The online business model of food delivery services has seen a drastic rise in recent years. The pandemic improved the efficiency of door-to-door services, from fresh vegetables to meals, medicines, and desserts. According to statistics released by the Bloomberg Second Measure, food delivery services like DoorDash has a market share of 57%, followed by UberEats and GrubHub.
In 2020, DoorDash customers spent nearly $200 on food delivery alone, and the number has significantly risen. These statistics imply that food delivery men are often at the jaws of accidents and danger on the road. Not only has the number of deliveries increased, but significant road accidents have also seen a drastic rise, making delivery men vulnerable to road accidents.
The need to deliver food in time and travel through unfamiliar places and neighborhoods has caused mistakes behind the wheel, harming DoorDash delivery workers.
Liability in a DoorDash accident
The liability of DoorDsh accidents depends on certain circumstances:
- Whether the rider was at fault
- Whether the ride-share app was engaged
- Whether the driver was in the course of delivery
A delivery person’s negligence and mistakes also play a significant role in applying for liability. These include:
- Skipping red lights
- Speeding
- Drunk driving or under the influence of drugs
- Using a phone while driving or other forms of distractions
If the driver is negligent while performing the service, Maryland’s contributory negligence law will be applied and prohibits the driver from claiming recovery and compensation.
Insurance for DoorDash accidents
When the driver of any online delivery service is logged into their official application, the company is automatically liable for any damages caused to the driver, even if the driver is at fault. However, on the contrary, if the driver is not logged into the application, the insurance will be applied from the driver’s personal plans, depending on various circumstances.
Compensation for road accidents can be issued for the following:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, hospital charges, ambulance, and other medical treatments
- Lost wages during the time of recovery
- Physical pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Emotional and mental distress
- Losses on how the incident affected the drivers’ personal and professional life
In deaths due to such accidents, the family members can claim the insurance amount in the case of wrongful death. In addition, costs for funeral, burial, education of the children (if any), guidance, and financial support can also be a part of such compensations.
Will the court be involved?
Generally, a coverage limit of $1 million is insured to the driver, and in minor accidents, it is settled with the insurer without involving court attendance. However, if the accident is fatal, the DoorDash Company might request to take the matter to court to gain fair compensation for their employee.