Can an accident victim, such as a motorists, pedestrian, or vehicle passenger sue an Amazon driver or service operator? – Yes, according to both Florida and Georgia law, an accident victim can sue Amazon over a crash caused by one of its delivery drivers, even when that driver technically works for a separate contracted company rather than Amazon itself. The delivery truck accident lawyers in Miami and Atlanta at the Perazzo Law Firm, have learned of a Massachusetts jury that had tested that defense in July 2026 and rejected it, awarding a plaintiff $56 million against Amazon, according to the Boston Globe . Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The same theory that undercut Amazon’s “independent contractor” argument applies to a car accident claim here. If an Amazon delivery van hit you or someone you love in Miami or Atlanta, call the personal injury accident lawyers at The Perazzo Law Firm at 888-PERAZZO or request a free case review.
What Happened in the Amazon Delivery Crash Case
The Miami personal injury attorney writing staff at the Perazzo Law Firm reports that according to the Boston Globe, 78-year-old Malcolm Carnwath was driving southbound on Lafayette Road in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on November 16, 2024, when an Amazon delivery driver traveling the opposite direction fell asleep, crossed the center line, and struck his vehicle head-on at a combined speed approaching 100 mph.
The Boston Globe reports Carnwath needed 24 surgeries, including a below-the-knee amputation, multiple fractures, organ damage, and permanent brain damage from strokes, and that he spent more than six months in the hospital with medical costs exceeding $4 million.
The $56 Million Verdict — and Amazon’s Reversal on Liability
A Middlesex Superior Court jury awarded Carnwath $56 million, which the Boston Globe describes as the largest single-plaintiff verdict in Massachusetts history and the largest Amazon has ever faced in an injury case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.
According to Claims Journal, the driver worked for Agora Logistics LLC, an Amazon Delivery Service Partner — one of the contracted companies that let Amazon treat its drivers as contractors, not employees. Amazon initially denied responsibility on that basis, according to Claims Journal. Agora Logistics stipulated about two weeks before trial that its driver was acting within the course and scope of his employment. Amazon separately accepted stipulated liability before trial began, per Claims Journal — reversing its earlier denial.
Why This Applies in Florida and Georgia, Even Without an Amazon Ruling Here
A Massachusetts jury verdict is not binding precedent in Florida or Georgia courts. But the theory behind it — that a company can be held liable through agency law or negligent hiring, training, and supervision claims when it controls a contracted driver’s routes and supervision — is recognized under both states’ law. It is the same theory that can be used to look past the “independent contractor” label when a delivery van causes a Florida or Georgia crash.
What to Do If an Amazon Delivery Driver Hit You
- Get medical attention and keep every record — treatment history is part of the evidence.
- Photograph the delivery van, including any visible company markings or the driver’s identification.
- Do not accept an early settlement offer or a recorded statement from Amazon’s insurer before speaking with an attorney.
- Call a car accident lawyer quickly — evidence about who controlled the driver can disappear fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue Amazon directly if a Delivery Service Partner driver hit me?
Miami personal injury attorney, Jonathan Perazzo believes that yYou may be able to. Even though DSP drivers are technically employed by a separate contracted company, Amazon can still be named and held liable when the facts show it controlled the driver’s training, routes, or supervision.
Does Amazon usually deny responsibility for its delivery drivers?
It has pointed to the independent-contractor structure of its Delivery Service Partner program in the past, though it accepted stipulated liability in the Carnwath case shortly before trial, per Claims Journal.
Is the Massachusetts verdict binding on my Florida or Georgia case?
No. It is a Massachusetts jury verdict, not Florida or Georgia case law, and it does not guarantee any outcome. The underlying legal theory, however, is recognized in both states.
Personal Injury Accident Attorney Advertising. This post is for general information only and is not legal advice; reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The Perazzo Law Firm maintains a bona fide office in North Miami Beach, Florida, and in Atlanta, Georgia (1372 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309). Jonathan Perazzo, Esq. is responsible for the content of this advertisement. Call 888-PERAZZO or visit theperazzolawfirm.com/contact for a free case review.