Staten Island Amazon Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer
Injured in an Amazon Delivery Truck Accident? Call Our Staten Island Amazon Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer
Delivery trucks, vans, and other larger vehicles present a unique hazard on the roads. These vehicles are larger, have big blind spots, and engage in driving behaviors that increase the risk of an accident such as stopping and starting without warning, zipping in and out of driveways or parking lots, and often rushing to meet their quotas. The leader in this field is Amazon, who has been increasing their services and is now expected to deliver 5.9 billion packages annually which is more than either UPS or FedEx. This translates to over 16 million packages a day, which requires a significant fleet of drivers as most Amazon delivery vans deliver around 250-300 packages a day. Although the majority of these deliveries are made without incident, unfortunately our Staten Island Amazon delivery truck accident lawyer knows that this is not only the case.
Indeed, motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of injuries to Amazon drivers, which means they are also a major factor in causing injuries to innocent drivers in Staten Island too. Federal accident statistics support this notion, as accidents involving trucks such as delivery trucks or vans have increased significantly over the last few years. Due to the increase in market share, it is likely that this trend is going to continue.
If an Amazon delivery truck accident caused you serious injuries or resulted in the wrongful death of a loved one, contact the O’Connor Law Firm for help. Our personal injury law firm handles all types of serious, catastrophic, or fatal trucking accidents, including those caused by delivery vehicles or delivery vans. Even where liability may be obvious, large companies like Amazon hire some of the leading insurance companies and defense law firms in the region if not New York or the entire country to protect them after a crash. This means that victims and their families need to hire a skilled, resourceful, and experienced Staten Island Amazon delivery truck lawyer who can stand up to these powerful insurers and law firms, standing toe-to-toe with them to protect a victim’s rights under the law. To learn more about how our skilled and experienced team at the O’Connor Law Firm can be your champion against this industry giant, contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Why Amazon Delivery Truck and Amazon Delivery Van Accidents are Different
Amazon delivery truck accidents are not like regular car accidents. Since delivery trucks and delivery vans are larger and heavier than other motor vehicles, they also generate more momentum. This means that they hit with more force in a crash. That force is dispersed to occupants and often results in some of the most catastrophic types of personal injuries that could occur in a motor vehicle accident. This is true even at low speeds, where the heavy weight of a delivery van will still generate much more momentum than smaller passenger vehicles.
In addition to the severity of a crash and the injuries caused by it, there are often liability issues in Amazon delivery truck accidents too. That’s because most drivers are considered independent contractors and not employees of Amazon. As a result, victims and their families are often limited to recovering compensation from the smaller delivery company (which is often a limited liability company or LLC), as opposed to going against the corporate giant Amazon itself. Although there may be incidences where victims may be able to still go after the larger corporation, this is rare and often well-defended. Thus, it is critically important to hire an experienced Staten Island Amazon delivery truck lawyer to handle your case.
Examples of Amazon Delivery Truck Accidents in Staten Island
There are many possible ways that an Amazon delivery truck accident could occur in Staten Island or anywhere else in New York City. Generally, these accidents can be separated into traffic violations, operator errors, equipment issues, and third-party incidents. Some of the most common examples of delivery van accidents include the following:
- Speeding
- Unsafe U-turns or unsafe K-turns, especially to either turn around to get to a missed address or to get out of a dead end or long block
- Following too closely or tailgating
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Failure to yield
- Improper left turns
- Driver inexperience, especially if new to driving a delivery truck or van
- Unsafe backing out of a driveway or parking lot
- Improperly stopping in a roadway (double parking) and creating a hazard
- Failing to use directional signals to stop, start, or turn
- Steering column failures
- Brake failures
- Aggressive driving or road rage
- Tire blowouts and failures
- Unsecured cargo falling off a truck, including where a driver leaves a truck gate or door open
- Potholes or roadway damage that causes a truck to lose control
- Accidents caused by another driver that affects a delivery van, such as having to take evasive action and harming a victim
- Negligent roadway repair or care, such as in construction zones, and
- Many other common causes of delivery van accidents that our Staten Island Amazon delivery truck accident lawyer could handle for you.
What Should I do After an Amazon Delivery Truck Accident in Staten Island?
Since delivery truck accidents are different than other types of vehicle accidents, victims need to take different steps in handling their cases. Although many of the steps are the same, there are some important differences that can help prove your case. Some of the most important steps to take after a delivery truck accident with Amazon or any other carrier include the following:
Call 911
Whether or not you believe you may be injured, always call 911 to get first responders to come and make an official report. Due to their large size, most delivery truck or delivery van accidents will cause personal injuries – although some injuries to the neck or back may not be immediately apparent and may take days or even weeks to develop symptoms. Nonetheless, these injuries can still result in catastrophic harm, including requiring a discectomy or even a spinal fusion. Therefore, it is important to always have the police and other first responders come to an accident, investigate, evaluate you, and generate a report. They will also help gather the correct information from a contractor and ensure that there are no other state or federal violations in the operation or maintenance of the delivery vehicle.
Take Photographs or Videos at the Scene
It is always good practice to take photographs or videos of a motor vehicle accident scene. This includes debris fields, signs, traffic control devices, points of impact, injuries, and other relevant things that might be able to help a case. However, in a delivery truck accident, it may also be helpful to take certain other photographs or videos. This includes photos or videos of the following:
- Logos or signs
- DOT numbers or markings
- License plates
- General upkeep of the vehicle (i.e., dirty, other damage, anything odd)
- Driver or other occupants in the delivery vehicle
- Anything hanging from the windshield or other distractions in the cabin, including if there is food out or a pet, map, another person, or other objects that are inside but visible
- Of the insurance card/information, driver’s information, and other data being exchanged
- Any other symptoms, numbers, markings, or other identifiers on the truck, and
- Anything else about the vehicle that you believe may be useful in your case.
Follow Medical Advice
Report all injuries, even minor aches or pains, to first responders so they can properly evaluate you and create a record at the scene. If first responders recommend that you get evaluated at a hospital, go without delay. Again, report all injuries to the hospital staff and do not hold back or embellish anything – be truthful, but thorough. Follow all of their recommendations and comply with follow-up appointments, treatment, and other medical advice. This is important to both heal your injuries, but also to document your injuries.
Acknowledge the Claim to the Insurance Company, But Don’t Give Details
You may be required to give notice of an accident very quickly to the insurance company, and should do so as soon as you can. However, you should not do anything more than providing basic details of the claims. That’s because the adjuster will immediately begin to employ tricks to tactics that are used to help minimize your claim. Even if it is your own insurance company, they will undoubtedly use certain tactics against you anyway. Never accept any compensation or sign any papers without speaking with a lawyer.
Call an Experienced Staten Island Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer
Although it may be tempting to take a check from the insurance company, don’t. Always speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer because a quick check usually means that the insurer is trying to settle your case before it can be fully developed to what it really is worth. Your bodily injury lawyer can help put the notice of an accident to the insurance company and then engage in pre-action (before a lawsuit is filed) negotiations. If the insurance company or defense lawyer will not play fair, your lawyer can also seek your legal remedies in court by commencing an action in Staten Island or elsewhere in New York City.
Victims of Delivery Truck Wrecks Should Call Our Staten Island Amazon Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer at The O’Connor Law Firm
Amazon is one of the largest companies in the world and you can bet that they will have some of the largest insurance companies and defense law firms protecting them. After any type of motor vehicle accident with an Amazon delivery van causing personal injuries in New York City, call the O’Connor Law Firm to protect your rights. We have the resources and experience necessary to recover compensation for victims of Amazon delivery truck accidents, including for conscious pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and other damages.
To learn more about how we can help you and your family, call us today to schedule a free consultation with our Staten Island Amazon delivery truck accident lawyer by dialing (866)-927-3809 or by sending us an email through our “Contact Us” box available here. There are no upfront costs to begin working with our bodily injury law firm. Further, our legal fees are only paid from a percentage of what we recover for victims, meaning there is also no risk to work with our personal injury team.