Pizza Delivery Driver Accident Claims

Pizza is one of those entrees that most people love, and ordering pizza for delivery is popular. Whether you prefer Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Papa Johns, or Hungry Howies, you simply have to make a quick phone call or place your order online, and your pizza will arrive at your door in a short period of time.

Unfortunately, pizza delivery drivers are more likely to cause accidents. These wrecks cause pizza delivery driver accident claims. If you are seriously injured in a collision with a pizza delivery driver or another food service delivery driver, determining who might be liable can be a complicated issue. When collisions are caused by pizza delivery drivers in Myrtle Beach, the drivers’ insurance companies will often refuse to pay. Most insurance policies include exclusions for when people are driving as a part of their jobs. However, this does not mean that you will not be able to recover damages. Instead, there are several other potential sources of recovery that your attorney might identify and name in your lawsuit so that you might maximize the amount of compensation that you ultimately recover.

Why a pizza delivery driver has a higher risk of causing accidents

Pizza delivery drivers have a higher risk of causing collisions for several reasons. Many food delivery drivers for companies like Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Hungry Howies, or Papa Johns are young, inexperienced drivers. Delivery drivers are often pressured by their companies to make their deliveries quickly. This pressure might make them engage in negligent driving behaviors such as speeding, reckless driving, driving too fast for conditions, and failing to obey traffic control devices. Finally, food delivery drivers of all types, including those who drive for Uber Eats and Grubhub in addition to pizza drivers, spend much more time behind the wheel of their vehicles. When people spend more time driving, they are much likelier to be involved in accidents.

Liability issues in Pizza Delivery Driver Accident Claims

Personal insurance policies often do not cover accidents when people are using their personal vehicles on a for-hire basis. Food delivery drivers must get an additional type of commercial coverage to pay for damages if the drivers cause accidents. However, many food delivery drivers are not aware that they need this additional coverage, and the companies for which they work may fail to tell them. Pizza delivery drivers also may not be able to afford the additional coverage since their incomes are relatively modest. Finally, some food delivery drivers such as drivers who work through apps such as Uber Eats or Grubhub are classified as independent contractors rather than as employees, meaning that it might be more difficult to hold the companies liable.

Identifying potentially liable parties

There are multiple parties that might be liable in a wreck that was caused by a pizza delivery driver. While the driver may have a personal insurance policy, the company is unlikely to pay. However, several other parties may be potential sources of recovery.

Companies that employ the drivers may be liable to pay damages when the negligence of their employees cause accidents and injuries. Under a legal principle called respondeat superior, employers are liable for the negligent actions of their employees when the employees are acting within the scope and course of their jobs. Restaurants may carry commercial general liability coverage that lists all of their drivers. Commercial policies often have much higher policy limits than personal insurance policies.

Some restaurants are franchises of large parent companies. If the driver who caused your car wreck is employed by a franchise, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the franchise and the parent company. However, it may be difficult to hold the parent company liable if it does not exercise much control over the day-to-day operations of the franchise. Companies that exercise greater amounts of control may be liable.

Delivery services or restaurants that classify their delivery drivers as independent contractors may not be vicariously liable for collisions that the drivers cause. However, some employers misclassify workers as independent contractors when they instead should be classified as employees. Independent contractors should have control over the manner in which they operate their businesses under their contracts. If the restaurant controls when they work, how they work, and other aspects of the drivers’ jobs, the drivers may be misclassified. Showing that the delivery drivers should actually be considered to be employees may allow you to hold the restaurants liable for your losses.

Uninsured insurance, underinsured insurance, and personal injury protection

If you have an uninsured and underinsured insurance policy, you may be able to recover compensation from your own company. UM/UIM insurance is an additional policy that compensates you when you are involved in a collision with a driver who has no insurance or insufficient insurance. Having this type of coverage is a good idea because a delivery driver who only has a personal insurance policy may not have coverage to compensate you for your losses.

Delivery services

The availability of food delivery service apps allows people to order nearly anything that they want, including from restaurants that don’t offer delivery services. With these apps, you place your order and a food delivery driver will bring your meal to you. However, these apps add some additional complications when you are trying to determine liability for a car wreck caused by a delivery driver.

Grub Hub does not carry liability insurance for its drivers. Instead, people who sign up to drive for the app must provide their own insurance coverage. This means that you will have to go after the driver instead of the app. However, it is still possible for you to recover from the company if the company was negligent in hiring a driver. For example, if it contracted with a driver who had an extensive negative driving record, you might be able to recover damages from the company.

Uber Eats carries liability insurance at three tiers for its drivers. If you were injured in an accident while a driver was delivering a pizza or other food, you may be able to recover from Uber’s $1 million liability policy.

What to do after a collision with a pizza or food services delivery driver

There are several steps that you should take when you are injured in a crash with a delivery driver. If you can, take pictures of the damage to both vehicles, or ask a friend to take them for you. Get the driver’s information, including his or her name, address, phone number, and insurance. Ask the driver for the contact information of his or her employer. You should also try to get the contact information of any witnesses to the accident and take pictures of relevant information from the scene such as speed limit signs, skid marks, traffic control devices, and the relative positions of both vehicles.

Make certain to seek medical attention as soon as possible after your accident. If you allow time to pass, your injuries can worsen, and your claim can be more difficult to prove. Finally, you should talk to a personal injury attorney in Myrtle Beach. An attorney may be familiar with the types of defenses that may be raised by the various defendants. When large companies are involved, they may have teams of defense lawyers who are prepared to aggressively litigate against injury claims. Experienced attorneys may know how to build strong cases that prove liability, helping you to recover the compensation amount to which you should be entitled. To learn about your potential claim, contact us today to schedule your consultation.