Jurors Hand Down $16.2M Verdict Against Amazon Logistics
A Georgia jury recently handed down a $16.2 million verdict at trial against Amazon Logistics and a service partner over injuries suffered by a Georgia child when he was run over by a delivery van. His leg was severely injured in the accident. The case, Bradfield v. Amazon Logistics, et al., 22-C-07003-S7, centered around whether or not the Amazon driver negligently struck the child causing his injury.
A Gwinnett County State Court jury apportioned 85% of the responsibility for the accident to Amazon on a claim of negligent hiring. 10% of the responsibility was apportioned to the Fly Fella Logistics delivery driver. Jurors also concluded that 5% of the responsibility should be borne by a babysitter who was watching the child at the time of the accident. This will reduce the plaintiff’s jury award by 5%. Nonetheless, Amazon logistics is on the hook for 85% of $16.2 million with their delivery partner only shouldering 10% of the blame.
Holding Amazon liable for delivery accidents
Amazon has a whole team of civil defense lawyers that have constructed Amazon’s business to insulate itself from liability. These lawsuits have traditionally been made harder because Amazon claims that it is not liable for the conduct of its delivery partners. Nonetheless, a Georgia jury decided that Amazon exerted enough control over the delivery partners to warrant them being liable for injuries caused to members of the public. Amazon hoped that 100% of the liability would fall on their delivery partner, Fly Fella. Nonetheless, a Georgia jury determined that Amazon could not escape liability for these claims based on the amount of control Amazon exerts over Fly Fella employees.
This is the first case in Georgia and one of the first in the nation to decide whether or not Amazon can be held liable for its delivery partner’s drivers.
The accident
According to the lawsuit, the crash occurred as the boy was crossing a neighborhood street on his electric bike. The delivery driver was pulling away from a stop he had made to allow other children to cross the street. His delivery van struck and ran over the child, fracturing his pelvis, and causing a degloving injury that required multiple skin grafts to repair. The injury has left him with lifelong scarring.
Perhaps because of the degloving injury, the Georgia jury awarded the boy $16 million in pain and suffering damages. The accident may prevent him from seeking certain types of employment in the future and could prevent him from engaging in recreational activities that other children enjoy.
Talk to an Atlanta, GA Truck Accident Lawyer Today
The Atlanta personal injury attorneys at The Forsythe Law Firm, LLC represent the interests of Georgia plaintiffs who have been injured in traffic accidents with commercial vehicles. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing how you could recover damages related to your medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life.
Source:
blog.cvn.com/16.2m-verdict-wraps-trial-against-amazon-logistics-over-delivery-van-crash-that-injured-child
