Florida Amazon Truck Accident Lawyers

Amazon Van and Truck Accident Lawyer

Did you know that as of 2024 there are over 275,000 people driving vehicles for Amazon in the United States? From 18-wheeler, and tractor trailer drivers to Vans whizzing around our neighborhoods delivering packages and people delivering packages using their own cars through a program called Amazon Flex from the interstate highways to our residential neighborhoods Amazon drivers are everywhere, every day. Everyone loves same-day delivery, but this convenience comes at a risk to the general public because of the epidemic of drivers involved with last mile transportation.

Amazon trucks are common throughout all of Florida, bringing packages right to consumers’ doorsteps. But as convenient as they are, Amazon trucks are prone to the same issues as other vehicles — driver errors and maintenance and manufacturing issues that can lead to accidents. Being in an accident that involves an Amazon truck can be devastating because of the vehicle’s size. You could end up with severe injuries, property damage, and many other losses that put a significant strain on your health and finances. An Amazon truck accident lawyer can help accident victims get the compensation they deserve. If you’ve been in an Amazon van or truck accident, contact Coffey McPharlin for help.

What Causes Amazon Truck Accidents in South Florida?

Amazon truck accidents can occur for a variety of reasons in Ft. Lauderdale and Florida. These include both driver errors as well as manufacturing and maintenance issues.

• Distracted Driving: The driver is often at fault when there’s an accident involving an Amazon truck. Drivers who aren’t fully focused on driving and instead engage in texting, eating, or even fiddling with the GPS. This type of behavior can result in accidents. Every week in Florida alone, there are an average of 1,116 accidents involving distracted drivers.  Amazon drivers have a dashboard in their vehicle with an onboard navigation system and directions about what packages are to be delivered to which addresses.  These are extremely complicated systems that require the drivers to read the information in real-time and input information in response to each and every delivery attempt.  An average day for these drivers involves delivering packages to over 180 separate addresses and sometimes hundreds of packages in a shift because many households receive more than one package.  The mental workload of operating the computer on top of driving a vehicle safely down the roadway and running in and out of the truck over 180 times in a day over a ten-hour shift is simply exhausting and not a safe business practice. This oftentimes leads to accidents that are avoidable.
• Speeding: Speeding is another common cause of Amazon truck accidents in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach. Speeding can mean going above the posted speed limit as well as driving faster than is safe for the road conditions. When a driver speeds, they have less time to stop to avoid hazards or to adjust to changes on the road. We have a long rainy season in Florida and people should drive slower than the posted speed limit due to road conditions in wet weather conditions. However, the workload on the Amazon driver does not go down on the rainy days. The drivers have the same number of deliveries, often over 180 separate addresses in a single shift, and it probably takes more time to deliver a package in the rain causing the driver to have to drive faster on the wet roadways when they should be driving slower to avoid accidents. Combined with the increase in force that a speeding vehicle has, speeding can lead to serious accidents, particularly during last mile delivery accidents.
• Aggressive Driving: If Amazon truck drivers find themselves behind schedule, they might tailgate, rapidly switch lanes, or engage in other aggressive driving behaviors. This is another concern in Florida that often leads to collisions and last mile delivery accidents.
• Maintenance Issues: It’s not always the driver who’s at fault. Many times, the maintenance team that was supposed to ensure the truck was safe to be on the road misses critical issues or doesn’t bother to perform a full check. If the accident is the result of a preventable issue that should have been discovered during a routine check, the maintenance company could be liable.
• Lack of Driver Training or Experience: Amazon usually relies on third-party companies to provide the trucks it needs to deliver its goods. These companies may hire people who don’t have the right experience or training. If an inexperienced driver causes an accident, there may be many parties who can be held liable, from the driver to the company that hired them. Believe it or not, Amazon has a program called Amazon Flex that just about anyone can sign up for and drive Amazon with their own car.  drivers have to live in a city where Flex operates, be 21 or older, have a valid US driver’s license, have a mid-sized or larger vehicle and insurance, and have an iPhone or Android smartphone along with a bank account. All you have to do is download the Amazon Flex app, sign up, and get started. Amazon indicates the driver set their own hours, listen to their own tunes, and get paid. Many of the Amazon Flex drivers also drive for Uber or Lyft at the same time. Imagine an Uber or Lyft driver at the end of their shift when they’re exhausted picking up extra work for Amazon Flex.  Everybody knows that Lyft and Uber drivers do not possess professional driver training.  similarly, Amazon Flex drivers have only basic training get a racing around our neighborhoods dropping off packages every day.
• Driver Fatigue: Long hours on the road and high delivery demands can lead to driver fatigue, reducing reaction times and increasing the likelihood of accidents.
• Failure to Obey Traffic Laws: Ignoring traffic signals, failing to yield, or making illegal turns are common violations that contribute to Amazon truck accidents.  This is a basic safety rule violation.  Everyone is responsible for following the rules of the road and when Amazon drivers break those rules people get injured.
• Improperly Secured Cargo: Cargo that isn’t properly secured can shift during transit, causing the driver to lose control or debris to fall onto the road, leading to serious hazards.
• Limited Visibility: The size of Amazon trucks often creates blind spots, making it difficult for drivers to see other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists, especially in congested areas or during nighttime deliveries.

These factors are often exacerbated by the demanding nature of Amazon’s logistics and delivery operations, where efficiency and speed are prioritized, sometimes at the expense of safety. Regular training, adherence to safety protocols, and better work schedules could help reduce the frequency of these accidents.

The Risks and Challenges of Last Mile Delivery in Florida

The “last mile delivery” stage is the final and most demanding phase in Amazon’s logistics process, where packages are transported from distribution hubs directly to customers’ doorsteps. This phase is critical to ensuring customer satisfaction, but introduces unique challenges for drivers. High-pressure schedules, frequent stops in congested urban areas, and navigating unfamiliar or residential neighborhoods place significant strain on drivers and vehicles alike.

These conditions often lead to last mile delivery accidents, especially in Florida, where dense urban areas and sprawling suburbs magnify the risks. Limited parking, narrow residential streets, and tight delivery windows create a heightened risk of collisions, particularly with pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles. The constant physical strain of handling packages and maneuvering in busy or constrained spaces further increases the likelihood of incidents during this stage of delivery.

Why You Need an Amazon Truck Accident Attorney

Regular vehicular accidents are complex, but those that involve Amazon trucks can be even more complicated because of the number of parties they could involve. This is important even in a no-fault state like Florida.

When you get into any kind of car accident in Florida, you have the chance to get compensation from your insurance company, but only if your degree of fault in the accident doesn’t go over 50%. This is because Florida follows a modified comparative negligence statute.

From the moment you reach out to your insurance company after an accident involving an Amazon truck, they will do everything possible to show that you caused the accident so that they don’t have to pay you the compensation you deserve. They may even try to bully you into admitting fault.

When you have an Amazon accident lawyer by your side, this isn’t something you have to worry about. Following Amazon truck accidents, attorneys you hire will fight for your rights and gather the necessary evidence to prove that the other party was responsible for the collision.

In some instances, the coverage that your personal injury protection insurance offers aren’t enough to cover medical expenses and other losses, especially if the accident resulted in severe injuries. If that’s the case, you’ll want to file a lawsuit against the other party or parties.

To do this, you will usually have to prove negligence. That means showing that the other party had a duty of care toward you that they breached. Then, you have to draw a direct link between that breach of duty and your injuries, which have to be serious enough to merit compensation.

None of this is simple to prove, especially when dealing with the other party’s insurance, so you have to have an experienced Amazon van accident lawyer by your side.

Amazon’s Insurance Coverage

Accidents involving Amazon delivery vehicles can present unique challenges in determining liability and insurance coverage. Amazon’s logistics network relies on a hybrid insurance model, which varies based on the type of driver involved—Delivery Service Partners (DSPs) or Amazon Flex independent contractors. This structure can complicate claims, particularly when third-party contractors are involved, making it critical to understand the specifics of these policies.

For Delivery Service Partners (DSPs):

DSP companies, which are third-party contractors operating Amazon delivery vehicles, are required to maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including:

• Primary Auto Liability Insurance: Amazon requires its DSPs to carry commercial auto liability insurance with a minimum coverage limit of $1 million per accident for bodily injury and property damage. This primary policy covers at-fault accidents involving DSP drivers and compensates third parties for injuries and damages.
• General Liability Insurance: DSPs are also required to maintain general liability insurance, usually with coverage limits of around $1 million per occurrence. This policy provides coverage for non-automotive incidents, such as accidents that happen while delivering a package to a customer’s door.
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance: Amazon mandates that DSPs provide workers’ compensation coverage for their drivers. This insurance compensates DSP drivers injured on the job for medical costs and lost wages and is required in states where workers’ compensation is mandated.

For Amazon Flex Drivers:

Amazon Flex drivers, who use their vehicles for deliveries, are covered by Amazon’s secondary insurance policies. These include:

• Primary Liability Coverage: Amazon provides Flex drivers with primary liability insurance coverage of up to $1 million per accident for bodily injury and property damage. This policy is secondary, meaning it kicks in only if the driver’s auto insurance denies the claim or is insufficient.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Amazon Flex insurance includes $1 million in coverage for accidents caused by uninsured or underinsured motorists. This ensures compensation for Flex drivers and passengers in cases where the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance.
• Contingent Comprehensive and Collision Coverage: For Flex drivers who carry comprehensive and collision insurance on their policy, Amazon offers contingent coverage up to the fair market value of the driver’s vehicle for damage sustained during delivery. This coverage only applies when the driver’s insurance is inadequate.

Amazon’s Umbrella Policies

In addition to the primary and secondary insurance policies for DSPs and Flex drivers, Amazon carries umbrella insurance policies. These policies provide additional coverage for high-cost claims, typically starting at $5 million to $10 million per occurrence. For catastrophic accidents or claims involving multiple victims, Amazon may rely on excess insurance layers, which could increase coverage further. Don’t wait, contact our Amazon accident lawyers now!

Challenges in Filing Claims:

While these policies aim to provide protection, gaps in coverage often arise due to the division of liability between Amazon, DSP companies, and independent drivers. Victims may face significant hurdles when pursuing compensation, particularly in last-mile delivery accidents, as Amazon frequently distances itself from direct responsibility in such cases. Legal representation is essential to navigate these complexities and hold all liable parties accountable.

Turn to Coffey McPharlin in Fort Lauderdale, FL

The aftermath of an accident involving an Amazon truck could mean struggling with injuries that affect you physically and emotionally, as well as dealing with medical expenses, property loss, pain and suffering, and more.

After Amazon truck accidents, attorneys can give you the best chance of getting the compensation you need and deserve. Turn to the experienced Amazon truck accident attorneys at Coffey McPharlin. Our team is ready to answer the questions you have about the process. Contact us today at (954) 289-6136!