Amazon Delivery Truck Injuries in California
Amazon recruits nationally for drivers to deliver locally, intrastate, and interstate including Amazon Relay drivers, Amazon Logistics facilitators, Amazon Middle Mile carriers, and Amazon local parcel delivery contractors. Participants in the Amazon “Delivery Service Partner “(DSP) program, the Amazon Freight Partners program (AFP), Amazon Flex, and Amazon Prime are just some of the names of various inside employee-manned and outside contractor businesses that make up the Amazon transportation network.
Amazon’s transportation operations continue to grow at a dizzying pace. Amazon Logistics processed 5.9 billion U.S. delivery orders in 2023, equivalent to 673,500 deliveries per hour. Its net sales from shipping and delivery were an estimated $27.7 billion in 2023, up 15.6% year- over-year. In 2023, it fulfilled same- or next-day delivery for over 7 billion U.S. Prime purchases. The Amazon branded fleet included over 40,000 semi-trucks, 30,000 vans, and 110 aircraft for worldwide transport.
Amazon Delivery Truck Negligence by Unsafe Drivers
In 2024, Amazon became the largest U.S. package delivery service, overtaking rivals UPS and FedEx. But deliveries are not always made by safe drivers or by Amazon direct employees. When injuries, damages, death, or disability occur during Amazon goods delivery or interstate transportation of shipments between fulfillment centers, Amazon often claims it is not responsible for the negligence or unsafe driving of its outside contractors. If the drivers are not actually employees, Amazon says they are not liable for carelessness, negligence, speeding, inattention, fatigue, inexperience, or other partner’s driver’s mistakes.
At Walkup Melodia Kelly and Schoenberger, we know how Amazon operates. We have experience in successfully prosecuting injury, damage, and death claims against Amazon and its contractors when those contractors cause injury in the course of working as Amazon Relay delivery companies, Amazon Middle Mile Delivery Carriers, or Amazon local delivery companies.
So-called “independent” delivery contractors are not independent. Amazon’s rules for delivery companies govern everything from drivers’ social media presence to how many packages they’re expected to deliver and in which order. Drivers often wear Amazon uniforms, drive vans with the Amazon logo, and have cameras in their vehicles that monitor driving activity and provide audible corrective feedback to Amazon. Their delivery routes and their safety records are monitored by Amazon. Interstate travel and routing are watched and cataloged by Amazon’s proprietary mapping software. We are familiar with Amazon’s defense tactics in trying to avoid liability and the Walkup Melodia truck accident team has successfully overcome them to help our injured clients obtain fair monetary compensation.
How Will an Amazon Trucking Accident Lawyer Help Your Claim?
If you, or a loved one, are hurt, or a family member is killed, by Amazon trucking negligence you need a law firm and a lawyer who can take on Amazon. You need Walkup Melodia Kelly and Schoenberger. We know how to successfully prosecute Amazon trucking cases and have a track record to prove it.
Why Choose Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger?
- At Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, our Amazon truck accident lawyers have been helping individuals recover compensation after trucking accidents for more than 60 years.
- We have a thorough understanding of how Amazon works, how it operates its fulfillment center, brokers load intrastate and interstate, hires and supervises Relay and Middle Mile carriers, trains its drivers, supervisors, and transportation coordinators, and defends its cases.
- Our team handles Amazon delivery truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients do not pay a dime in legal fees until after we recover the compensation they need.
How Will an Amazon Trucking Accident Lawyer Help Your Claim?
To win against Amazon and its thousands of lawyers you must have experienced trucking accident lawyers who understand Amazon’s local, intrastate and interstate Amazon business model and how to fight through their excuses.
At Walkup, we have had a case like yours before. We have fought Amazon in court. We have overcome their arguments. We have taken the deposition testimony of their in-house executives and managers. As a Walkup client, you have the benefit of our resources to investigate, analyze, and prepare every aspect of your Amazon trucking case. This includes conducting a thorough and complete investigation into the crash, going to the scene, viewing the vehicles, collecting physical evidence, hiring the right trucking, reconstruction, and damages experts, gathering GPS data and onboard video recordings, and interviewing witnesses. We know the right engineering experts, trucking industry experts, and medical and economic experts to prove your case and properly calculate your losses. The Walkup Amazon trucking team is fully prepared to take your claims to trial if Amazon does not agree to a fair settlement.
Amazon Trucking Partners and Affiliates: Relay, Middle Mile, Local Delivery Services
Amazon transportation and delivery truck accident cases are complicated because Amazon will do everything in its power to avoid liability and to avoid paying in these situations. That is one of the main reasons that Amazon uses various programs including Relay Drivers, Middle Mile Drivers, small local companies, ASP, DFP, and the “Flex” driver programs. Amazon seeks to characterize outside drivers and operators as non-employees — even though Amazon controls schedules, routes, and the safety rules for the drivers on the roads.
We work with lawyers across the country to share information on Amazon’s defense strategies and experts. We follow court decisions in other states. State Court decisions in some states have now held that because Amazon micromanages drivers it can be liable for accidents caused by them. This is important, especially in the case of significant injury or death where financial losses are high.
We are currently litigating cases where Amazon claims it is not responsible for major injuries and deaths caused by so-called contractors. If you or a loved one are involved in an Amazon truck-related injury or fatality you need a law firm with California state court experience to hold Amazon liable for its contractors wrong-doing.
Amazon’s Responsibility with Middle Mile Carrier
Middle Mile delivery injuries refer to accidents or harm occurring during the transportation phase between Amazon’s fulfillment centers and its distribution hubs. These incidents are often caused by negligence on the part of Middle Mile carriers—third-party trucking companies contracted by Amazon to handle this critical stage of delivery. Common injuries include those from vehicle collisions, improper cargo loading, or inadequate maintenance of trucks. When such accidents occur, questions about Amazon’s responsibility often arise. While these carriers operate independently, victims frequently argue that Amazon should be held accountable for negligence, as the company sets stringent delivery timelines and safety protocols that can contribute to accidents if not properly enforced.
Middle Mile Carrier Lawsuits and Settlements
Victims of Middle Mile delivery injuries often pursue legal action to seek compensation for their damages. Middle Mile lawsuits typically target both the carrier and Amazon, arguing that Amazon’s oversight—or lack thereof—played a role in the accident. Attorneys specializing in Middle Mile accidents focus on holding carriers and Amazon accountable, ensuring victims receive fair settlements. These settlements may cover medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional suffering. Middle Mile accident lawyers are crucial in navigating the complex interplay of state and federal laws governing commercial trucking and Amazon’s contractual agreements with its carriers. Legal professionals who sue Middle Mile carriers are instrumental in securing justice for those harmed due to negligence, often leading to significant financial settlements.
Call a California Amazon Truck Accident Law Firm Today
If you, a family member, or somebody you care about has been injured or sustained fatal injuries after a highway or roadway crash with an Amazon delivery vehicle, semi-tractor, or partner delivery company, you need to hire Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger today. We know the playbook against Amazon. We have extensive experience helping clients who have sustained injuries in trucking accidents throughout California. We have ongoing cases with them right now. We will make sure you recover the compensation you are entitled to. When you need an Amazon delivery accident attorney contact us for a free consultation at any time by calling our team at (415) 233-6446.
