In the lawsuit against Amazon, Ans Rana argued that Amazon is liable for the actions of its delivery drivers because the company ultimately has control over the delivery operation.
The lawsuit goes on to explain that Amazon closely monitors its drivers by using a smartphone app and cameras in the delivery van to minimize delivery times and address safety concerns.
However, as long as this is the case, the lawsuit goes on to say that Amazon is urging businesses and drivers to prioritize speed over safety. Amazon employees are constantly sending text messages “complaining that a certain driver is ‘behind the rabbit’ and needs to be ‘rescued’ to ensure that all the packages on Amazon’s route are delivered in compliance with Amazon’s unrealistic and dangerous speed expectations.”
Ans Rana, who suffered life-threatening injuries after an Amazon delivery rammed into a car he was in not only sued Amazon but also contractor Harper Logistics, driver Bryan Williams, and the Old Republic Insurance (the contractor’s insurance company). In his argument, Amazon stated that it was not liable because the driver was not an Amazon worker but Harper Logistics’.
For more information, read the original story in Arstechnica.