How Do I File a Claim Against an Amazon Driver in the Pacific Northwest?

Big trucking and shipping companies like Amazon sometimes push their drivers to the limit. This means they’re on the road even when they’re exhausted enough to make mistakes and cause accidents.

That puts other drivers as well as the Amazon contractors at risk, and it can be unclear what to do when you’ve been injured in an accident from an Amazon delivery truck.

Here, the dedicated attorneys at the Spokane-based Gilbert Law Firm will walk you step by step through the process of filing an injury claim against an Amazon driver in the state of Washington.

At the moment of the crash itself, there are a few steps to keep in mind, to make sure that you take care of yourself and get all the information you’ll need to file the claim.

You should of course call the authorities to be sure you get the appropriate medical care, but also to get an accident report. The police officer will file it, and the report will include which party was at fault, as well as their insurance provider.

You will also want the Amazon driver’s contact information, insurance company, and the name of their employer – whether it’s Amazon directly or a third party contractor. Note whether they were on or off duty with Amazon at the time of the accident.

Make sure to get detailed photos of the accident, of both cars, and of all damage sustained. If there are witnesses around, get their names and contact information.

If needed, get to a hospital to take care of any injuries you’ve sustained from the trucking accident. Keep all records and medical bills from the accident.

Once you have all your documentation ready, you’ll need to get in touch with a delivery truck accident lawyer.

Commercial truck accident lawsuits are a whole new beast when Amazon is involved.

In most cases involving commercial vehicles, the drivers are employees of the company. While there are cases where the truck driver is sued, most of the time their employer is held responsible.

However, Amazon is notorious for denying liability in accidents caused by its drivers, and it has extensive resources to protect itself from lawsuits.
So filing a claim against Amazon as an individual is very difficult, and unlikely to result in full compensation.

That’s why it is so important to work with a team of lawyers with experience in Amazon delivery truck accidents in Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest, like our team at The Gilbert Law Firm.

With the help of your attorney, there are a few options to file a claim against Amazon.

Unfortunately, because the Amazon business model hires delivery drivers largely through third-party contractor fleets, the drivers are not employees of Amazon. That means that Amazon can claim it is not directly responsible for its drivers’ accidents.

With that in mind, here are your options:

The option that is the most appropriate for your accident will depend on a variety of circumstances surrounding the event itself. And, if you decide to go up against Amazon directly, it will be especially tough to get the company to accept responsibility.

When you file a successful claim against an Amazon driver, you can get financial compensation for a number of costs, including:

As Amazon continues to grow and its delivery drivers continue to take over the roads, accidents will become more and more frequent.

Thankfully, we at The Gilbert Law Firm have years of experience facing up against big corporations and holding them accountable.

If you were involved in a car accident involving an Amazon delivery driver, contact us today for a confidential consultation.

Disclaimer: The blog published by the Gilbert Law Firm marketing team for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice or a substitute for legal advice. There is no attorney-client relationship between the reader and the blog publisher. Readers are urged to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.