Have you heard of Amazon Flex? It’s a type of Amazon package delivery that’s fulfilled completely through independent drivers who use their private vehicles instead of Amazon delivery trucks.
At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we often help people understand Amazon Flex by calling it “The Uber of Amazon.” Just like Uber, the service uses app-based ordering with independent drivers who help people get what they need.
After an Accident with an Amazon Flex Driver
Here’s one of the first questions to come up when one of our clients is in an Amazon delivery driver accident: Will Amazon pay for it? People often assume that Amazon will automatically cover their damages because the driver is an Amazon employee and driving an Amazon vehicle.
Not so fast! Amazon flex workers are NOT employed by Amazon and are NOT using Amazon vehicles. They’re independent professionals who work through an app to find and deliver packages. Amazon is almost guaranteed to tell you to pursue the Flex driver’s insurance to cover your accident.
This means you’ll have to seek compensation from the person who was driving the vehicle. Or, more specifically, you’ll need to start a claim with the insurance company that covers the Flex driver’s personal vehicle. It’s a hassle, but it could cover all or most of your costs.
Covering the Costs of Your Accident
Ready for a bit of good news? Although Amazon isn’t necessarily the one who pays for your accident, they do follow a rule that will help you. Amazon requires all Flex drivers to carry the California minimum coverage, which is $15,000 for one victim or $30,000 if multiple people are injured.
That means you can claim up to $15,000 to cover the costs of a basic car collision where you were alone in your vehicle and an Amazon Flex driver is at fault for the accident. Of course, $15,000 isn’t a lot of money if your injuries were severe and your car was heavily damaged.
Let’s say your accident created $100,000 in damages, and you’ve already burned through the $15,000 of California minimum coverage. You still have $85,000 worth of damages. Now what?
Your next step is to bring a claim against Amazon’s insurance policy for the excess amount, which in our example is $85,000. When you’ve already exhausted the Flex driver’s insurance maximum, California law allows you to hold Amazon accountable for the rest as long as you have shown liability and can successfully present your damages.
Yes, You Can Get 100% of Your Accident Covered!
It can be intimidating and frustrating to pursue compensation for a car accident, especially one that involves a local Flex driver and a huge company like Amazon. But don’t give up. It’s your legal right to seek compensation for your injuries and other damages.
Here at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we know how to pursue multiple paths to compensation after an Amazon Flex accident. Plus, we make the process as easy for you as possible by offering a free and confidential initial consultation. We’re here to help you!
We Handle Your Accident Claim So You Can Focus on Your Life
After an accident, contact the attorneys at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. We handle many types of personal injury claims, including Amazon Flex accidents. We believe you should be able to focus on recovering from your accident while we handle the legal details.
We truly care about the people of California. Contact us today for a free online case evaluation.
Video Transcript:
What exactly is Amazon Flex? Well, I like to call it the Uber of Amazon. In essence, basically these are independent people who are delivering packages for Amazon, but they’re in their own private vehicles. They’re not in an Amazon vehicle. They’re not employed by Amazon. They’re just basically working through an app. In these instances, who pays for your damages is the person driving. The driver should carry their own personal liability policy. Amazon requires them to carry the California minimum, which is 15,000 or 30,000 if multiple people are injured. Let’s say your accident’s worth a hundred thousand dollars. Well, that burns through the driver’s policy right away. Then you would bring a claim against Amazon’s policy for the excess. You’d get 15 from the driver and then the 85 from Amazon’s policy.