It is becoming more and more common for millions of Americans to order things online. Some large box retailers offer a curbside pickup that allows customers to pick up their items. As curbside pickup continues to gain popularity, so does grocery delivery.
Several companies offer delivery services in Texas. Some examples include Shipt, Postmates, DoorDash, and UberEATS, to name a few. Big retailers like Target have partnered with companies like Shipt, other retailers like Walmart and Aldi have created their delivery service to serve their customers.
Many of the drivers who are delivering for these companies are uninsured or underinsured. This means that they will not be able to pay for any injuries if they are involved in an accident.
So, what do you do if you are involved in an accident with a grocery delivery driver? Conversely, what do you do if you are a grocery delivery driver and have an accident while at work? In this blog post, we will answer some of these questions and focus specifically on Amazon Flex and Walmart delivery drivers.
Amazon grocery delivery accidents
Amazon is another big player in the grocery delivery space, employing thousands of drivers through its Amazon Flex app, which allows drivers to get paid for making deliveries to homes across the country. Generally, these drivers are considered independent contractors hired by Amazon. Because Amazon’s grocery delivery service is still fairly new, people are still learning more and more about Amazon’s insurance coverage for their drivers and what is and is not covered after an accident.
In general, Amazon Flex provides insurance coverage for liability, comprehensive collision, and uninsured or underinsured motorists. The coverage is capped at $ 1 million per accident and covers auto accidents in which the Amazon driver is at fault, including property damage and bodily injury to third parties.
Additionally, comprehensive / collision coverage covers $ 50,000 in property damage to the delivery driver’s vehicle, regardless of fault, but requires a $ 1,000 deductible. The only problem is that for Amazon’s commercial policy to apply, the driver must have their own insurance policy with comprehensive / collision coverage as well. Otherwise, Amazon’s business policy will not cover any accidents. Similar to liability coverage, Amazon’s commercial insurance policy provides up to $ 1 million in coverage for uninsured or underinsured motorists.
It is important to note that Amazon’s insurance policy will only come into play when the delivery driver is collecting, delivering, or returning packages to an Amazon facility at the time of the accident. In contrast, when a car accident occurs while the driver is off the clock, Amazon’s insurance does not cover any accidents. Instead, the delivery driver and anyone else affected by the accident will have to rely on personal insurance for coverage. Unfortunately, many Amazon Flex drivers don’t realize that by using their vehicle to deliver with Amazon, they could void their own auto insurance policy.
For an insurer, if the driver does not mention that he would use his vehicle for business matters, it could be considered misrepresentation and may void the policy from them. Also, if a driver does not have or does not pay for his personal auto insurance policy, he could lose his coverage under the Amazon policy. As you can imagine, this can create serious problems for car accident victims seeking compensation for their injuries.
Grocery delivery accidents at Walmart
You may also be wondering about insurance coverage issues related to Walmart grocery delivery accidents. Walmart recently began offering grocery delivery services for its customers. In the past, Walmart had partnerships with UberEATS and Postmates for grocery delivery, but Walmart has since parted ways with UberEATS in most, if not all, states.
Instead, Wal-Mart has been experimenting with a new program called Spark that is being run by Delivery Drivers Inc. or DDI that allows drivers to work as independent contractors delivering products to customers. Most independent contractors are generally not covered by workers’ compensation insurance.
As a result, DDI offers insurance for its drivers in the event of an accident while working. In the event of an on-the-job injury, the driver’s medical expenses may be covered by workplace accident insurance, up to $ 250,000 / year. The specific details of the insurance coverage are not known as Walmart is still experimenting with this service and it has not been fully launched in all 50 states.
Have you been injured in an accident with a delivery driver?
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We encourage you to reach out so that we can explain more to you about the different ways our law firm and attorneys can provide you with legal help and guidance with your car accident claim. Our skilled attorneys are truly committed to our clients.
We will fight to try and get you the maximum amount of compensation that is owed to you. Let us help you get the medical care you need while we fight to get you fair compensation for your injuries! Our attorneys are ready to provide proven legal representation in the processing of your claim and are ready to protect your rights. We are available 24/7 to provide you with a free, risk-free consultation.
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