In today’s world of one-click convenience, delivery trucks are as common on our roads as commuter cars. But behind that speed and efficiency lies a growing legal and safety concern: What happens when delivery companies fail to properly screen the drivers they send into our communities?
A recent tragedy out of San Marcos, Texas, is shining a harsh spotlight on that very question.
A Life Cut Short by a Preventable Crash
According to reporting by Fox 7 Austin, 22-year-old Iliana Velez—an Austin-area mother—was killed in a violent crash involving an Amazon delivery driver. The man behind the wheel is now facing criminal charges. What makes this case even more alarming is the fact that the driver had a documented history of prior driving violations, raising serious concerns about how he was hired in the first place.
This isn’t just a tragic story—it’s a warning.
Negligent Hiring and the Legal Risks Companies Ignore
From a legal standpoint, this case may involve a principle known as negligent hiring. In Texas and across the country, companies have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care when hiring employees or contractors—especially those operating heavy vehicles on public roads. When a company hires someone with a known record of reckless or dangerous behavior, and that person goes on to cause harm, the company can be held liable for the consequences.
In the personal injury world, we frequently see cases involving:
- Delivery truck accidents
- Rideshare and gig driver negligence
- Employer failure to conduct background checks
- Corporate indifference to red flags in a driver’s record
When a company like Amazon (or one of its third-party delivery partners) places speed and volume ahead of safety and vetting, innocent people pay the price.
Why Driver Screening Matters More Than Ever
The boom in e-commerce has transformed the way goods move—but the legal safeguards haven’t always kept up. Many delivery drivers today are not traditional employees. Instead, they’re independent contractors hired by third-party vendors. These layers of outsourcing can create gaps in accountability and make it easier for companies to deny responsibility when tragedy strikes.
But the law doesn’t always let them off the hook.
Courts are increasingly willing to look past labels like “contractor” and evaluate whether a company exercised proper care in selecting who gets to drive in their name. If it turns out a driver had a track record of unsafe behavior, that lack of due diligence can form the basis of a personal injury or wrongful death claim.
What This Means for Victims and Their Families
When someone is injured or killed by a commercial or delivery driver, it’s not just the individual behind the wheel who may bear responsibility. Victims and their families have the right to:
- Investigate the driver’s history
- Obtain employment and training records
- Seek damages for wrongful death or catastrophic injury
- Hold both the driver and company accountable
This includes compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future loss—and in some cases, punitive damages if the conduct was especially reckless.
Final Thoughts: This Didn’t Have to Happen
The loss of Iliana Velez is a heartbreaking reminder that oversights in hiring can have irreversible consequences. As personal injury attorneys, we often meet families searching for answers—and justice—after an avoidable tragedy.
If delivery companies want the trust of the communities they serve, it starts with responsibility: screen your drivers, vet their records, and don’t put profit over public safety.
https://www.fox7austin.com/news/amazon-texas-mother-iliana-velez
These kinds of tragedies raise important legal questions about driver screening, employer responsibility, and victim rights. If you’ve been affected, reach out to our team for a free consultation — we’re here to help you understand your options.
