On & Off the Roads, Amazon Deliver Drivers Are Getting Seriously Hurt. Here’s How.
Delivering Amazon packages has become one of the riskiest jobs in the courier industry, as more Amazon delivery drivers than ever are getting hurt on the job. That’s according to a May 2022 report that uncovered a 38% surge in Amazon delivery driver injuries in 2021 versus 2020. That increase has meant that about 1 in 5 Amazon delivery drivers got hurt while working last year.
Most Common Amazon Delivery Driver Accidents & Injuries
In and outside of delivery vehicles, Amazon drivers are getting hurt at astonishing rates, with all sorts of accidents causing an array of painful, debilitating injuries. In many cases, those accidents and injuries are the product of unrelenting demands and impossible quotas that Amazon places on its delivery drivers, as the May 2022 report revealed.
In fact, those quotas and demands tend to cause “Amazon workers to work too fast” and “risk injury as they rush to hit delivery targets,” resulting in:
- A “human toll”
- “Both dangerous driving and driver injuries”
Highlighting the types of accidents Amazon drivers are often in, the following also shares a deeper dive into the most common injuries these workers suffer and how those injuries can happen as drivers try to keep up with Amazon’s demands, quotas, and requirements.
1. Trips, Slips & Falls
Falling accidents lead the list of injury-causing incidents for Amazon delivery drivers, with Colorado’s largest provider of workers’ compensation coverage, Pinnacol Assurance, reporting more Amazon driver claims for falling accidents than any other incident.
These falls, including slip and falls, as well as trip and falls, can result in various injuries, including (but not limited to):
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Herniated discs and other back injuries
- Knee dislocations
- Bone fractures
Amazon delivery drivers, who are already in a massive hurry, are most likely to fall and get hurt when they encounter other hazards like (but not limited to):
- Uneven or cracked sidewalks
- Slippery walkways, especially after snow or storms
- Potholes, clutter, or debris peppering driveways
- Broken stairs, stairway railings, or security gates
2. Animal Attacks
Also topping the list of Amazon delivery driver injuries are animal attack injuries. In most cases, this means dog bites. Notably, Amazon does have a policy allowing delivery drivers to skip deliveries when there’s a menacing-looking dog present. Nevertheless:
- Many drivers won’t spot dogs until they’re already out of their vehicle, in the yard, and it’s too late to get away and avoid an attack.
- The Amazon Key program, which lets drivers leave packages in garages, may make it impossible for drivers to notice any dogs until the garage doors are already open and, again, it’s too late to avoid an attack.
When Amazon delivery drivers are attacked and hurt by dogs (or other animals), they can suffer injuries like (but not limited to):
- Loss of limbs
- Severe lacerations
- Nerve damage and/or paralysis
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
3. Strains
Muscle strains are another injury that frequently befalls Amazon delivery drivers, with these strains usually coming in the form of:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries
- Rotator cuff injuries and other types of shoulder strains
- Sciatica, spinal compression, and other types of back strain and pain
- MCL injuries and other types of knee strains
- Severe ankle strains
While some of these injuries can occur in an instant, others may develop over time, after months or years of continued strain on the body. That strain can come from having to lift and move boxes, as well as from sitting for extended periods of time in a vehicle.
4. Motor Vehicle Accidents
As a leading cause of injury and death for the public in general, motor vehicle wrecks also top the list of injury-causing events for Amazon delivery drivers. These collisions can occur as a result of:
- Amazon drivers trying to work as fast as possible: Along with unreasonable quotas, Amazon delivery drivers can face pressure to break traffic laws and cut corners to meet their targets. That pressure usually comes from the delivery service partners (DSPs) contracted by Amazon and employing the delivery drivers (because those drivers are generally classified as independent contractors by Amazon, though the company’s practices, policies, and driver oversight can open up room to argue that drivers are really employees under state and federal law).
- Others on the roads: These parties, including other motorists and pedestrians, can violate traffic laws and end up getting into crashes with Amazon delivery drivers. That’s more likely to happen when other parties are distracted, exhausted, drunk, or simply reckless behind the wheel.
5. Striking an Object
Striking or being struck by an object is another prominent way in which Amazon delivery drivers are getting hurt while trying to do their jobs. These types of accidents can involve an array of events and objects, including (and by no means limited to):
- Power lines
- Fence posts
- Garage doors
- Shingles or gutters
- Tree branches or other foliage
- Other vehicles (when Amazon drivers are pedestrians)
Keep in mind that these incidents can happen even if Amazon drivers are being exceptionally careful and taking their time to look out for hazards. That’s particularly true when drivers are making deliveries to properties — residential, public, or commercial — that are not properly maintained.
6. Violent Attacks
Tragically, many Amazon delivery drivers are being violently attacked by other people. In fact, a May 2021 investigation discovered that several Amazon drivers have reported being:
- Bitten, beaten, and otherwise assaulted
- Robbed
- Carjacked
- Shot
Whether or not the perpetrators of these attacks are caught or prosecuted, Amazon delivery drivers can be left with severe physical and psychological trauma.
What to Do After an Amazon Delivery Driver Accident & Injury
Medical attention should be the first priority after any Amazon delivery driver gets hurt while working. That’s key to receiving prompt treatments, avoiding further injury, and documenting the physical harm drivers have suffered. Beyond that, it’s also critical to talk to an Amazon delivery driver accident lawyer to learn more about a potential claim and the options for seeking financial recovery.
While compensation won’t erase the pain or trauma caused by Amazon driver accidents, it can help the injured continue medical treatments while giving them space to pick up the pieces and begin to heal.