Amazon opens facility in South Carolina

On November 22, 2024, Amazon announced that it will soon open a “last mile-facility” in Florence County, South Carolina.  While the retail giant has fulfillment centers and delivery stations in Charleston, Columbia, and North Myrtle Beach, this is the first facility of its kind in South Carolina (Amazon Opens First Facility in Florence County, South Carolina).  At these “last-mile facilities,” items are sorted and loaded onto Amazon’s delivery vehicles for dispatch to a customer’s doorstep.

Amazon is even bigger than you think

Amazon needs no introduction, as most are well-acquainted with this bookseller turned purveyor of every good imaginable.  But while most are familiar with Amazon’s status as a giant retailer, they may not be aware of its position as the biggest delivery business in the United States.  Since 2023, Amazon is the largest shipper in the United States, surpassing both UPS and FedEx, combined, in parcels delivered (Amazon Tops UPS and FedEx to Become Biggest U.S. Delivery Business – WSJ).  Last-mile facilities, such as the one being constructed in Florence, are the final stops in Amazon’s vast shipping and transportation network. 

Given its huge presence as a delivery service, accidents with Amazon vehicles have and will continue to occur with increasing frequency.  In your daily travel, you have no doubt crossed paths with a vehicle carrying Amazon packages.  These familiar dark blue vehicles, spanning in size from passenger vans to large tractor trailers, are emblazoned with the Amazon Prime arrow and can be found on streets and highways across America.

Why you need an attorney if you are in a wreck with an Amazon delivery vehicle

In the unfortunate event you are involved in a collision with an Amazon vehicle, it is essential that you hire qualified counsel to navigate the legal process and protect your rights.  While their logo may be plastered across the vehicle that hit you, Amazon may attempt to distance itself from the at-fault driver in a motor vehicle accident in order to avoid any legal liability for the wreck.  Amazon does this by claiming that its delivery drivers are not Amazon employees, but instead independent contractors working for Amazon Delivery Service Partners, or DSPs.  Never mind that these DSPs are delivering packages from an Amazon facility, such as the one being constructed in Florence, or the fact that Amazon controls nearly every aspect of how these DSPs and their drivers operate.   

It is therefore crucial that you hire a knowledgeable legal team to ensure that the true actor responsible for such a wreck is held accountable.  At Hatfield Temple, you will find seasoned attorneys with experience handling cases against entities such as Amazon and other large freight carriers, who will help you seek your rightful compensation and will help protect your future.

If you have been involved in a wreck involving an Amazon vehicle or other commercial vehicle, our personal injury attorneys stand ready to answer your questions, help you move forward with confidence, and hopefully prevent this from happening to someone else. At Hatfield Temple we have a team of investigators and qualified professionals ready to save evidence, find witnesses, and establish your past and future damages.  Contact our firm today at (843) 662-5000 or go online to schedule a free case evaluation.