Report: Amazon Truckers Have Higher Rates of Driving Violations
The safety of Amazon’s trucking contractors has come under even greater scrutiny following a devastating crash that claimed the life of a 19-year-old woman. A CBS News investigation revealed that the driver responsible for the accident had a history of traffic violations, a suspended license, and outstanding felony warrants.
At the time of the crash, the driver was heading in a box truck to pick up an Amazon shipment when he forced the young woman off the road, causing her car to roll several times and killing her. The victim’s mother filed a lawsuit, alleging that Amazon was aware of the driver’s background, having previously rejected his direct employment application, yet he was still able to work for an outside Amazon-contracted company. The lawsuit further claims that Amazon’s tracking technology should have flagged his unsafe driving behavior, which included at least 70 speeding violations.
Following the accident, a CBS News analysis of six years of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data revealed that monthly violations for speeding, texting while driving, and other unsafe behaviors were at least 89% higher among Amazon-affiliated truckers compared to other carriers. The data also linked Amazon contractors to more than four dozen fatal crashes, resulting in at least 57 deaths. The report also claimed that, in many months, contractors in Amazon’s “middle-mile” delivery network had twice the safety violations of other transport companies.
If you have been injured in a trucking accident and you believe the driver or company that owned the truck was negligent in some way, please contact us. Talking to a top Philadelphia law firm for trucking accidents may help you better understand your legal options and make an informed decision as to the next steps to take.