With the rise of Amazon delivery vehicles on Georgia’s roads comes an increase in accidents caused by negligent Amazon drivers. If you suffered an injury in an Amazon truck accident in Augusta, Georgia, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries through a personal injury lawsuit.
Understanding the common causes of Amazon truck accidents, the parties that could be liable, and the steps to take after an accident are crucial for seeking the compensation you deserve.
Common Injuries Suffered in Truck Accidents
Some of the most common injuries suffered by victims of Amazon delivery truck accidents include:
- Soft Tissue Injuries – Injuries affecting the muscles, ligaments, and tendons can lead to chronic pain and require physical therapy. Whiplash, the most common injury after vehicle collisions, affects the soft tissue in the neck.
- Broken Bones – Broken and fractured bones, especially in the wrists and ribs, are particularly common in motor vehicle accidents.
- Head Injuries – Blows to the head suffered in accidents with Amazon trucks can lead to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which may cause permanent cognitive and physical impairment.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – The impact of a collision with a delivery vehicle can cause spinal discs to shift out of place, pinching or severing the spinal cord. These injuries can result in permanent paralysis.
- Lacerations – Broken glass and other sharp debris from a crash can result in deep lacerations that require stitches and may lead to scarring.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
While many factors can cause or contribute to vehicle accidents, some of the most common causes of accidents involving Amazon trucks include:
- Speeding – Delivery drivers may speed to complete their deliveries on time, putting other motorists and pedestrians at risk.
- Distracted Driving – If a delivery driver looks at their phone or checks the location of their next delivery while driving, it can lead to a collision.
- Fatigued Driving – Drowsy drivers are more likely to cause accidents than fully awake and alert drivers.
- Failure to Yield – If an Amazon driver attempts to make a left turn without yielding to oncoming traffic, the odds of a T-bone accident increase.
- Unsecured Loads – If the packages in the back of the Amazon truck aren’t secure, they can shift around and cause rollovers or other accidents.
- Poor Training – Drivers who don’t receive the proper training could make mistakes when delivering on new routes, resulting in collisions.
Identifying the Liable Parties After an Amazon Truck Accident
Before you can recover compensation for your injuries, you must identify the liable party or parties. In a truck accident, these parties may be:
- Truck Drivers – If the delivery driver’s negligence contributed to the accident, such as if they were texting while driving, they could be liable for your injuries.
- Delivery Service Partners – Amazon drivers work for Amazon’s delivery service partners (DSP), not Amazon itself. The driver’s employer could be liable for injuries they cause while on the job.
- Amazon – If Amazon’s practices, such as encouraging drivers to speed to make more deliveries, contributed to the accident, it could be liable.
- Vehicle Maintenance Providers – If poor vehicle maintenance contributed to the accident, such as if the truck’s brakes failed, the maintenance provider could be liable.
Because Amazon drivers may be independent contractors or employed by a DSP, determining who is liable in these cases can be complex. An Augusta truck accident lawyer with experience handling these claims will understand how to determine who bears responsibility.
Steps to Take After a Truck Accident in Augusta
After suffering an injury in a collision with an Amazon delivery truck, it’s important to take the following steps to protect your right to seek compensation:
- Keep Up with Treatment – Beyond your initial medical treatment, it’s crucial that you attend all follow-up appointments and continue with your treatment until your doctor releases you. This will show the insurance company that your injuries are serious and your treatment is necessary.
- Keep Medical Bills – It’s important to keep track of all medical bills you receive relating to your injury. Your attorney will use these bills to calculate your past and future medical expenses.
- Write Down Details – Human memory is notoriously unreliable. Before you forget, write down everything you remember about the accident. Your notes will prevent you from making contradicting statements later on.
- Avoid Providing a Statement – An insurance adjuster may reach out to you after the accident. Don’t provide them with a statement until after speaking to your attorney. The adjuster will try to get you to admit at least partial fault for the accident, which could reduce your compensation under Georgia law.
- Contact a Lawyer – The best way to protect your rights after an accident is to hire a qualified lawyer. Look for an attorney with experience handling complex Amazon accident claims.
Compensation Available to Truck Accident Victims
Some of the types of compensation you can seek through your personal injury lawsuit include:
- Compensation for past and future surgeries, medical treatments, medical devices, prescription medications, and physical therapy
- Compensation for the wages you lost and the wages you will lose because of your injury’s impact on your ability to work
- Compensation for the physical pain and suffering you experience because of your injury
- Compensation for accommodating any permanent disability you suffered due to your injury, such as modifications to your home or vehicle or the cost of in-home care
- Compensation for repairing or replacing damaged or lost property, including your vehicle
What Is the Deadline for Filing a Lawsuit After an Amazon Truck Accident in Augusta?
Under Georgia’s statute of limitations, vehicle accident victims have two years to file lawsuits seeking recovery for their injuries. If you fail to file your lawsuit within this period, you could lose your right to recover compensation. An Augusta truck accident lawyers can help you file your claim within the deadline.
Contact an Truck Accident Lawyer in Augusta, Georgia
If you suffered an injury in an accident involving an Amazon delivery vehicle in Augusta, Georgia, you can seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. Contact Chris Hudson Law Group at (706) 863-6600 for a free consultation with an experienced Augusta truck accident lawyers to discuss your case.
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