Workers who deliver food, packages, people, and other goods are at a much higher risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. They spend their entire day navigating traffic and watching out for aggressive and distracted drivers.
When a crash does happen, delivery drivers suffer a great deal of stress. If they were severely injured, they may worry about losing their ability to work and drive. If they were using their personal vehicle to make deliveries and it was totaled, there’s the additional struggle to find a replacement.
Whether a driver works for Grubhub, Doordash, Uber, Lyft, Amazon, FedEx, UPS, Instacart, or one of the many other delivery services that have popped up in recent years, they have legal rights when it comes to a car accident that also doubles a work accident.
Combination Accident Cases
In the legal realm, when a person is injured in a car accident while working, the resulting claim is referred to as either a “combination case” or “third-party claim.” This means that the injured party can file a personal injury claim in addition to a workers’ compensation claim.
The ability to file two claims ensures that not only will their injury and vehicle repair costs be covered, but that their time away from work will also be compensated.
How Does It Work?
Combination cases are often complicated because it’s two claims filed simultaneously.
The personal injury claim is filed against the negligent driver’s car insurance company. This allows an injured person to pursue compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, property damage, economic loss, and other types of loss.
The workers’ compensation claim is filed against the employer’s insurance. This covers wage benefits, medical benefits, and permanent partial disability benefits.
Delivery Driver Accident Stats
The pandemic and the steady rise of e-commerce has only increased the number of delivery and sales drivers, and therefore the risk they run in suffering an accident. An accident while driving for work can include being rear-ended while slowing down to make a delivery, being struck while stepping out of the vehicle, or being bitten by a dog or harassed by a person while delivering a package.
From 2015 to 2019, 334 delivery drivers and sales workers in the U.S. lost their lives while working. 2019 saw the most deaths so far, with 83 drivers losing their lives on the job.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 8,000 nonfatal injuries required days away from work. Roadway incidents accounted for most injuries, followed by overexertion from lifting or lowering, and being struck by an object.
Workers’ Compensation and Car Accident Experts
A serious crash can leave a delivery driver with huge medical bills and extended time off. They deserve high-quality care and shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for a traumatic event that wasn’t their fault.
If you are a driver who has been injured in an accident while driving for work, operating a company vehicle, or during a delivery, you don’t have to fight the giant insurance companies alone. We can help, whether you are an independent contractor or an employee.
Contact Gary Martin Hays & Associates quickly to take action on your workers’ compensation and third-party claim today for peace of mind and rapid legal expertise.
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