Texas residents understand the numerous difficulties that come with a booming trucking industry, from the influx in oil tankers to the declining road conditions. The high demand for oil and natural gas has helped massive businesses to grow, but those demands also play a hand in an influx of trucking accidents. Sadly, these issues are not limited to the trucking industry, but also general delivery services.
Online shopping and on-demand services have caused an influx in delivery drivers to meet consumer’s needs, from same-day grocery delivery to Amazon’s 2-Day Prime Delivery. With more and more delivery vehicles on our residential streets, both other drivers and pedestrians are put in great danger for serious auto accidents.
If you or a loved one have been injured because of the careless actions of a delivery driver, contact the Texas delivery driver accident attorneys at Sorey & Gilliland, LLP. Our firm will fight on your behalf for fair and proper compensation after an accident. Call us today at (903) 230-5600 to schedule a free consultation.
How On-Demand Services Contribute to Accidents
The advent of same-day delivery has become a blessing for consumers but a curse for drivers. With many websites and businesses offering expedited shipping at lower rates to entice shoppers—ranging from e-commerce sites such as Amazon to food delivery services such as DoorDash and Grubhub—there are far more vehicles on the roads in residential areas, adding to congestion and traffic collisions across Texas. This influx has not only posed a risk in sleepy suburban neighborhoods but has also resulted in stressed out delivery drivers with packed routes.
All of these drivers are required to have at least a basic driver’s license, but many are not trained on safe driving behaviors for commercial situations or how to properly navigate their routes. Even fewer are required to carry commercial driving insurance.
Poor driving habits that some delivery drivers practice include:
- Rolling stops at red lights
- Speeding
- Sharp turns
- Erratic driving because of inexperience with local road conditions or delivery trucks
- Distracted driving, especially when dealing with GPS or app notifications
- Fatigue, especially for late-night takeout deliveries
While these conditions can be true of anyone, most of us limit our driving hours to the morning and evening as we move to and from work. Delivery drivers, however, are always on the road and have very limited break periods. Package drivers for Amazon are expected to deliver 999 out of 1,000 orders on-time, according to a report by the New York Times. In addition, food delivery services expect drivers to meet tight schedules and offer incentives to arrive early or take on extra orders. This can lead to mad dashes to complete an order, especially for those who rely on deliveries as a primary source of income.
However, income and profit do not justify unsafe driving practices. When they do, drivers leave behind catastrophic injuries, costly medical bills, and even tragic deaths along their routes.
Holding Companies and Drivers Accountable
After an accident with a negligent delivery driver, you would hope that you could quickly and easily file an insurance claim. Logically, the driver’s insurance company should cover the accident and pay for your medical bills and lost wages. Unfortunately, auto accidents are rarely ever that simple, especially when big businesses are involved.
Most delivery companies offer some form of liability insurance to cover their drivers in the event of an accident, with the exception of Grubhub, Instacart, and, surprisingly, Amazon. These companies have shirked responsibility for their driver’s actions, claiming that the drivers are contractors and thus the companies are not liable for any damages. The result is some unique complications for car accident claims depending on the company involved.
With Grubhub and Instacart, you may be forced to file a claim against the driver’s personal insurance policy; however, most drivers only have minimum coverage, which does not include commercial insurance. Some drivers might have a canceled policy that leaves victims without a way to file a claim. Sadly, this means you may have to file with your own insurance company through an uninsured motorist claim, which many Texas of residents do not have.
Alternatively, an accident with an Amazon delivery driver does offer the chance to file a claim against an insurance carrier—just not Amazon’s. This is because Amazon’s delivery services utilize a variety of contract companies to fulfill customers’ needs and these companies are required to take on full liability in the event of an accident. If you were hit by an Amazon delivery truck, your claim would be with the contractor’s insurance company.
In contrast, FedEx, UPS, Uber Eats, Postmates, and DoorDash all offer some form of liability insurance; however, the insurance adjusters who will review your case have an incentive to minimize your settlement and even blame on you. Most people are not equipped to handle the stress and complexity of a difficult case of this nature. This is why it is absolutely necessary that you contact an attorney as soon as possible after an accident involving a delivery driver.
Fighting on Behalf of Victims
No one should suffer because a company was trying to push up their profit margins, especially if it leads to serious trauma or even death. While we cannot take back the devastation you have suffered, the Texas auto accident attorneys at Sorey & Gilliland, LLP can advocate for full compensation after an accident with a delivery driver. Our firm has successfully handled injury cases throughout Texas, from taking on major trucking companies to negotiating insurance claims involving negligent drivers. Call us today at (903) 230-5600 to learn what options are available to you after a collision with a delivery driver.
