Amazon Warehouse Injury Lawyers in Phoenix

Advocating for Arizona warehouse workers and drivers

Amazon employs over 1.5 million people. Many of those employees are drivers who transport inventory to its fulfillment center and deliver goods to customers in residential and business locations across Little Rock. However, working for Amazon comes with some challenges. Much of the work involves manual labor, often in potentially dangerous conditions. As a result, there is a constant risk of injury. Certain tasks, such as unloading, moving, sorting, loading, and delivering products, come with specific risks that can lead to injuries that may lead to high costs, and even the inability to work in the future. At Plattner Verderame P.C., we offer honest, ethical counsel to injured people. If you are part of Amazon’s massive workforce, and you suffered injuries performing your job, contact us to speak to an attorney.

How can we help?

• Are injuries at Amazon workplaces common?
• What roles are available to workers at Arizona’s Amazon warehouses?
• Why are accidents so common in Amazon’s Arizona warehouses?
• What are some common Amazon warehouse injury cases you handle?
• Can I file a personal injury claim if I’m injured at an Amazon fulfillment center?
• What is the value of my Amazon injury claim?
• What would help Amazon stop workplace injuries?
• Do you have a Phoenix Amazon warehouse injury attorney near me?

Are injuries at Amazon workplaces common?

Amazon workplace injuries are extremely common. According to a 2022 report published by the Strategic Organizing Center, workers at Amazon facilities suffered nearly 40,000 severe injuries while on the job in 2021. You might suspect that the number of injuries is high because of the nature of the work. Warehouses do have a reputation as being hazardous workplaces. However, the number of injuries at Amazon’s warehouses was more than twice that of workers at non-Amazon warehouses. The report also found that Amazon’s overall injury rate rose 20 percent from 2020 to 2021. For some perspective, while Amazon employed 33 percent of all U.S. warehouse workers in 2021, the company was responsible for 49 percent of all injuries in the industry that year.

Workplace injuries at Amazon are even more common during the holiday season and the company’s “Prime Day.” A July 2024 report published by the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, found that throughout Prime Day 2019, Amazon’s rate of recordable injuries (injuries Amazon must disclose to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) was more than ten injuries per 100 workers. That number is more than twice the industry average. During that same time, Amazon’s total injury rate, including injuries Amazon is not required to report to OSHA, was nearly 45 injuries per 100 workers. In other words, nearly half of the company’s warehouse workers sustained injuries during that time period. The company has huge revenues, meaning it should have plenty of resources available to make its warehouses safer for workers.

What roles are available to workers at Arizona’s Amazon warehouses?

Amazon operates 17 fulfillment and sortation centers and 13 delivery stations in Arizona. The company employs more than 33,000 full- and part-time employees throughout the state. Its 1.2 million-square-foot storage and distribution facility in Mesa is one of the largest of its type in the nation. Some common roles in its warehouses include:

• Amnesty: Associates at robotics facilities in Goodyear and East Valley remove obstacles on floor paths, perform simple fixes on robots, and assist stowers and packers with technical issues.
• Inventory and quality assurance (ICQA) associates: The role of the ICQA is to ensure accurate inventory placement.
• Packers: These employees fill the actual packages for shipping to customers.
• Pickers: Amazon’s pickers assemble orders in bins that move through conveyor systems.
• Problem solvers: If there are missing or unscannable items or problems with the barcodes, problem solvers troubleshoot and find solutions.
• Ship dock workers: Amazon’s dock workers scan and load packages from a conveyor belt onto trucks.
• Stowers: These workers may coordinate with robotic assistants to receive and store items.
• Water spiders: The water spiders are generalists who move products, build boxes, and replenish supplies, often using equipment like forklifts.

Why are accidents so common in Amazon’s Arizona warehouses?

Warehouse jobs involve strenuous manual labor. In the case of warehouses, workers are handling heavy machinery and items that may be dangerous or toxic. While these types of accidents are common, many injuries also result from overexertion or stress. Our attorneys handle many serious warehouse injuries resulting from:

• Slip and fall accidents: Spilled liquids, oils, loose cables, and tracked-in debris create a high risk of falls.
• Machinery accidents: Collisions with or malfunctions of heavy machines like forklifts are frequent and can lead to catastrophic injuries.
• Falling objects: Overpacked shelves can cause items to fall and injure workers.
• Toxic exposure: For instance, Amazon workers have complained about leaking packages that contain harmful chemicals like pesticides that can cause serious injuries.

What are some common Amazon warehouse injury cases you handle?

Our experienced lawyers represent clients in personal injury cases involving injuries such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
• Amputations and loss of limbs
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Neck, back, and shoulder injuries
• Nerve, tissue, and ligament damage
• Repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome
• Scarring, disfigurement, hearing loss, and vision loss

We also represent families in wrongful death cases when a loved one dies due to workplace negligence or defective products.

Can I file a personal injury claim if I’m injured at an Amazon fulfillment center?

If you are an independent contractor hurt while working at an Amazon fulfillment center, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. Despite wearing Amazon’s uniforms and using their tools, contractors may still be eligible. Our lawyers will help determine your employment status and explain your legal options. Additionally, both employees and contractors can file product liability claims if faulty machinery or tools result in an accident.

Claims against Amazon truck drivers and trucking companies

Amazon delivery drivers who are contractors can file legal claims against the company. However, Amazon employees can only file claims against third-party trucking companies if those companies are independent of Amazon. Non-employees (such as drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists) injured by an Amazon truck can file claims if the driver caused the accident.

What is the value of my Amazon injury claim?

It is impossible to estimate the value of a claim without having all the facts. Award amounts vary, but often relate to the severity of the injuries. Our attorneys can thoroughly evaluate your case to determine your total losses and seek compensation for:

• Medical expenses (ER visits, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and medications)
• Lost income and benefits
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life and use of body parts
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Property damage

In the event of a wrongful death claim, our attorneys can seek compensation to cover funeral costs, financial losses, and emotional suffering.

What would help Amazon stop workplace injuries?

Amazon can enhance worker safety by:

• Providing ergonomic equipment to reduce stress injuries related to repetitive tasks or motions
• Offering regular rest breaks
• Staffing adequately to prevent overexertion
• Rotating tasks to reduce repetitive stress injuries
• Regularly inspecting and maintaining equipment
• Removing defective tools and machinery
• Offering proper safety gear and training
• Encouraging and listening to employee feedback

Do you have a Phoenix Amazon warehouse injury attorney near me?

Plattner Verderame proudly serves clients throughout Arizona. We have an office at 316 E. Flower Street in Phoenix and an office at 5500 S. Lakeshore Drive in Tempe. Call us or fill out our contact form to discuss your legal options. We also schedule phone or video conferences for your convenience. Our personal injury lawyers are here to help you.

Speak with an experienced Phoenix Amazon warehouse injury lawyer today

Plattner Verderame has been representing personal injury victims for nearly three decades. We have won multiple high value verdicts and settlements for millions of dollars. Our team can work to determine the extent of your injuries so that we can pursue compensation for all of your losses.

To schedule a free consultation with one of our Phoenix warehouse injury attorneys, please call us or complete our contact form. We also have offices in Phoenix and Tempe.