DoorDash Accident Lawyer

DoorDash Accident Lawyer

The common question one will have in accidents involving DoorDash drivers is, “whose insurance will be used to cover the accident”? It is not easy to give a straightforward answer because several factors have to be taken into account while finding an answer to this question. Once you have decided to file an accident claim, you need a legal backing from a reputed DoorDash accident attorney.

What Is DoorDash?

DoorDash is a food delivery service and the DoorDash app allows users to order food from their favorite restaurants. The service is gaining immense popularity for the convenience it offers the users and has become much popular in recent times.

Why Do DoorDash Accidents Happen?

Except for the hurry that DoorDash drivers are in to deliver the orders on time, there aren’t any specific reasons that apply to DoorDash accidents alone.  Some people drive recklessly on the roads defying traffic laws. Shifting lanes without proper warning may lead to accidents.

What Are The Common Injuries In DoorDash Accidents?

The common injuries in car accidents include:

  • Concussion
  • Whiplash
  • Back and neck injuries
  • Amputation
  • Broken bones
  • Fractures
  • Head injury
  • Death

How To File An Accident Claim Against DoorDash?

Below shared are the steps you should take to file an accident claim against DoorDash when you or your loved ones are involved in an accident with a DoorDash delivery vehicle.

  1. Get in touch with an experienced DoorDash accident attorney

DoorDash is a big company that is worth billions of dollars and filing an accident claim against them and winning it is not going to be easy. It is assured that the company has a large budget they will spend on legal issues. Hence it is important to have an accident attorney on your side to represent you when the case reaches the court.

  1. Investigation

In the investigation stage, you lawyer will collect all documents and evidence necessary for filing a claim. These include official reports, witness statements, medical bills and employment reports.

If you have to make your lawyer’s job easier, you have to collect evidence from the accident spot. Take photographs of your injuries, damage to your vehicle, the accident location and other important details about the same. Talk to witnesses at the accident spot and collect their contact details in case they can be of help in the future. If any witnesses have taken photos or videos of the accident, request them to give you a copy of the same. Also, try to collect the insurance, vehicle and license information of the other parties who are involved in the accident.

DoorDash requires its drivers to have personal automobile insurance. Although the company offers insurance, it becomes applicable only under certain conditions. Hence it is important to collect the driver’s personal insurance information even if he/she is working for DoorDash.

Compensation In DoorDash Accidents

The compensation provided for DoorDash accidents is provided for economic and non-economic losses.

Some of the economic losses from an accident include:

  • Damaged property
  • Lost wages(past and future)
  • Loss of earning capacity(past and future)
  • Medical bills(past and future)

Non-economic losses include:

  • emotional trauma
  • pain
  • Loss of leisure

What Is The Legal Time Limit For Filing An Accident Claim?

The legal time limit that is applicable to file a lawsuit can vary with the state where the accident happened and this time period is referred to as the statute of limitations. In most of the states, the statute of limitations is only 2 years from the date of the accident. However, some of the states have a different take on this. Some may give you three years while some may give you just one year. Know the statute of limitations from your lawyer.

What Is The Insurance Of Doordash Drivers?

DoorDash requires its delivery drivers to have their own personal insurance. If they have that coverage, they will be covered by DoorDash’s occupational accident policy. The coverage comes into effect after the driver’s personal auto insurance exhausts. The policy, however, does not cover the damages to vehicles due to the accident.

DoorDash also offers commercial coverage of up to $1 million for bodily injury and property damage to third parties. For the coverage to be applicable, the driver should be delivering goods to a user. This coverage also kicks in only after the personal auto insurance of the driver exhausts.

If the driver was not making a food delivery at the time when the accident happened, then the DoorDash coverage will not apply. In such situations, the personal insurance of the driver alone comes into play. If you find that the coverage amount is insufficient, you can file a claim with your own insurer if you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

If the driver was actively delivering an order when the accident occurred, then the DoorDash occupational and commercial coverage will come into play. However, this will be applicable only after the exhaustion of the driver’s personal insurance.

If you get involved in an accident where multiple parties are at fault, then the insurance of all parties at fault will be used first before the DoorDash coverage kicks in.

Getting the right compensation after an accident is your right and in many cases, filing an accident claim and winning it isn’t that easy. Understand that the legal support from an accident attorney can contribute a lot to winning the accident claim.