NORFOLK, Va. (AP) 鈥� A North Carolina motorcyclist who lost a leg after a collision with an Amazon delivery truck has filed a lawsuit arguing that unrealistic expectations for the tech giant's delivery drivers have led to negligence.
According to his lawsuit, filed in Norfolk Circuit Court in January, Justin Hartley was riding his motorcycle in Virginia Beach on Oct. 4 when a rented truck with an Amazon logo turned directly into his lane, reported.
The truck hit Hartley, causing fractures to his left wrist and left leg. Doctors were unable to save his left leg and amputated it just below the knee, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges Amazon delivery driver Christopher Gill admitted to authorities that when the accident happened, he was looking down at GPS directions on his Amazon-supplied navigation device.
鈥淭he unrealistic expectations that are put on the drivers are fueling these negligence cases,鈥� said Hartley鈥檚 attorney, Kevin Biniazan. 鈥淭he driver was so entranced in making his delivery that he did not see our client.鈥�
Represented by Wilson Elser law firm, Amazon鈥檚 response denied all allegations and stated that the lawsuit failed to 鈥渋mplicate a legal or contractual responsibility owed on behalf of Amazon.鈥� The response denied that Amazon is 鈥渧icariously responsible for the acts or omissions of defendant Gill,鈥� while also denying that Gill is guilty of 鈥渁ny act of negligence鈥� that caused the crash.
Drivers for Amazon.com and Amazon Logistics are required to use the Amazon 鈥淔lex App,鈥� according to the lawsuit. The app, the lawsuit said, manages every aspect of a delivery driver鈥檚 route, including what directions to take, when to take breaks, and when to return to the station.
When a driver falls behind the desired pace during a route, the lawsuit said Amazon sends text messages stating the driver is 鈥渂ehind the rabbit鈥� and needs to be 鈥渞escued鈥� to ensure that they get back on schedule. A driver鈥檚 pay can be reduced if he or she falls 鈥渂ehind the rabbit鈥� or require rescues too often, the $100 million lawsuit said.
This is not the first time Amazon has faced a lawsuit regarding its delivery drivers. reported in November that Amazon has been a defendant in at least 119 motor vehicle injury lawsuits across 35 states.
The Associated Press
