Colorado Workers’ Comp for Amazon Warehouse Employees & Delivery Drivers
Learn about your right to compensation if you’re injured while working for Amazon
Key points about Amazon worker injuries in Colorado:
- Amazon workers have high injury rates. Amazon warehouses in Colorado—especially in Thornton and Aurora—have some of the highest rates of serious workplace injuries in the U.S.
- Repetitive stress injuries are especially common at Amazon. Demands to meet quotas and long hours of lifting, bending, and twisting frequently lead to painful conditions like carpal tunnel and rotator cuff injuries.
- Injured workers typically have 10 days to report their injuries. Because of this tight reporting deadline in Colorado, any delay in reporting or a lack of documentation can tank a workers’ comp claim at Amazon.
- Amazon Flex drivers usually don’t qualify for workers’ comp. Flex drivers are not considered employees, so they’re typically not eligible for workers’ comp after an injury. If they’re hurt during a delivery, they may need to file a personal injury claim instead.
- Valid workers’ comp claims are often denied or undervalued. It’s not uncommon for Amazon to dispute the cause or severity of work injuries and initially deny claims, especially for repetitive use injuries or occupational illnesses.
Working at an Amazon fulfillment center can seem like a solid opportunity—steady pay, benefits, and a job that keeps you moving. But behind the scenes, many Amazon workers find themselves dealing with serious physical strain and work hazards. The constant pressure to hit quotas and stay on pace can take a real toll, leading to on-the-job injuries that make it hard—or even impossible—to keep working.
If you’ve been injured while working at Amazon, you have a right to receive workers’ comp benefits in Colorado. These benefits are supposed to cover your medical bills and lost wages while you’re off work. But for many Amazon employees, getting that support turns into a battle. Claims are denied or undervalued, and injured workers are left feeling stuck.
If you’re off work because of an injury at Amazon and you aren’t getting the help you need, our experienced Denver workers’ compensation attorneys are here to stand up for you. Reach out to Babcock Tucker today for a free consultation, and let us help you get the benefits you deserve.
How many Amazon employees are there in Colorado?
Colorado now has more than a dozen Amazon distribution warehouses, also called “fulfillment centers,” in cities like Thornton, Aurora, and Colorado Springs. In total, there are more than 20,000 Amazon employees working across the state of Colorado in 2023.
Does Amazon have a high injury rate?
Yes. Amazon warehouses are notorious for having some of the highest injury rates in the country. Many of those injuries could have been prevented if employees had been given proper safety training. Unfortunately, supervisors sometimes rush through this kind of training or teach new employees the bare minimum before sending them to the floor.
“I’ve seen injuries of the wrist, I’ve seen leg injuries, neck injuries… like half the people I know wear braces now,” one Amazon employee recently told the Denver7 Investigates team.
But even if workers are properly trained, procedures may sometimes be ignored in favor of productivity and efficiency. In order to meet the outrageous quotas, Amazon workers can’t always safely lift a heavy product or look both ways before crossing the floor.
As a result, many Amazon warehouses have injury rates that are much higher than the industry average.
In fact, in 2022, Amazon workers suffered more than 50% of all serious injuries in the warehousing industry, despite making up only 36% of the workforce.
In 2022 alone, Amazon reported a total of 39,000 worker injuries at its facilities across the U.S., up from 38,300 injuries.
In recent years, Colorado’s Amazon fulfillment centers in Thornton and Aurora have ranked near the top of the list for having the highest rates of serious injuries requiring days off work and job restrictions.
According to Denver7, Amazon’s Thornton center ranked 9th among Amazon fulfillment centers in the U.S. for the highest number of injuries in 2020, while the Aurora location ranked 58th, with 121 total reported injuries in 2020.
Out of almost 400 fulfillment centers, OSHA listed 260 injuries in 1 year at Thornton alone. That’s an average of 5 injuries per week.
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What are the most common injuries at Amazon?
Between the high-pressure environment, physical demands, and potential safety hazards, Amazon warehouse workers and delivery drivers face a wide range of injuries and illnesses, including:
- Repetitive stress injuries. During long shifts, warehouse workers push, pull, lift, retrieve, load, and move boxes. They also reach overhead, bend, kneel, and twist repeatedly. This constant strain can lead to repetitive stress injuries (RSIs), such as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and rotator cuff injuries. While these painful injuries can make it hard for workers to meet the physical demands of their job, employers often deny these types of workers’ comp claims, claiming the injuries aren’t work-related.
- Heat stress and heat stroke. Amazon drivers and warehouse workers—especially those in facilities without adequate ventilation or cooling—can be at risk for heat-related illnesses. Heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are dangerous conditions that may develop after physical activity in high temperatures, particularly during Colorado summers.
- Work-related car accident injuries. Drivers making deliveries for Amazon are at constant risk of motor vehicle crashes—especially under pressure to meet tight delivery windows. Car accidents may lead to a range of injuries, from whiplash and broken bones to more serious traumatic injuries.
- Back injuries. Lifting heavy items or twisting while carrying loads can cause serious back injuries, including herniated discs, strained muscles, and chronic pain. These are especially common among new or seasonal workers who may not have had proper training or time to acclimate.
- Heavy equipment and machine-related injuries. Workers may be injured by malfunctioning machinery or robotic systems, especially without adequate training or access to necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). Forklift collisions inside the warehouse can cause catastrophic injuries like crush injuries, amputations, and paralysis.
- Slip-and-fall injuries. Slippery and congested floors, high shelving, stray cords, and fast-moving forklifts can all pose fall hazards, especially when workers are rushing to meet quotas. Slip-and-fall accidents often result in sprains, fractures, back injuries, and even traumatic brain injuries.
- Hearing loss. The constant noise of conveyor belts, loud machinery, and forklifts can damage workers’ hearing over time. Long-term exposure without proper hearing protection may result in partial or permanent hearing loss.
If you’ve experienced any of these injuries or occupational diseases while working for Amazon in Colorado, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.
Workers’ comp is no-fault insurance that Amazon is required to provide for its employees, so you don’t need to prove your employer is at fault for your injury to receive compensation. You only need to show a direct connection between your injury and your job duties or work environment.
What are the workers’ comp benefits for Amazon?
Amazon is required by the state of Colorado to provide workers’ compensation for all full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees. If your work injury claim is approved, you may be entitled to the following types of workers’ comp benefits at Amazon:
- Medical benefits. Under Colorado workers’ compensation laws, you should receive compensation for medical expenses if you were injured in the course and scope of your employment. Medical benefits should cover the big expenses like emergency room visits and surgeries, as well as the small expenses like therapy and prescription and non-prescription medications.
- Indemnity benefits. If you have to take time off work as a result of your injury, you should receive wage loss benefits or temporary disability. Temporary disability benefits are based on your average weekly wage, which includes sick pay and overtime. If your health insurance was canceled, this would also increase your average weekly wage and, therefore, the benefits you receive.
- Permanent disability benefits. If you are unable to resume working after reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI), you may be eligible for either permanent total disability (PTD) benefits or permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. Your entitlement to permanent disability benefits will depend on the severity of your medical condition and its impact on your ability to work.
- Death benefits. If a work injury at Amazon leads to a worker’s death, their dependents are eligible for death benefits that cover funeral expenses and lost income.
It’s important to understand that these benefits are negotiable, and Amazon rarely offers workers what their claims are actually worth. So, before accepting a settlement offer, reach out to a local Colorado work injury law firm for help determining the true value of your injury.
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What should I do if I’ve been injured working at Amazon in Colorado?
After being injured at Amazon, you’ll need to take these steps to get workers’ comp in Colorado:
- Report your injuries immediately to your employer (a manager or supervisor is sufficient), preferably in writing. This must be done within 10 days of the injury or discovery of the occupational disease if you want to file a workers’ comp claim.
- If your injury is an emergency, go to the emergency room immediately. If it is not an emergency, visit an employer-approved doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will tell you if you are able to work or not.
- If you are not assigned work restrictions, then be sure to show up for work and perform your responsibilities as usual. If you believe that you are unable to perform your duties due to your injuries, inform both your employer and your doctor.
- After you have reported your injury and sought medical treatment, you’ll need to officially file a workers’ compensation claim. Fill out and submit form WC 15, “Worker’s Claim for Compensation,” to the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation.
- The insurance carrier then has 20 days to either accept the claim by filing a General Admission of Liability or deny the claim by filing a Notice of Contest. If you receive a notice referring to an “IME,” know that this stands for “Independent Medical Examiner.” This medical professional gives a second opinion. You must attend your appointment with the IME, or your claim may be denied.
If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal. It is not unusual for legitimate claims to be initially denied by Amazon, but you should reach out to a Denver work injury attorney for help with the process to ensure the best chance of success.
What are the biggest issues Amazon workers face when filing a workers’ comp claim?
While Amazon is legally required to provide workers’ comp coverage to its employees, the claims process can be anything but simple for injured workers. Here are some of the biggest challenges Amazon workers face when filing a work injury claim in Colorado:
- Discouragement from reporting. Amazon’s strict productivity targets and time-tracking systems make some workers afraid to report injuries, worried it will cost them their job or reduce their hours. Supervisors may downplay injuries, delay reporting to the insurer, or urge employees to tough it out—creating harmful delays that can weaken or invalidate a claim.
- Employer-chosen medical providers. Amazon often directs injured workers to clinics that have a history of minimizing injuries or rushing workers back to their jobs before they’re ready.
- Increased monitoring after an injury. Workers who file a claim may be closely scrutinized, with Amazon using performance metrics or surveillance footage to challenge the legitimacy of the injury.
- Fear of retaliation. Although illegal, some workers report being written up, reassigned to more difficult tasks, or pressured to quit after filing for workers’ comp.
- Amazon Flex drivers may not qualify for workers’ comp. Not all Amazon delivery drivers are employees. Those working as Amazon Flex drivers are classified as independent contractors, which generally makes them ineligible for workers’ compensation. Instead, they may need to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim if they’re hurt on the job.
Because of these hurdles, Amazon workers who suffer serious injuries that require time off work are encouraged to speak with a Denver workers’ comp attorney before filing a claim to prevent unfair denials and protect their rights.
Injured at Amazon? Get help from an experienced Colorado workers’ compensation lawyer.
If you’re hurt on the job in Thornton, Denver, Golden, Aurora, or elsewhere in Colorado and your employer refuses to report your injury to their insurer, threatens to fire you, or attempts to downplay your injuries, contact a local Colorado work injury law firm as soon as possible.
At Babcock Tucker, we have extensive experience fighting back against big corporations like Amazon. We can help you gather the evidence necessary to prove the extent of your injury and handle all negotiations to maximize your compensation. And you can count on us to be here for you throughout the process to answer any questions that come up and keep you updated on the progress of your case.
Want to learn more?
Contact Babcock Tucker today for your free consultation. Let us fight for your rights.
