El Segundo DELIVERY Accident Lawyer

What Is Considered A Delivery Driver Accident?

A delivery driver accident can involve a number of different scenarios. Some of the most common types of delivery driver accidents include:

• Delivery drivers being struck by at-fault drivers while operating their vehicles
• Delivery drivers being struck by at-fault drivers while making a delivery (as pedestrians)
• Private drivers being struck by at-fault delivery drivers
• Pedestrians being struck by at-fault delivery drivers
• Property being struck and damaged by at-fault delivery drivers

Delivery drivers frequently stop and make deliveries in the middle lane, which can lead to traffic accidents and endanger the driver as a pedestrian. Additionally, delivery drivers are more prone to car accidents due to the lengthy amount of time they spend driving on roads and highways each day. Delivery drivers may make mistakes while hurrying to deliver food or products. This could be due to reasons such as speeding, distractions, or fatigue from working long hours. As a result, they are more likely to be involved in accidents with pedestrians or other vehicles.

Common Causes Delivery Driver Accidents In California

There are numerous factors that contribute to the increased risk of accidents involving delivery drivers. However, some of the most common causes of delivery accidents in Los Angeles County include the following:

Increase In Food Delivery Vehicles On The Road

As there is a growing demand for delivery services, there is a greater risk of accidents occurring because of more vehicles on the roads. Food delivery services, in particular, commonly deliver during busy traffic hours, which further raises the possibility of collisions.

Intense Pressure To Meet Strict Delivery Deadlines

An additional cause of the rise in delivery driver accidents is the pressure drivers face to avoid taking breaks. A Los Angeles County driver employed by a Delivery Service Partner was advised to use bottles for urination instead of taking a break. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that such pressure can lead to fatigue, distraction, and speeding, all of which increase the chances of an accident.

Minimally-Trained Labor Force

The rise of delivery services that rely on independent contractors using their own vehicles has led to an increase in vehicles on the roads. However, many of these drivers lack proper training in driver safety. Amazon’s job ad for delivery drivers explicitly states that experience is not required. According to Business Insider, UPS spends more than $200 million each year on safety training for their full-time delivery drivers.

Understanding Delivery Driver Insurance Coverage

Whether or not delivery drivers are covered by insurance will depend on the company they were working for at the time of the accident. Generally, the delivery company’s insurance policy will only provide additional coverage if the driver’s insurance policy does not cover the full cost of the claim. If the claim amount exceeds the driver’s insurance coverage, then the delivery company’s insurance policy could be activated to provide further coverage.

Amazon Insurance Coverage

Given the high number of Amazon delivery vehicles on the road today, accidents can happen. To address this, it’s crucial that Amazon provides coverage for its drivers, especially in the case of serious incidents that may surpass their individual policy limits. This coverage is meant to supplement drivers’ personal policies since they typically don’t cover commercial driving.

Amazon provides liability coverage of up to $1,000,000 that not only covers your own damages but also damages to any third party injured in the accident. This policy also provides coverage for uninsured or underinsured motorists involved in the accident who lack the necessary insurance to pay for damages. Additionally, Amazon offers collision and comprehensive coverage with a limit of $50,000.

• Amazon Flex Delivery Auto Insurance (50k PD, 1mil liability & UM/UIM)
• Applies when picking up, delivering, or returning packages for Amazon

Uber Eats Insurance Coverage

Uber Eats insurance coverage is slightly different from DoorDash and Postmates. If the delivery driver shows available on the Uber Eats app, but has not started a delivery, Uber Eats will offer some liability coverage for accidents. The limits are $50,000 per individual and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and up to $25,000 for property damage. In case of an accident during an Uber Eats delivery, the liability coverage will increase to $1,000,000 only if the driver had accepted a delivery request and was either on the way to pick up the food or deliver it.

• Compared to other food delivery services, Uber Eats provides some of the best automobile insurance coverage. 
• If the Uber Eats delivery driver is “Offline” or the Driver app is off, then the driver’s personal policy and coverage will apply.
• If the Uber Eats driver is “Available” or waiting for a delivery request, Uber maintains liability insurance on the driver’s behalf. The following limits apply only if the driver’s personal policy does not apply:
• $50,000 bodily injury per person
• $100,000 bodily injury per accident
• $25,000 property damage per accident
• When the Uber Eats driver is en route to pick up a delivery or during trips, Uber maintains the following coverage:
• $1 million third-party liability
• Contingent comprehensive and collision
• Up to actual cash value of the car with a $2,500 deductible (Effective 3/1/2021)
• Certain vehicles offered through the Vehicle Marketplace are subject to a $1,000 deductible
• Unlike Uber rideshare drivers, Uber does not provide Uber Eats drivers Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist or Personal Injury Protection coverage.  
• The contingent comprehensive and collision coverage applies so long as the Uber Eat’s driver maintains comprehensive and collision coverage on her personal auto insurance policy. As of 2021, Uber increased its property damage deductible to $2,500. Uber does not provide rental coverage to delivery drivers. 
• Uber Eats drivers should expand their personal auto insurance to include rideshare and delivery coverage. While the additional rideshare and delivery coverage benefits vary between insurance companies, most will match the lower deductible on your personal policy if an accident occurs while picking up or delivering an order. 
• For Uber drivers and Uber Eats drivers, Uber offers Optional Injury Protection. Uber’s Optional Injury Protection provides benefits to Uber rideshare and delivery drivers if they are injured in a covered accident. Covered accidents include three scenarios:
• While you’re online, including when you’re available for trip requests
• While you’re en route to pick up a passenger or delivery
• While you’re on a trip using the Driver app
• Uber’s Optional Injury Protection offers the following benefits if a rideshare or delivery driver is injured during a covered accident:
• Accident medical expenses up to a maximum of $1,000,000 (no deductible or copay)
• Temporary total disability up to a maximum of $500 a week
• Continuous total disability up to a maximum of $500 a week
• Accidental death up to a maximum of $50,000
• Survivor benefits up to a maximum of $150,000
• Accidental dismemberment up to a maximum of $200,000
• Unlike some delivery services, Uber charges rideshare and delivery drivers a premium for its Optional Injury Protection coverage. The Optional Injury Protection premium costs $0.0375/mile while on a covered trip. The premium is calculated based on the number of miles driven while with a rider on the way to drop off a delivery order. Uber automatically calculates the per-mile premium and deducts the costs from the driver’s earnings.