Discuss Your Amazon Accident with Our Lawyers in Maine: Contact Berman & Simmons

If you were hit and seriously injured by an Amazon van or truck in or around Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, or Biddeford, ME, Berman & Simmons would like to hear from you. To set up a free case review, contact our Maine personal injury attorneys today.

Collisions Caused by Distracted Amazon Drivers

Amazon drivers have a lot to consider when making deliveries. While they may be under pressure, they must remain attentive when operating their van or truck. Any type of distraction while behind the wheel increases the risk of a catastrophic accident.

Driver distraction can take many forms, including:

• Texting while driving
• Talking on the phone while driving
• Checking delivery route/directions
• Rubbernecking behind the wheel
• Eating meals while driving the vehicle
• Reaching for something while the vehicle is moving

Collisions Caused by Amazon Driver Fatigue

Amazon delivery drivers often work 10-hour shifts. Some drivers put in more than 40 hours a week for overtime pay. The long days and physically demanding nature of the job could lead to driver fatigue, especially for drivers near the end of a difficult shift.

If an Amazon worker experienced driver fatigue on the job, they could cause a serious collision because of delayed reaction times and lack of focus. In the worst case scenario, severe driver fatigue could cause an Amazon driver to fall asleep while behind the wheel.

Collisions Caused by Amazon Delivery Vehicle Blind Spots

Delivery trucks and delivery vans have major blind spots simply because of how they’re designed. Amazon drivers must be extra careful while driving on residential streets as well as major thoroughfares. Failing to check mirrors, signals, and proceed with caution could lead to a serious accident.

Given the nature of these vehicle blindspots, it’s crucially important that Amazon drivers slow down at crosswalks and while in residential neighborhoods in Maine. Sharing the road responsibly can help prevent catastrophic pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents.

Accidents Caused by Reckless Amazon Drivers

We expect delivery drivers to operate their vehicles with great care given the packages on board and the risk to the well-being of others. Unfortunately, some Amazon delivery drivers may break the rules of the road, whether it’s to complete their route quickly or as a result of reckless decisions.

Examples of reckless driving and behaviors include:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Failing to observe the right of way
• Swerving between lanes
• Not using turn signals/blinkers
• Road rage
• Drunk driving/operating while intoxicated (OUI)

Crashes Caused by Amazon Vehicle Defects or Bad Parts

There are cases in which a crash is caused by issues with the delivery van or truck rather than driver error alone. In these situations, the vehicle may be unsafe due to design or manufacturing problems. Vehicle components may have also failed, contributing to a serious collision.

Our Maine auto accident lawyers can hold the automaker or the maker of the defective parts accountable for their negligence. Examples of various vehicle defects and dangers include:

• Poor weight distribution of the vehicle
• Lack of regular repairs or maintenance
• Defective or worn tires
• Brake system failure
• Steering system problems
• Electrical malfunctions

Crashes Caused by Poor Road or Weather Conditions

Bad road and weather conditions in Maine can make maneuvering a delivery van or delivery truck much more difficult. When ice, snow, or other adverse conditions are present, Amazon delivery drivers need to use their training and good judgment to keep themselves and others safe. 

In these kinds of accidents, our injury lawyers will examine the evidence in the crash and note the cause or causes of the incident. If the local municipality did not keep the roadways safe for motorists (e.g., failure to plow away snow, failure to clear the road of debris), Berman & Simmons can potentially help you file a claim against those local authorities.

Accidents Caused by Amazon Delivery Service Partners (DSP)

Started in 2018, Amazon’s Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program has helped the company increase the size of its delivery network. A DSP is essentially an outside package delivery business owner who delivers packages for Amazon. DSPs often do this in trucks, vans, and uniforms bearing the Amazon logo.

While DSPs drive Amazon vans and wear Amazon uniforms, they are independent contractors rather than employees of Amazon. Our Maine car accident lawyers can hold negligent contractors from an Amazon DSP accountable for causing any damage and injuries.

Hit by an Amazon Truck in Maine? Contact Us for a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one was hit by an Amazon truck or van, you need to speak with an attorney about what happened. To set up a free consultation to discuss your Amazon delivery accident, contact our Maine personal injury law firm. We have law offices in Cumberland County, Androscoggin County, York County, and Penobscot County.

Determining Liability in an Amazon Truck Accident

When assessing fault in an accident, it’s important to consider the facts of the case and what the evidence reveals. These are a few parties who can be held liable for causing a serious delivery van or delivery truck crash.

The Amazon Driver

When the driver of an Amazon truck or van makes poor decisions or acts irresponsibly, they need to be held liable for their actions. This is particularly true if the driver was speeding, driving recklessly, using alcohol or other controlled substances while on the job, or not observing the rules of the road or the flow of traffic.

Amazon Itself

Amazon must carefully screen the delivery drivers they hire. There’s a chance that the company was negligent in hiring some delivery drivers, overlooking red flags in their driving record that should have disqualified them from the job. Similarly, Amazon could potentially be held liable for creating unsafe conditions for their drivers by scheduling too many hours or creating difficult and potentially dangerous delivery routes.

The Makers of the Delivery Vehicle

When automakers fail to design or manufacture safe vehicles, it puts everyone on the road at risk. Our Maine Amazon truck and van accident attorneys can note issues with vehicle design that may have contributed to a crash. Berman & Simmons attorneys can also check tires, brake systems, and other vehicle components that may have made the truck or van unsafe to drive.

Other Drivers in a Multi-Vehicle Crash

In multi-car collisions, another driver may be responsible for causing an accident that involves an Amazon vehicle. For example, a commuter who is speeding and frequently changing lanes without signaling could force an Amazon driver in an adjacent lane, sideswiping your car in the process. In these situations, our accident attorneys can go over the evidence to find who’s really at fault.

Potential Injuries from Amazon Delivery Truck Accidents

A collision with an Amazon van or truck can lead to catastrophic injuries that cause disfigurement or permanent disability. Potential injuries from a major traffic collision with an Amazon vehicle include:

• Burn Injuries: If a person is trapped in their vehicle after a serious collision, they could potentially experience burn injuries because of electrical fires or leaking gasoline that’s been ignited.
• Injuries to the Eyes/Ears: Serious head trauma or facial trauma in an auto accident could affect the eyes and ears, causing blindness and/or hearing loss.
• Loss of Limbs: The sheer force experienced in a delivery vehicle accident could result in the loss of one or multiple limbs.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Back, neck, and spine injuries may occur during a serious collision. This could result in partial paralysis, paraplegia, and even quadriplegia.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Blunt force trauma to the head can cause a concussion or even a penetrating head injury. TBIs can have a lasting effect on cognition, mental health, motor skills, and memory.

Loss of Life in an Amazon Truck Collision

The physical trauma in a delivery vehicle crash could be so severe that the accident victim succumbs to their injuries. If you have lost a loved one in an Amazon truck or van accident, our attorneys in Maine can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit for the fatal crash.

Compensation After an Amazon Truck Crash

When seeking damages for an Amazon truck or van collision, you can seek financial relief for economic and non-economic damages. Our Maine Amazon collision attorneys can help break down your losses and help you understand the true value of the accident claim.

Economic damages are quantifiable losses related to the Amazon delivery accident, such as:

• Medical bills
• Loss wages
• Damage to your vehicle
• Damage to your personal property

Non-economic damages are tied to intangible losses that don’t have an easily quantifiable monetary value, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium

Amazon Truck/Van Accident FAQs

Can I file a claim if I am partly at fault for the Amazon vehicle crash?

Yes. Maine is a modified comparative negligence state. As noted in MRS Title 14 §156, that means someone partly at fault for a crash can still recover damages as long as they are less at fault than the other party, whether that be Amazon, the Amazon driver, or some other person or entity.

However, if a jury finds that you and the other party are equally at fault in a collision, you will not be able to collect any damages.

Can my dash cam or doorbell camera footage be used as evidence?

Yes. Any video footage of the Amazon accident taking place can be used as evidence in your personal injury or wrongful death claim. Be sure to save a backup copy of the video.

Your dash cam footage may catch an Amazon driver running a red light as they race through an intersection. Similarly, your doorbell camera could catch an Amazon van hitting part of your home or seriously injuring someone on the sidewalk.

If you or a neighbor have footage available, mention this during your free consultation with our Maine delivery vehicle accident attorneys.

Is Amazon responsible for DSP driver accidents?

As NBC News 4 Washington reported, there can be confusion over liability when an Amazon DSP is involved in a crash.

Amazon DSPs are independent contractors rather than Amazon employees. That means the DSP’s insurance will likely be responsible for any injury or accident claims rather than Amazon itself. This is how the e-commerce giant dodges legal liability for serious crashes despite their association with the DSP.

That said, it’s still worth discussing potential legal recourse against Amazon. The Maine delivery truck accident attorneys of Berman & Simmons can review your situation and make sure the right party is held accountable.

Should I accept a settlement or go to trial?

This really depends on what happened in the accident. The vast majority of auto accident cases will be settled out of court. However, if a favorable settlement offer cannot be negotiated, it may be worth going to court to collect legal damages.