Chicago Amazon Truck Accident Lawyer
Amazon – the world’s biggest online shopping giant – is shipping and delivering more packages than ever, which also means that there are more Amazon trucks and vans on the road than ever. When the people who drive these vehicles make mistakes, they can cause accidents – and when they do, innocent people can be hurt. If you’ve been injured in an Amazon truck accident in Chicago, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and more. Unfortunately, Amazon has been very careful to shield its corporate liability. Securing this compensation without the help of an experienced Amazon truck accident attorney can be more difficult than it should be.
That’s where Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. comes in. Our personal injury law firm was founded over 40 years ago. We have secured more than $2.5 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients since then. We’re ready to put our experience, skill, and tenacity to work for you as you pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Chicago Amazon accident lawyer.
What to Do After an Amazon Delivery Accident
In the immediate aftermath of a truck accident, you should contact law enforcement and remain at the accident scene. A law enforcement officer can respond and prepare an accident report, which will come in handy when you file a claim with the insurance company that covers the Amazon driver.
You and any other injured person should also seek medical treatment for your injuries. When larger Amazon trucks are involved, catastrophic injuries or other serious injuries are more likely to arise. As with any car accident, you should follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment plan to improve your prognosis, keep copies of all your medical bills and repair expenses to document your losses, and stay off of social media to avoid accidentally saying something that undermines your claim.
You will also need to exchange information with the Amazon delivery driver. One important question to ask is, “What type of Amazon vehicle do you drive?” Amazon employs different vehicles for different tasks and in different capacities. It is crucial to determine what type of Amazon vehicle was involved in the accident because that can have an impact on the type of claim you can make. Be sure to note if the vehicle is an:
- Amazon-branded semi-truck
- Amazon-branded delivery van
- Amazon Prime delivery truck
- Amazon Flex vehicle
Document the scene and take plenty of pictures of the damage to your vehicle and the Amazon delivery vehicle. Ask any witnesses for their information.
How to File a Claim with Amazon After a Truck Wreck
Filing a claim after an accident with an Amazon truck is different than filing a claim after a car accident with another motorist. The process can get complicated, which is why you should get in touch with a seasoned Cook County truck accident attorney as soon as possible.
Despite the prominent Amazon branding on its shipping and delivery trucks and vehicles, Amazon outsources much of this work to local carriers and independent contractors as a way to avoid legal liability in the event of an accident with an Amazon delivery driver. In most cases, these independent contractors and subcontractors are responsible for providing their own insurance coverage, which means you will likely pursue compensation from a source other than Amazon itself. An experienced personal injury attorney can review your situation and advise you of the legal avenues for pursuing compensation that are open to you.
If you are involved in an accident with an Amazon driver, contact the insurance company the driver informed you of. If you do not have the Amazon driver’s insurance information, review your copy of the accident report from the crash. This document typically has all the information you need about the insurance company and insurance policy in question so that you can make an insurance claim. If the accident involved an Amazon Flex driver, you might also inform the company about the incident through email.
You should also contact your own insurance company to make them aware of the situation. Many insurance companies require that they be informed of any accident a policyholder is involved in within a certain time frame.
Amazon and Insurance Coverage
Amazon has managed to successfully insulate itself from liability stemming from delivery truck accidents involving its branded vehicles. The company’s buying power allows it to negotiate favorable rates with trucking carriers and local delivery companies, which they then require to operate Amazon delivery trucks and vans. However, these vehicles are not owned or operated by Amazon directly, which allows the company to avoid liability in the event of an accident. These contracted companies employ their own drivers (not Amazon employees) and provide them with insurance coverage, and they are typically the companies that can be held liable after a collision.
Local insurance carriers are subject to the following minimum commercial insurance limits established by Illinois law:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injuries
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injuries
- $20,000 per accident for property damage
Additionally, Amazon is rolling out a service called Amazon Flex, which is like ridesharing, only for package delivery. These Amazon delivery drivers use their own vehicle to deliver packages and earn extra money. These Amazon drivers have their own insurance policies that may cover your expenses if you are injured in a collision. In the event that those limits are exhausted, Amazon Flex provides drivers with the following coverage:
- $1 million in liability insurance
- $50,000 in comprehensive and collision coverage
- $1 million in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
Compensation You Could Recover in an Amazon Delivery Accident Claim
The amount of compensation you could recovery after being harmed in an Amazon delivery truck accident will vary depending on the severity of your injuries and related losses, as well as who is to blame for causing the accident. Typically, truck accident victims can seek compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Diminished quality of life
Talking to an experienced truck accident attorney is the best way to determine what compensation you may be entitled to. We provide a free case review with a knowledgeable accident lawyer so you can learn about your legal rights and options for seeking fair compensation.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with an Amazon Truck Accident Attorney Today
Have you been injured in a collision with an Amazon truck or delivery vehicle? Was the Amazon truck driver to blame? If so, you could be entitled to substantial compensation for your medical costs, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. The Chicago Amazon truck accident lawyers of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard PC want to help you pursue this compensation.
Contact our Chicago office today for an initial consultation with a delivery truck accident lawyer. Case reviews are free, and we work on a contingency-fee basis, which means we don’t get paid until you do.
