A California Amazon delivery driver struck and killed a 2-year-old child who was outside of her home when the truck pulled up to make a delivery. Following the fatal collision, the child’s grief-stricken parents sued Amazon in a wrongful death claim. The online shopping mogul has denied culpability, asserting that the driver had been contracted by a third party.
At the time of the incident, the child was in the parking lot of the apartment complex where her family was living. To make matters worse, Amazon apparently refused to make dashboard camera footage available to the plaintiffs to use as evidence in their case. Amazon reportedly has stated that the only way it will hand over the video footage is if the plaintiffs sign a confidentiality agreement. It remains to be seen how a court will address that issue.
Many Amazon drivers have been named in lawsuits
This is not the first time Amazon has been sued when one of its drivers has caused a fatal collision or injuries to people while making deliveries. In more than 60 court cases filed by accident victims against Amazon, the company has denied responsibility. Amazon executives have stated that drivers contracted by third parties have signed contracts that state that Amazon cannot be held liable for injuries those drivers cause while carrying out duties on their routes.
The plaintiffs in this case are hopeful the court will hold Amazon accountable for their daughter’s death and that their case will set a precedent so that other families do not have to go through the trauma they have experienced in the sudden death of their child. Any California resident who has lost an immediate family member because of driver negligence may file a wrongful death claim in civil court. It is always best to secure legal support before initiating this type of litigation.