You love how easy Amazon makes it to get just about anything delivered to your front door. You can even pick up some extra cash as an Amazon Flex driver. You can even turn the side gig into a full-time job. All you need is a reliable vehicle. The only potential downside of Amazon’s expanding delivery service is the rising number of vehicle accidents. 

So, if you’re involved in a collision do you know what to do? We’re looking at the essential steps in an Amazon Flex driver accident claim. After all, you don’t make a mistake and risk not being able to recover compensation for your damages.

Steps to Take After an Amazon Flex Accident

If you’re involved in an accident with an Amazon Flex truck, it’s natural to feel a little overwhelmed. You’re suddenly facing unexpected financial costs and this is often just the start of your damages. However, a primary concern, other than your well-being, should be to protect your rights. This means following a few simple steps.

Seek Medical Attention

Since most vehicle accidents result in noticeable injuries, seeking medical attention should be a given. After all, you don’t want to sit there bleeding from your injuries instead of getting medical treatment.

Your health is always a priority and this means visiting a healthcare provider after the accident. Some injuries aren’t always immediately obvious. Soft tissue injuries are a good example, along with damage to some internal organs. You may feel fine for a few days or even weeks before noticing any pain or bruising. Adrenaline from the accident can also hide injury symptoms for a while.

To be safe, and protect your right to file a claim, a visit to your primary healthcare provider shouldn’t be overlooked. Make sure you save all of your medical records relating to the accident, these will be crucial to receiving compensation.

Report the Accident to the Authorities

All states have varying requirements when it comes to reporting accidents. However, most are in agreement when the accident involves an Amazon Flex driver, this includes Georgia. You must report all accidents that result in injuries, fatalities, or excessive property damage. In Georgia, any property damage exceeding $500 must be reported immediately to the authorities.

Reporting the accident immediately helps to ensure there’s an official record of the incident. Your accident report is also a requirement when you’re filing a compensation claim against the truck driver or vehicle owner. Without the report, it’s tough to prove the accident happened. Your accident report also contains crucial details that can help support your claim.

You can usually pick up your accident report in around ten business days. You should also expect to pay a nominal fee for your copy of the report. The fee is usually around $10 so don’t panic at the possibility of another large expense.

Try to Gather Evidence

Okay, so gathering evidence doesn’t mean crawling around the accident scene. If you’re injured, your health is a priority. Let the authorities handle gathering the evidence. If you’re wondering why you’re also gathering evidence, it’s to simply help speed up the claim process. Remember, it can take up to ten business days for your accident report to be ready for pickup. There’s no reason why you can’t help speed up the process if your injuries allow it.

What types of evidence should you try to gather? You’re only sticking to the basics. You’re probably not a licensed accident scene investigator. Plus, you don’t want to get in the way of the professionals. Grab your cell phone and take pictures of the accident scene, focusing on where your vehicle ended up. This can help prove fault. Don’t forget to take photos of any visible injuries, this includes your passengers. Your medical records will list your injuries but pictures can help prove the severity.

Don’t forget to jot down the location of any video surveillance cameras. This includes both traffic, business, and residential cameras. The footage can be subpoenaed by your personal injury attorney to help support your version of the accident.

Go ahead and exchange information with any witnesses but don’t discuss any particulars about the accident. The defendant’s insurance adjuster will also talk to the witnesses and you don’t want your statements to be used to try to devalue your injury claim.

Georgia is an At-Fault State

Adding to the confusion after an Amazon Flex vehicle accident are state insurance laws. Georgia is an at-fault insurance state so you contact the responsible party’s insurance provider. So far, everything seems pretty easy. However, the Peach State also follows comparative negligence rules. This is where things can get confusing. This insurance rule lets more than one driver be responsible for causing the same accident.

You can still recover at least some compensation even if you’re partially to blame for the collision with an Amazon Flex driver. As long as your percentage of fault isn’t higher than 50%, you should be good to go. 

However, even though you should be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver, your compensation amount is going to be affected. Your potential compensation is going to be reduced by your assigned percentage of fault. Georgia does let accident victims appeal their percentage of fault but this can delay the claim process.

Pay Attention to the Statute of Limitations and Protect Your Rights

The last thing you’re probably thinking about is a timeline to file a claim after an Amazon Flex accident. Unfortunately, it’s something you need to pay attention to regardless of the severity of your injuries. 

You have two years to file a personal injury claim after an Amazon Flex accident in Georgia. The statute can vary depending on the state. Some states allow up to three years, but it’s best to check with local standards.

If you miss the statute of limitations, there’s a good chance you can’t file a claim for damages. Hopefully, these steps can help you protect your rights after an Amazon Flex accident.