The convenience of having food delivered to homes and offices has risen in recent years. While these food delivery services are convenient, there are also people behind those requests. Some of the most common delivery apps include:
- UberEats
- Grubhub
- DoorDash
- Postmates
- Instacart
While these apps are convenient to those who use them, the drivers do have risks with their job. If you are a driver, you may be wondering if you have any protection if you are involved in an accident. While you may think the answer is no, you actually do have options. You can discuss your legal options with a Philadelphia food delivery accident attorney.
Risks for delivery drivers
As a delivery driver, you may not have considered all of the dangers that come with your job. You may think it is a quick way to make extra cash and there could not possibly be high risks with the job. This is not the case as there are several ways you may be injured on the job as a delivery driver.
Overexertion
As a delivery driver, you may be constantly picking up, lifting, and lowering items. While the majority of these items are food, the constant movement can wear on your body over time. There are also deliveries that may have multiple packages and in an attempt to make one trip you attempt to stack them, causing excess strain on your back. All of these movements can leave you with an injury.
Slip and fall
Depending on the weather, you may come into contact with slippery and icy conditions. Since many of the homes you are delivering to, you have not encountered before you may not be aware of any hidden dangers. There may be a broken tile that causes you to fall in the driveway or a puddle you did not see. While snow, ice, and rain can cause slips and falls, it is the unexpected obstacles that can cause the most damage.
Motor vehicle accidents
The most common type of accident a delivery driver faces is a car accident. You spend the majority of your time on the road and this means dealing with a range of driving styles. While you may be following the rules of the roads, other drivers might not, which can lead to an accident. Not only can you suffer serious injuries but your vehicle may also be out of commission for an extended period of time. This means even if your injuries heal you may be unable to return to work because you do not have transportation to do so.
If you are involved in an accident contact a Philadelphia food delivery accident attorney to discuss your legal options and get you back to work safely.
Emergency Assistance Buttons
One of the newest dangers to hit delivery drivers is acts of violence. Due to this uptick, many delivery companies are implementing emergency assistance buttons so their drivers can access help at all times. DoorDash has created the SafeDash feature in partnership with ADT to have an agent help them get to safety and contact emergency services if the need arises.
Instacart has added a similar button to its app which also shares the person’s location with emergency personnel. Lyft and Uber have also added similar buttons to their apps. Even with these new features, many drivers argue they should have more protection and a Philadelphia food delivery accident attorney can discuss legal options after an accident occurs.
Insurance Policies
Most, if not all delivery companies have insurance policies in place should an accident occur. However, there are many holes to jump through to access these policies. In many cases, the driver will need to go through his or her own insurance before attempting to use the delivery company’s insurance. They must also show they were in an active delivery at the time of the accident.
Call Kwartler Manus if Injured as a Delivery Driver
A Philadelphia food delivery accident attorney can help obtain compensation on your behalf after an accident. Contact the experienced Philadelphia food delivery accident attorney from Kwartler Manus LLC at (267) 457-5570 to discuss your case today.