Atlanta Food Delivery Car Accident Lawyer

The bustling city of Atlanta has seen a large increase in food delivery services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Amazon in the past few years, as demand for such services has grown exponentially. This surge in popularity means that the city roads are being shared more and more with a growing number of delivery drivers which bring an increased risk of traffic accidents. Unfortunately, some of these accidents could lead to serious injuries and substantial financial burden for those involved.

If you have been injured by an accident that was caused by a delivery driver, your understanding of your legal rights and the complexities of the laws is imperative. It is crucial that you get an experienced Atlanta food delivery car accident lawyer who is able to provide guidance and help you step by step through the legal process to get the compensation you deserve. That is why you should contact Merritt & Merritt Law Firm at 404-975-1775 today for a free consultation.

Common Atlanta Food Delivery Services

Atlanta has a multitude of food delivery platforms, each with its own operational model and a network of drivers that they hire. DoorDash, Grubhub and UberEats are the three main food delivery services in the Atlanta area that restaurants can pick and choose to use as they please. The combined fleet of these drivers means a substantial number of drivers are active on Atlanta roads that were not as prevalent before. This can increase the risk of accidents due to reckless or distracted driving, which could lead to severe injury or death.

About DoorDash Accidents in Atlanta

The increased reliance on food delivery services in Atlanta has led to a rise in accidents involving DoorDash drivers. While there are no specific numbers on accidents caused by DoorDash drivers, the general trend indicates that a growing number of delivery drivers on the roads of Atlanta correlates to an increase of traffic accidents.

Many drivers only have personal auto insurance policies, which most have exclusions for commercial use of their vehicle. This can create complications if the driver is involved in an accident while driving for DoorDash. To mitigate this, DoorDash has provided “excess” liability coverage for their drivers which may provide coverage if the DoorDash driver is at fault. This extra liability coverage only activates once the driver’s personal insurance has been exhausted, but can lead to extra complications for the victim of the accident who may be seeking compensation from the insurance companies.

Georgia law mandates that drivers maintain a minimum insurance coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident. In cases of serious injury, that minimum coverage may not be enough to provide monetary relief to the victim. DoorDash does provide a $1 million commercial liability policy, however directly suing DoorDash for the negligence of a contracted delivery driver is often challenging under Georgia Law. An Atlanta food delivery car accident lawyer at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm can guide you through the process and help you get the compensation you deserve.

About Amazon Delivery Accidents

Amazon utilizes various types of delivery drivers, including some direct employees, but they primarily rely on independent contractors operating under the Amazon Flex program and also drivers who are employed by independent Delivery Service Partners (DSPs). Many of these drivers face demanding schedules which can contribute to unsafe driving practices such as speeding or distracted driving. The use of mobile devices while driving to update customer package statuses is one of the main causes of distracted driving for Amazon drivers.

While Amazon provides $1 million in liability coverage for their direct employees, they require that independent DSP drivers maintain their own commercial insurance coverage, so it is important to know what kind of driver is operating the Amazon delivery vehicle if they cause an accident.

The Risks of Unvetted Food Delivery Drivers

A delivery company should conduct background checks of their delivery drivers to ensure the safety of the public. If they fail to do so, it could lead to delivery drivers being hired who have multiple traffic violations or major traffic crimes on their record. These unvetted drivers could lead to an increased risk of causing accidents on the roads, or if they have significant criminal convictions on their record that go unchecked, they could present an increased danger to the community.

Who Can Be Held Liable for an Atlanta Food Delivery Accident?

As noted before, determining liability in a food delivery accident can be complex and involves a careful examination of Georgia law. The negligent delivery driver is often the primary party if they are determined to cause the accident by their negligent driving, and that accident was the direct cause of the victims injuries. Negligent driving could be anything from running a stop sign, to speeding, or texting while driving, among many others.

The employer of the delivery driver may also be held liable under vicarious liability if the acts of the negligent driver occurred within the scope of their employment. Since many food delivery drivers are independent contractors, proving vicarious liability of the employer can be extremely complex, but could arise if it is proven that the employer had a degree of control over the delivery driver’s work.

Additionally, a third party may be involved in the accident and may have been a negligent driver involved in the collision. It is important to remember that Georgia’s modified comparative negligence rule determines when you are allowed to claim any compensation.

No matter how many parties are involved, if it is determined that the injured party is more than 50% responsible for the accident, then they are not able to move forward and claim any compensation. If the injured party is less than 50% at fault, then they may move forward with the lawsuit, but any damages that are awarded will be reduced by the percentage that they are responsible for the accident.

Who Pays for Your Injuries If You Are in an Accident With an Amazon Courier?

As stated earlier, insurance coverage for Amazon couriers is dependent on if they are an employee of Amazon or a contractor hired by Amazon. If the driver is an employee, they are most likely covered by Amazon’s commercial insurance coverage. However, if the driver is an Amazon Flex driver or a Delivery Service Partner driver, then you will either have to go through the driver’s personal insurance policy first, or determine if they are covered by commercial auto insurance. In order to get the most money out of your case, however, is to call the attorneys at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm at 404-975-1775 to navigate these complexities for you.

What to Do After a DoorDash Car Accident

If you find yourself in a car accident caused by a DoorDash driver in Atlanta, taking the right steps immediately after the incident is imperative for your safety and any legal actions you choose to take afterwards.

Prioritize Your Safety

First and foremost, make sure that you and any other people involved in the accident are injured. If anyone is hurt, make sure to call for medical assistance immediately. If you are in a hazardous location, move to a safe location to prevent any further accidents.

Dial 911 For Emergency Services

Call 911 for emergency services and if there are any injuries or severe property damage. In the state of Georgia, you are required by law to report any accident that would result in at least $500 in damages.

Take Pictures/Screenshots

Make sure to document the accident with as many pictures or screenshots that you can safely obtain. Do not take yourself out of a safe location to take pictures of the accident. If you are able to take pictures of the accident, any traffic signs, any injuries you sustained, road conditions, or any other details from a safe location, it is important you do so to help prove negligence of the other driver.

How We Can Help With Your Atlanta GrubHub Delivery Accident

We understand that there are many unique challenges that arise from delivery driver accidents, which is why our team will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident to determine who was at fault and identify any and all potentially liable parties. We will navigate the complexities of the insurance claims process on your behalf, dealing with the GrubHub driver’s personal insurance company and investigating any potential coverage that GrubHub may offer.

Our attorneys will also meticulously gather all necessary evidence and build a strong and persuasive case on your behalf. If a settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, then our attorneys are fully prepared to litigate your case in court to ensure your rights are protected and you receive the compensation you deserve.

Food Delivery Car Accident? Our Atlanta Food Delivery Car Accident Lawyer Helps Drivers and Victims.

Our commitment extends to not only victims of delivery driver accidents, but the delivery drivers as well. We recognize that delivery drivers can also be victims of other negligent drivers themselves, or were in an accident caused by unsafe road conditions. If you are a food delivery driver and you have been injured working in Atlanta, Merritt & Merritt Law Firm is here to provide you with expert legal representation. We understand the challenges you face as a delivery driver, and will work diligently to protect your rights. Call us today at 404-975-1775 to get a free consultation with an Atlanta food delivery car accident lawyer.