Food delivery driver handing photographer a to-go box

It’s easier than ever to get food delivered. Whether you are sick, busy, or just don’t feel like cooking, you can order food to be delivered by the restaurant or a food delivery company such as Grubhub, Uber Eats, Door Dash, and others. Food delivery is beneficial to the person ordering the food and the business selling the food. Most transactions often end without incident.

However, food delivery providers can cause significant accidents that seriously injure people. With so many food delivery services on the road, it’s essential to understand how these accidents happen, what happens after an accident, and what you may recover if you’re hurt or a loved one is killed.

Common Causes of Food Delivery Crashes

Food delivery drivers have a job to do, and they need to do it quickly. Customers want their food fresh and hot, and restaurants want drivers back quickly to make the next delivery. While food delivery happens at all hours, there may be an increased demand in the evening. The job demands may cause food delivery drivers to:

  • Speed or drive recklessly. Drivers may be pressured to get to their destinations quickly. This pressure may cause them to exceed the posted speed limit, drive faster than is safe given the road conditions, pass other vehicles in no-passing zones, make illegal or sudden turns, or try to beat red lights.
  • Rely on GPS. Food delivery drivers may go to unfamiliar locations and rely on GPS to get them there. However, following GPS can cause accidents if drivers don’t pay attention to things that the GPS may fail to warn them about, such as red lights and one-way streets.
  • Stop suddenly. Drivers may stop suddenly when they reach an unfamiliar destination.
  • Drive while they are distracted. Following driving directions, thinking about their next order, talking or texting, and even listening to music may cause drivers to drive while distracted.
  • Drive while they are tired. Many drivers work food delivery as second jobs or work long food delivery hours. They are often tired, which may impact their ability to drive safely.
  • Drive when they are drunk or under the influence of drugs. Drivers who are drinking or under the influence of illegal, prescription, or over-the-counter medications may have impaired judgment and reflexes that impact their ability to drive safely.

Just one of these things can result in a food delivery accident that hurts other motorists or pedestrians.

Types of Food Delivery Accidents

A food delivery driver’s negligence could result in a(n):

  • Intersection crash. A driver who is in a rush or impaired may fail to stop for a red light or stop sign and cause a serious accident.
  • Rear-end wreck. A driver who is following the vehicle in front of them too closely may not have enough time to stop to prevent a collision.
  • Head-on collision. A driver who crosses the center line or goes the wrong way down a one-way street may cause a catastrophic head-on crash.
  • Rollover accident. A speeding driver may lose control of the vehicle and roll over, potentially hurting any other motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists, or pedestrians in their path.

Many food delivery drivers use passenger cars to make deliveries. However, some food delivery providers may use vans or bicycles to do their jobs, and they may also cause significant crashes.

Food Delivery Accident Injuries

A food delivery accident could cause a catastrophic injury or death. It’s essential to get prompt medical attention after an accident, even if you don’t experience immediate pain. A doctor or other medical professional will carefully examine you and look for:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Internal injuries

Other injuries which may have immediate symptoms include amputations and burn injuries.

What to Do After a Food Delivery Accident Injury

Food delivery drivers are not always responsible for accidents. Other drivers may also be negligent. Before you can recover damages, you need to prove who caused the crash and the extent of your injuries. You can begin protecting your rights by:

  • Contacting the police. The police will come to the scene and help keep everyone safe until medical help arrives and clears the accident scene. They will also investigate the cause of the crash for an official police report.
  • Taking photos. Pictures may provide helpful evidence about the cause of the food delivery accident.
  • Getting the names, phone numbers, and addresses of eyewitnesses. Witnesses may also provide useful information about the cause of the food delivery crash.
  • Accepting medical help. Medical attention is essential for both your physical and legal recovery.

After you leave the accident scene, you can continue protecting your recovery by:

  • Contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer. An attorney can advise you about the next steps and make sure your rights are protected.
  • Directing insurance adjusters and potential defendants to your attorney. Insurance adjusters, restaurant owners, and food delivery businesses want to maximize their profits by paying you as little as possible for your recovery. Anything you say can be used against you in a personal injury case, unlike a criminal case. Accordingly, you should direct insurers and defendants to your lawyer.
  • Continuing to get medical treatment. You don’t want to risk making your injury worse.
  • Being cautious about what you say and what you do. Don’t post anything on social media or act in a way that is inconsistent with your diagnosed injuries.

Together, these steps may help you get the legal recovery you deserve.

Our Personal Injury Lawyers Are Here to Help You After a Food Delivery Accident

If you’ve been in an accident with a pizza delivery person, another restaurant delivery person, or a Grubhub, Uber Eats, or Door Dash driver, we encourage you to contact our personal injury lawyers for a free, confidential consultation.

Insurance companies know that we mean business and often settle our personal injury clients’ claims. If they do not want to settle fairly, we won’t hesitate to go to court to protect your full and fair recovery, which may include past and future:

  • Medical costs
  • Lost income
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
  • Physical pain
  • Emotional suffering

Contact us today to learn more about your rights, possible recovery and our Win or It’s Free Guarantee.

 

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.