners. In many of these cases, Amazon denies liability because the company “does not control the delivery firms in its network or employ the drivers.”

If you would like to file an insurance claim against Amazon for the injuries you sustained in an accident, we would highly recommend working with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Injury lawyers have the resources and skills to take on Amazon and hold the company responsible for the harm it caused. To schedule a free consultation with our firm, please contact us at (803) 790-2800 or by filling out the form on this page.

 

Important Initial Actions After a Car Accident with an Amazon Driverimportant initial actions after a car accident injury with an amazon driver

Filing an insurance claim after an accident will likely go smoother if you are able to take the following steps:

  1. Report the accident to law enforcement. This will ensure the officer is able to complete an FR-10, also known as the accident report, which will indicate who was at fault and the insurance provider for the at-fault driver.
  2. Take photos of the accident scene, making sure to get detailed photos of both cars and the damage sustained. If you have dashcam footage of the accident, make sure to save that footage as well.
  3. Gather the driver’s insurance information and make sure to clarify whether they were on or off duty with Amazon at the time of the wreck.
  4. Gather the contact information of anyone that witnessed the accident.
  5. Seek medical attention if needed.
  6. Make sure to keep all records associated with the accident, including the accident report and all relevant medical bills.

 

Dealing with Amazon after a car accident can be difficult. The company and its numerous shipping partners currently have hundreds of car accident cases pending against them. They have endless resources to help them pay you as little as possible. Our firm is here to help you protect your rights and receive a full and fair recovery.

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Kenneth Berger
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Columbia and Myrtle Beach car accident and personal injury lawyer dedicated to securing justice for clients.