As the world’s largest retailer, Amazon employs more than 1.3 million people, according to a 2021 report.
While any employer with that many workers should expect some workplace injuries, many Amazon workers face particularly hazardous conditions.
If you’ve been injured while working as an Amazon warehouse employee in South Carolina or North Carolina, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
However, proving eligibility in Amazon workers’ compensation claims is not always straightforward.
At the workers’ compensation law firm of Mehta & McConnell, PLLC, we have more than 30 years of experience helping workers recover the benefits they need and deserve.
We can help you determine the best approach to obtaining benefits and effectively prepare your claim.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon provides workers’ compensation coverage, but benefits are only available to employees—not independent contractors.
- Employment classification is critical, as Amazon may classify some delivery drivers as independent contractors, which can impact eligibility for workers’ comp benefits.
- Injuries must be work-related to qualify, and claims involving occupational diseases or repetitive stress injuries are often more heavily disputed.
- Prompt reporting and documentation are essential, including notifying supervisors, gathering witness information, and seeking immediate medical treatment.
- An experienced Amazon workers’ compensation attorney can help, especially when claims are denied, delayed, or challenged by insurance carriers.
Does Amazon Have Workers Compensation?
Amazon offers workers’ compensation insurance for job-related injuries or illnesses, as required by U.S. law. The Amazon workers’ comp policy covers job-related injuries or illnesses for employees, including warehouse workers and delivery drivers.
Are Amazon Workers Eligible for Workers’ Comp Benefits?
First, workers’ comp benefits are only available to employees.
While most Amazon warehouse workers are employees, Amazon attempts to classify many of its delivery drivers as independent contractors.
Independent contractors do not qualify for Amazon workers’ compensation settlements or benefits.
If there is a dispute over employment classification, the North Carolina or South Carolina Industrial Commission will decide whether an injured worker is an employee or independent contractor.
Second, to obtain benefits, you must prove that your injury or occupational disease was related to your work.
In some situations, the relationship between a worker’s injury and their employment is clear.
For example, if a box falls from a shelf and lands on an Amazon warehouse worker’s foot. That is clearly work-related.
However, in other situations, it can be far less clear. This is especially true in occupational diseases, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
In these cases, Amazon’s workers’ comp insurance carrier may claim that a disease was either a pre-existing condition or unrelated to a worker’s employment.
If you’re injured as an Amazon Flex driver, are you covered by Amazon’s workers’ comp insurance?
Generally, no. Amazon Flex drivers are typically classified as independent contractors rather than employees, and independent contractors are usually not covered by an employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. If you’re injured while driving for Amazon Flex, you’d likely need to pursue a claim through your own auto insurance or a personal injury claim against an at-fault third party instead.
Can an Amazon warehouse employee sue Amazon directly instead of filing a workers’ comp claim?
Generally, no. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that’s typically the exclusive remedy against your employer for a workplace injury, meaning you generally can’t sue Amazon directly for negligence in most cases. You may still be able to bring a separate claim against a third party, like an equipment manufacturer, if their negligence contributed to your injury.
Does a repetitive strain injury from Amazon warehouse work qualify for workers’ comp the same way a sudden injury does?
Yes, though it can be harder to prove. Repetitive strain injuries from tasks like constant lifting, reaching, or scanning can qualify for North Carolina workers’ comp, but since there’s no single accident date, you’ll typically need stronger medical documentation connecting the condition directly to your specific job duties over time.
Does Amazon’s own internal safety investigation of an accident affect your workers’ comp claim?
Not directly, since workers’ comp doesn’t require proving fault. However, an internal investigation can generate documentation, like incident reports or safety records, that may become relevant evidence if your claim is disputed or if a separate third-party claim is involved.
What to Do After an Amazon Warehouse Workplace Injury
If you’re suffering from Amazon warehouse injuries, taking the following steps will help you prove eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits:
- Jot down the names of any witnesses who observed the accident;
- Using your phone (or a co-worker’s phone), take pictures of the accident scene;
- Report the incident to your immediate supervisor and follow any further instructions they give you;
- Obtain prompt medical treatment, even if your injuries don’t seem particularly serious; and
- Follow up with any orders your doctor gives you regarding subsequent medical treatment.
Finally, when you are ready, reach out to an experienced Amazon workers’ compensation lawyer.
An attorney will assist you in gathering the necessary evidence and preparing a compelling claim for benefits.
If you’re pursuing compensation, learn about typical Amazon workers’ compensation settlements and what factors affect your payout amount.
Injured From an Amazon Accident? Contact Our Workers Comp Attorneys Today
If you want to learn more about workers’ compensation claims for Amazon warehouse employees, reach out to the law firm of Mehta & McConnell, PLLC, to schedule a free consultation.
We have over 30 years of experience helping injured workers obtain the benefits they need and deserve.
Our lawyers routinely go up against some of the largest and most powerful insurance companies.
Contact Mehta & McConnell, PLLC through our online contact form, and one of our lawyers will be in touch shortly.
Viral Mehta
Viral Mehta is a Managing Attorney at Mehta & McConnell Injury Lawyers in Charlotte, NC, and one of fewer than 1% of North Carolina attorneys holding a North Carolina State Bar Board Certification in Workers’ Compensation law. He spent the first decade of his career defending employers and insurance companies in workers’ comp claims before switching sides to represent injured workers. A North Carolina Super Lawyer (2024, 2025) and five-time Rising Star, Viral was also a contributing author of the 2017 North Carolina Workers’ Compensation LexisNexis Practice Guide and is certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission as a Superior Court mediator.