Ordering meals from apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub is undeniably convenient. However, the widespread popularity of food delivery apps has caused a surge in car crashes involving DoorDash delivery drivers and people working for similar companies.
Not only do food delivery driver collisions often cause severe injuries, but the complicated relationship between gig workers and the delivery apps they work for presents unique challenges for victims seeking fair compensation.
The DoorDash delivery driver accident lawyers at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer know you are struggling and want to help you overcome the legal challenges you face. Our attorneys are ready to investigate the crash and work to hold the responsible parties accountable while you heal and rest. We’ve recovered millions for our past clients and have the resources and Kentucky Courage needed to take on the companies fighting to deny you the resources you need.
Call now or complete our contact form for a free case evaluation.
How Car Crash Cases Involving Food Delivery Drivers Can Be More Complex
Car accidents involving delivery drivers working for companies like DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub are often more complicated than typical car crash cases. One reason is that the driver was likely using their personal vehicle while working for one of these companies at the time of the accident. Many delivery apps offer some insurance coverage for their drivers, but the coverage varies depending on whether the driver is actively making a delivery, waiting for an order, or driving between gigs.
Delivery app companies may also attempt to avoid liability by claiming that, because their drivers are independent contractors, the companies are not responsible for the accidents the drivers cause, as they would be if the drivers were employees.
Do DoorDash and Other Food Delivery Companies Provide Their Drivers with Insurance Coverage?
DoorDash and other food delivery companies often provide insurance for their workers in some circumstances. However, the available coverage varies significantly depending on the delivery driver’s status when the crash happened.
For example, let’s look at the insurance coverage for DoorDash drivers in Kentucky. Here’s how insurance works under various circumstances:
- While the driver is logged off the app – DoorDash provides no insurance for drivers who are not logged into the app or making a delivery. Only the driver’s personal insurance applies in these circumstances.
- During the “Delivery Available” period – When a driver is logged into the app and waiting for a delivery call, DoorDash provides insurance coverage if the driver causes a collision. As of Jan. 1, 2025, that includes up to $50,000 for injuries to one person, $100,000 for all injuries in a crash, and $25,000 for property damage.
- During the “Delivery Service” period – DoorDash provides up to $1 million in liability coverage from the time a driver accepts an order until the moment it is delivered, cancelled, or unassigned.
While DoorDash covers certain accidents, the company’s drivers must also carry personal auto liability insurance that meets the requirements of Kentucky law. Furthermore, DoorDash may attempt to dispute claims against its drivers even when the company’s insurance should apply. You will need legal help to hold a careless DoorDash driver or other delivery app driver accountable and make the company pay up.
Whose Insurance Will Pay for My Injuries in a DoorDash or Other Food Delivery Accident?
Which insurance company pays for a crash depends on who caused the accident and, potentially, what that person was doing at the time. If the food delivery driver was logged into the app or actively making a delivery when they caused a crash, DoorDash (or whichever food delivery service the driver is working for) should cover your injuries through their insurance coverage. However, if the delivery driver was not logged into the app – for example, if they were driving home after a shift – only their personal auto insurance applies.
Our personal injury lawyers are ready to analyze your specific situation to determine every potential source of insurance coverage that could apply.
Are Food Delivery Drivers Employees of DoorDash and Other Companies?
DoorDash drivers and others who work for similar companies are usually not employees of those companies. Instead, these companies classify their drivers as independent contractors.
They do that to avoid paying payroll taxes or being held liable for crashes involving their drivers. That said, Kentucky and many other states still require DoorDash and similar services to insure their drivers. So, you could have legal options to seek compensation even if you cannot hold the company directly liable for your injuries.
Common Causes and Types of Accidents with DoorDash Delivery Drivers in Kentucky
Many DoorDash delivery accidents involve carelessness by the delivery driver, though other road users sometimes cause or contribute to these crashes. Common examples of causes of food delivery accidents include:
- Speeding, weaving through traffic, or taking other aggressive actions to complete deliveries quickly
- Overlooking pedestrians or other hazards because they are navigating with their phones
- Making deliveries while impaired or fatigued
- Mechanical failures resulting from insufficient maintenance
- Vehicle defects causing delivery drivers to lose control
Types of Injuries in Kentucky DoorDash Delivery Car Accidents
Like any crash, DoorDash delivery car accidents can cause serious injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Severe burns
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Internal bleeding
- Internal organ injuries
- PTSD and other mental health conditions
What You Should Do If You Are Involved in an Accident with a DoorDash Delivery Driver
Here’s what to do to protect your rights after a motor vehicle accident with a DoorDash delivery driver:
- Contact a personal injury attorney at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer as soon as possible.
- Call the authorities and report the accident.
- Seek medical attention, even if you do not feel badly injured at first.
- Get the delivery driver’s contact and insurance information.
- Ask if they were working for a delivery app at the time.
- Take photos of the scene, vehicles, and injuries.
- Collect contact information from witnesses.
- Avoid discussing fault at the scene.
Get Help from Our Food Delivery Driver Car Accident Lawyers Now
Kentucky state law gives you a limited time after a DoorDash delivery accident to file a personal injury claim against the driver or other liable parties, so time is of the essence. Call Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer now or complete our contact form to set up a free consultation with our food delivery driver car accident attorneys. Let us demand fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain, suffering, and other losses.
