Amazon trucks are a common sight on Detroit’s roads and highways. Unfortunately, so are Amazon truck accidents. Recent data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that Amazon trucks were involved in almost 150 crashes, and that approximately one fourth of Amazon trucks inspected had safety violations.
To make matters worse, Amazon uses its “Relay app” to farm out loads to smaller trucking companies without seriously vetting them first. Many times these smaller companies have a serious history of crashes and safety violations, or employ inexperienced drivers. Amazon’s failure to ensure that these companies are safe puts everyone at risk.
If you’ve been injured in a Detroit Amazon truck crash, you can seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. An experienced truck accident lawyer will help you calculate damages and get you the best possible settlement.
An experienced Amazon truck accident lawyer at Michigan Auto Law will protect your legal rights and fight for you and your family. We specialize in truck accident cases and our truck accident attorneys have a track record of success.
Amazon truck accident statistics
According to the FMCSA, Amazon trucks were involved in 145 crashes over the last two years. In addition, in an inspection of more than 1,600 Amazon trucks, safety violations were revealed in more than 400 of them (25%). And in an inspection of Amazon drivers, more than 200 unsafe driving violations were uncovered.
Unfortunately, there are currently no Amazon truck accident statistics for Michigan.
How does the Relay app impact Amazon truck accidents?
Amazon uses the Relay app so that it can hire out loads to smaller trucking companies, similar to the way Uber and Lyft connect drivers to passengers who need rides. However, it is well known in the industry that Amazon does little or no vetting of these companies.
As a result, these smaller trucking companies – sometimes known as “chameleon companies” – are able to get around a history of truck crashes and safety violations under their old name. They are also sometimes companies with little to no experience. Unfortunately, these trucking companies are often the only ones who will do this work for the low price Amazon pays.
Of course, this practice puts you and everyone else at greater risk of an Amazon truck accident. When a trucking company has a history of crashes or safety violations, or very little experience, and is not subject to scrutiny by Amazon or the FMCSA, we are all less safe.
How much is my Detroit Amazon truck crash case worth?
Factors that will impact your truck accident settlement include the extent of your injuries, the amount of your medical bills, your pain and suffering, and more.
Economic damages are one form of compensation you can receive. This type of damages includes medical expenses, lost wages, and lost earning capacity. Economic damages are fairly straightforward and easier to calculate.
You can also collect noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, scars and disfigurement, and so forth. These damages are more difficult to calculate, but an experienced lawyer will know how to make this determination and maximize your settlement.
In addition, if you lost a loved one in a Detroit Amazon truck crash, you may be able to bring an action for wrongful death, allowing you and your family to collect economic damages as well as compensation for the loss of your loved one’s companionship and financial support, and funeral and burial expenses.
Named a “Leader in the Law” and “Lawyer of the Year” by Michigan’s largest legal newspaper for his record-breaking auto accident verdicts, settlements and advocacy work in preventing wrecks, Steven Gursten heads Michigan Auto Law—a firm dedicated to serious motor vehicle accident injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits.
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