The food delivery industry has expanded far beyond Chinese takeout and pizza. This global market has nearly tripled since 2017. During the epidemic, the market increased in size in the United States alone. DoorDash and Uber Eats saw rapid growth, even as states relaxed COVID-19 regulations and allowed businesses to resume operations.
The probability of an automobile accident rises significantly when more food delivery drivers hit the road, often distracted by a phone. You might be able to receive compensation if the food delivery driver’s actions caused you injury by contacting a car accident attorney in Queens.
Factors that determine the liability of a car accident caused by a food delivery driver
The most essential factor in determining liability for any incident is to determine the negligent party(s) who caused the crash. As a result, it is essential to look into the events before the collision to figure out who the careless driver was.
Liability will undoubtedly be attached to the food delivery driver if the collision results from any negligence on their end. However, the driver of the other car may be held responsible if the delivery driver’s car is hit.
Several parties’ mistakes may occasionally cause a collision. For example, suppose two cars approached the same lane at the same time. There may be several people who are accountable for a multi-vehicle accident.
Is the person delivering food a restaurant staff?
While meal delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats are growing, many restaurants continue to use their delivery drivers.
For example, a lot of pizza shops continue to use both full- and part-time drivers. In some instances, the vicarious liability principle can hold the restaurant responsible for your losses. According to this viewpoint, an employer could be held accountable financially for the actions of their staff employees.
Was the driver picking up an order or delivering food?
Even though drivers are contractors rather than employees, several food delivery services offer insurance coverage for them. However, the insurance provided by the company might only take effect in certain circumstances.
For instance, DoorDash provides a $1 million insurance plan to cover accidents brought on by a driver delivering food. If the collision occurred while the driver was traveling to pick up the order, the insurance does not apply.
Was the driver working when the accident occurred?
It is essential to determine whether the food delivery driver who injured you was working while the collision occurred if a restaurant employs them. The restaurant’s insurance may not be valid if the driver is not in the car, just like with the DoorDash insurance policy.
