How Long Does it Take for Amazon to Pay for an Accident Lawsuit?

For many of us, it’s hard to imagine living without the speed and convenience of Amazon delivery services. The company guarantees one day delivery on many items, including groceries and medications. Meeting customer demand requires an army of drivers who make deliveries late into the night. The downside, however, is the increase in car accidents among Amazon drivers due to fatigue and pressure to meet tight deadlines. Victims who have been injured in these accidents have a right to seek compensation for their injuries.

We’ve seen a big jump in Amazon injury claims at our practice in the last few years. While each victim is unique with their own set of circumstances, they all have one question in common: “How long does it take to settle an accident injury case with Amazon?”

In all honesty, there’s no way to give you an exact timeline for your own case. For one thing, we would have to know the details of your accident, as well as the extent of your injuries. We would have to know what losses you suffered as a result of the accident. But those are the factors we can control. Things like Amazon’s willingness to negotiate a settlement or how long it takes for us to obtain evidence in your case are not up to us at all. All these factors affect how long you must wait before Amazon compensates you for your injuries. However, we can provide you information regarding the claims process as an Amazon driver or a motorist that was hit by an Amazon driver. This will hopefully give you an idea of what you can expect, though keep in mind that this is for general purposes only.

For information that’s specific to your case, speak with the Amazon accident lawsuit attorneys of Normandie.

How Long Do I Have to Wait if I Was a Driver Working for Them?

As stated above, there’s no universal timeline that we can apply to every case. We can, however, confirm that accidents with severe injuries requiring higher amounts of compensation generally take longer to settle. Cases involving millions of dollars in damages, for example, can take several years to resolve, especially if the case goes to trial. Luckily, most lawsuits are settled without court intervention, but it could still be well over a year before a car accident victim receives compensation. Cases with minor injuries, on the other hand, may be resolved in just a few weeks or months.

As a driver, your biggest problem is proving that Amazon had at least some responsibility in causing the accident. Because drivers are independent contractors with Amazon, they are not eligible for workman’s compensation with the company. Instead, you would have to seek help from the delivery company that you are employed with. However, it’s not fair for Amazon to wash their hands of the incident when you were injured while working for them. Amazon may be held liable for your accident, but proving that can be tough without extensive legal knowledge. Thus, it could take clients years to get a settlement from Amazon, if at all, especially if they’re not working with an attorney.

We can’t recommend legal representation highly enough in this situation, because sadly, Amazon will take every opportunity to hurt your right to compensation. That’s why you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible and avoid dealing directly with the insurance company. It’s not uncommon for insurance representatives to ask questions in a certain way, or get you to say something on a recorded line that can be used to invalidate your claim or force you to settle for a lower amount.

Our lawyers can handle all communications regarding your injury claim from day one and ensure your rights are protected at all times.

How Long Do I Have to Wait if I Was in a Crash Accident with One of Their Drivers?

So let’s start with the good news. Amazon drivers are required to have commercial auto insurance, which protects third party individuals in the event of a car accident. The policy offers up to $1 million to cover your injuries, as well as the injuries of anyone else in your vehicle. So if your damages are minor, this may be an adequate amount.

But what if you’ve suffered serious damage, like spinal cord injury, paralysis, or amputation? In that case, we’re talking about life-long medical treatments, loss of income if you’ve lost your job, and emotional trauma like PTSD and depression. Such losses may require more money that the sum offered by Amazon’s insurance policy. That leaves you with no choice but to sue Amazon, which is a long process even if you settle your case out of court. Depending on the degree of injury, we’ve had cases that took 2 or more years, but it was essential to recover the amount of money necessary for our client’s needs.

The truth is, Amazon will do anything they can do deny responsibility in your accident. But there are various ways that Amazon can be at fault, like hiring drivers with bad driving histories or demanding they work excessively long hours. Working through these issues and not giving up is the true test for a personal injury attorney, so it’s important to find experienced representation right away. Call our office and speak to a lawyer who can see your case through to the end.

Amazon’s Liability in a Car Accident Lawsuit

One of the most time consuming aspects in any case involving Amazon is liability. Finding an individual or company liable means that they are responsible for the harm that was done to someone else. That may seem pretty straight forward to you. An Amazon driver hit me or I was injured while driving for Amazon. So they’re responsible for my accident and should pay me accordingly, right?

Unfortunately, the arrangement between Amazon and their drivers is complicated. Unlike Amazon warehouse employees, drivers work for small delivery companies that are subcontracted by Amazon. That allows Amazon to classify drivers as independent contractors, who are not eligible for workman’s compensation insurance. This arrangement works in Amazon’s favor if they deny liability or try to put the blame on one of their subcontractors. However, Amazon has a duty of care to ensure the safety of anyone that works for them, as well as members of the general public. Amazon can fail in these duties when they pressure drivers to work long hours and meet unrealistic deadlines.

Drivers, in fact, have increasingly complained of Amazon’s dangerous expectations, and how pressured they feel on a daily basis. This pressure has led drivers to:

• Speed or drive recklessly.
• Run red lights and stop signs.
• Drive while distracted, especially if they’re lost or can’t find parking.
• Drive while intoxicated.
• Tailgate, not use turn signals, or engage in other dangerous behaviors.

When Amazon contributes to a driver’s negligence in the scope of their job duties, the company may be sued by anyone who is injured by one of their drivers. But making that connection between Amazon and your accident is challenging, so you should not attempt to go after them on your own. Whether you’re an Amazon driver or someone who was hit by an Amazon driver, make sure to speak to a personal injury attorney as soon as you can.

To ensure that your rights are protected, consult the Amazon accident attorneys of Normandie Law Firm.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements

Does it Matter if I’m Uninsured or Underinsured?

Here’s another question we get often enough during consultations. Many clients are afraid to admit it, but they feel more comfortable with us since anything they say during a consultation is strictly confidential. If you are in this situation, we want to assure you that not having insurance or being underinsured does not take away your right to compensation in an Amazon accident lawsuit. We do, of course, recommend that you obtain car insurance so that you have some form of protection. However, our main purpose is to help you recover from your injuries by going after the responsible parties. You are legally entitled to this compensation and should not let anyone talk you out of it.

For any other questions about your right to compensation, please talk to one of our accident lawsuit attorneys.

Why is My Lawyer Taking So Long to Settle My Case?

Frankly, injury claims against mega corporations like Amazon are difficult and time consuming. Each stage of your lawsuit will take several months to a year on average, so there will be times when it seems like nothing is happening at all. The real issue for many clients is lack of communication from their attorney. Yes, it’s awkward to tell a client that no progress has been made, but it’s far better than to keep them in the dark and make them feel ignored. For some clients, just telling their attorney that they need more updates may solve the problem.

But maybe you’ve already approached this issue with your lawyer several times. And still, weeks go by with no email or phone call, and when you reach them, the answers are vague or evasive. This could indicate a bigger problem, like your attorney having more clients than they can handle. Or, they may lack the experience to handle your type of lawsuit, but don’t want to admit it. These are very serious issues and may be signs that it’s time to find another attorney. Fortunately, California allows you to switch lawyers at any point in your case, so you don’t need permission from the courts to do this.

Switching lawyers, however, is not something you should do on a whim. There will be consequences for ending the relationship with your current attorney, which will be explained in your contract. To make sure you don’t miss anything, you should have an attorney look over the contract and advise you on the pros and cons of changing counsel.

If you’re thinking about finding a new lawyer, please consult the knowledgeable attorneys of Normandie Law Firm. We will be happy to review your case and let you know if your lawyer is taking the right steps to recover your injury award.

Make Sure to Get a Second Opinion

No matter how unhappy you are with your current lawyer, there are steps you should take before you transfer your case to another law firm. First and foremost, schedule a second opinion with another personal injury attorney, who can review your case and let you know whether your suspicions are correct. They can also look over your contract and advise you of the consequences for ending your attorney-client relationship in the middle of a case. Your new attorney can also notify the courts of your change in counsel and work out a split fee agreement with your old lawyer.

Please schedule a free second opinion with the lawyers of Normandie. If you decide to work with us, there is nothing for you to pay upfront under our Zero fee guarantee. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you, so if we lose your case, you owe us nothing at all. Whether you just started a claim or have a pending lawsuit, our lawyers have the experience to fight for you and bring you the funds you need for your recovery.

Call our office and schedule your free consultation.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Amazon Flex Driver Accident Hitting Pedestrian Attorney
Amazon Flex Insurance Coverage