Michigan’s Food Delivery Accident Lawyers

With the advent of food delivery apps, many people have turned to this service as an income-earning opportunity. Companies such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Doordash have thousands of drivers using their vehicles to deliver food.

A Michigan car accident lawyer from Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C. can help if you sustained injuries in a food delivery accident. Our law firm can help you determine who was at fault for your injuries in a free consultation today.

What Type of Relationship Do Drivers Have With Food Delivery Companies?

Food delivery service apps enable drivers to work as their bosses, setting their hours and deciding what orders to accept. However, since food delivery drivers are independent contractors, they must maintain their personal auto insurance coverage for their personal vehicles.

Most food delivery apps have liability coverage in cases of property damage and bodily injury whenever drivers are active. This means drivers can file claims for personal injuries under the apps’ policies if they get into an accident.

For instance, Uber Eats covers working drivers with liability coverage. If a driver is en route to pick up and drop off a food delivery, they have $1,000,000 policy coverage from Uber Eats. A driver active on the app and waiting for a customer order has $50,000 for a personal injury, $100,000 for an accident, and $25,000 in property damage.

If you were injured as a food delivery driver, you may file a claim with the food delivery app’s insurance company. However, if you weren’t working as a driver at the time of the accident, you can file a claim for no-fault benefits with your car insurance company.

Common Food Delivery Accident Causes

The DoorDash delivery app estimates that drivers move between 75 and 290 miles on the road every day. The mileage on the road puts food delivery drivers at an increased risk of car accidents. Some of the most common causes of food delivery accidents include:

• Aggressive driving
• Distracted driving
• Driving over the speed limit
• Failure to use a turn signal
• Erratic stopping and starting
• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Poor weather conditions

Common Injuries From Food Delivery Accidents

Food delivery drivers can suffer injuries ranging from temporary scrapes that require minor care to permanent injuries that affect their way of life.

Soft Tissue Damage

Soft tissue damage can refer to any damage to the body’s tissues that isn’t caused by a bone injury. This can include strains and sprains and more severe injuries like torn ligaments. While soft tissue damage can often be treated at home with rest and ice, more severe injuries may require medical intervention. In some cases, surgery may even be necessary to repair the damage.

Neck Injuries

Neck injuries can occur due to the brunt force of the collision, causing the neck to jerk suddenly. Symptoms of a neck injury may include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Tenderness
• Headaches
• Dizziness

The resulting force can result in whiplash, damaging the neck’s bones, muscles, ligaments, and nerves. It can cause pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Severe cases of whiplash may involve tingling or numbness in the arms and legs, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating.

Broken Bones

Broken bones are common injuries sustained in food delivery accidents. These injuries can range from arm fractures to broken femurs. While seat belts and airbags can help reduce the severity of these injuries, rib fractures often occur when the impact force is too great. A splint, cast, or surgery can help treat broken bone injuries, depending on the type of bone break.

Scarring

A scar usually forms when new tissue grows to replace damaged skin. The new tissue is often smoother than the surrounding skin and may have an abnormal color or texture. In some cases, skin grafts may be able to minimize the appearance of scarring.

However, scars are often quite noticeable and can be unsightly. In addition, the psychological effects of scarring can be just as devastating as the physical ones, such as disfigurement and mental suffering.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a severe type of brain injury, usually caused by a blow to the head or by an object penetrating the brain. TBIs can cause a wide range of short and long-term problems, depending on the severity of the injury.

An individual with a TBI is likely to experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, mood swings, and depression. A severe TBI can also lead to more severe problems such as seizures, paralysis, and even death.

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries may result in partial or complete paralysis, depending on the severity and location of the spinal cord injury. Severe spinal cord injuries can even result in death. However, with early diagnosis and proper treatment, patients can often regain some function after a spinal cord injury.

How Our Lawyers Can Help You After a Food Delivery Accident

In the aftermath of a food delivery accident, you may find yourself unable to earn a living and overwhelmed by medical bills. You can file a claim for compensation for your medical bills with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer by contacting Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C.

We can offer legal advice and help you negotiate with insurance companies trying to get you to accept a lowball settlement for your injuries. Our lawyers can work with you to file a lawsuit if the insurance company denies your claim.

Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.