The size of a corporation like Amazon can make it seem impossible to hold applicable parties accountable for injuries done to you, your family, or the products you’ve ordered. Amazon’s truck drivers are as responsible for their behavior on the road as any other truck driver, though. As such, you do have the right to hold these parties accountable for roadway negligence.
You don’t have to act against an Amazon truck driver alone. Whether you’re contending with an independent contractor or an Amazon employee, Amazon truck accident lawyers in Mount Vernon, NY, can help you bring civil charges up against the applicable parties. You can request a case evaluation through Morelli Law Firm to learn more about your post-accident rights.
Amazon Truck Accident Claims and Their Deadlines
When you bring an Amazon truck accident to the attention of local justices, you need to file a civil complaint. A civil complaint details the nature of your accident, the identity of the involved parties, and the compensation you want for your losses.
More specifically, an Amazon truck accident civil claim outlines the duty of care that a driver allegedly owed to you at the time an accident occurred. By proving this duty of care with the help of available evidence, you detail your right to loss-based compensation.
That said, you need to bring a relevant complaint forward within the time allotted to you by the state of New York. New York Civil Practice Law & Rules §214 makes victims file complaints within three years. This deadline begins on the day that your accident occurs, making the turnaround particularly tight for parties contending with accident-related injuries.
Evidence Plays an Essential Role in Amazon Truck Accident Complaints
The information you include in your Amazon truck accident complaint needs to be thorough and backed by evidence. Without the appropriate support, a court may dismiss your assertions of fault as conjecture.
Take, for instance, accusations of liability in the wake of an Amazon truck accident. Disregarding the complexity of liability in Amazon truck accident cases for a moment, failing to present evidence of a driver’s role in your accident can make your claim seem insubstantial. You need to bring forward evidence of both the driver’s role in your accident and the negligence in question.
Some of the most viable forms of evidence to present regarding a person’s fault in your Amazon truck accident can include:
- Debris from the scene of the accident
- Accident recreations based on damage at the scene of the accident
- Video or photo footage of the accident
- Social media posts detailing the accident
- Bystander statements
- Expert witness testimony
It’s the job of an Amazon truck accident attorney in Mount Vernon, NY, to find this evidence and present it in such a way as to tell a coherent story.
Mount Vernon Amazon Truck Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Assigning Liability in Amazon Truck Accident Claims
Let’s revisit the question of liability for a moment. When you get into an accident with an Amazon truck driver, it can be difficult to know if the driver or Amazon is meant to take responsibility for your losses.
If you have evidence that charges an Amazon truck driver with the responsibility for your losses, you need to determine if that driver operates as an independent contractor or if Amazon considers them to be an employee. It is rare for Amazon to hire truck drivers as employees, but the classification can make Amazon liable for your losses.
In most cases, your case names an independent contractor as responsible for your losses. Independent contractors represent themselves in civil roadway cases, even if they benefit from Amazon’s truck driver insurance. With this in mind, make sure to ask what a truck driver’s position is within Amazon before you begin compiling your complaint.
Your Case Has an Estimable Value
As mentioned, the evidence you bring forward to defend your right to legal action can also defend your right to post-accident financial support. You need to calculate the estimated value of your case with the help of this evidence before you bring it before a civil judge.
When estimating the value of an accident with an Amazon truck, you can use any bills you’ve generated while seeking out care for post-accident care. You can also include the bills relating to the replacement or repair of property damaged in your accident. A liable party may even be responsible for compensating any wages you’ve lost while recovering.
Your accident may also entitle you to non-economic losses, or losses that do not generate bills. These losses can include:
- Emotional distress
- Worsening mental health conditions, including PTSD
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of companionship
- Wrongful death, if applicable
New York recommends multipliers to stand in for these losses, as they don’t maintain a traditional economic value. We apply these multipliers to the sum of your billable Amazon truck accident losses. In turn, we can determine how these losses may impact the total value of your Amazon truck accident case.
Filing an Amazon Truck Accident Complaint Protects Your Future
It can take a considerable amount of time to recover from an accident involving an Amazon truck. The cost of your post-accident care, married with the expense of replacing damaged property, can thoroughly disrupt any plans you had for the future. That is why it benefits Amazon truck accident victims to file civil complaints.
These complaints do more than give you the right to demand compensation. You can control how your conversations addressing compensation play out. For example, you can set a time and date to negotiate compensation with the party allegedly liable for your losses. Should that party prove belligerent, you can request that a judge preside over your case.
You even have the right to return to settlement negotiations in the midst of an Amazon truck accident trial. Our Mount Vernon Amazon truck accident attorneys can work to ensure that your approach to conversations about post-accident recovery suits your needs.
Contact an Amazon Truck Accident Lawyer in Mount Vernon for Legal Guidance
Victims of accidents involving Amazon trucks may feel as though the corporation’s international reach makes it impossible for them to hold it accountable for their losses. This is not the case. In some instances, your car accident with an Amazon truck driver in Mount Vernon, NY, may not even involve the company directly.
You can work out questions of liability with a Mount Vernon Amazon truck accident attorney. Morelli Law Firm can help you file a complaint against the appropriate party before advocating for your right to compensation. For more information about how our legal services may benefit you, request a case evaluation online or by calling our office.