Orland Park Food Delivery Accidents Lawyer

Top Rated Food Delivery Accident Lawyer in Orland Park

Once, eating out meant going to your favorite restaurant to dine in or pick up a to-go order. Pizza was one of the few meals available for delivery. Today, food delivery companies like DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and ChowNow have simplified matters. People can conveniently place and pay for meal orders online, then wait for a delivery driver to knock on their door with their food.

As the number of food delivery drivers on the road continues to increase, accidents with these drivers are becoming more common. Collisions with delivery vehicles can lead to injuries and fatalities, the same as any other car accident. However, an accident claim in this situation will likely involve some specific challenges. An experienced personal injury attorney from the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C. can help you overcome those challenges so you can get the compensation you deserve.

Common Reasons for Food Delivery Accidents

Food delivery drivers have tight schedules. Customers expect to get their food quickly and at the appropriate temperature, whether hot or cold. Drivers may transport multiple orders in the same trip to avoid backtracking, but they must be sure they take the right food to each customer.

Along with frequent contributing factors like speeding, disregarding traffic signals, and improper merging, food delivery drivers may make other errors due to the nature of their jobs. Examples of hazardous behaviors include:

• Searching for the correct delivery location when it does not have address numbers displayed, especially at night
• Looking at a phone for GPS information instead of traffic
• Double parking at restaurants or destinations
• Driving too fast or driving recklessly to get a food order to its recipient quickly
• Looking through multiple orders while driving
• Accepting new delivery requests while driving

Human error in some form is responsible for around 94 percent of all motor vehicle collisions. When a driver made errors that caused you to be injured, you deserve compensation. Your attorney from the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C. can help you get it.

Employee Vs. Contractor: A Vital Distinction in Food Delivery Accident Claims

To get compensation for a food delivery accident, you need to establish liability. That means you must discover why the collision happened and find evidence that proves who is responsible. The nature of modern food delivery services makes those tasks problematic.

Some restaurants employ their own delivery drivers who drive company-owned vehicles. A restaurant is vicariously liable for employees who cause injuries while performing work-related duties. However, a commercial vehicle like a delivery van has several potentially liable parties, including the vehicle owner, maintenance companies, and parts manufacturers.

Contractors, on the other hand, present different challenges. Companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats use independent contractors who use their own vehicles to make food deliveries. Each driver must have at least the minimum required amount of liability insurance coverage. The company may also provide insurance coverage, but that depends on the driver's status when the collision occurs.

The driver's insurance company may require additional coverage for vehicles used for business purposes, like making food deliveries. If drivers do not have this policy add-on or have not disclosed to the insurer that they use their car for deliveries, the insurer may not cover accident claims.

When you work with the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we will investigate your food delivery accident, determine the driver's employment status, and discover which liability insurance policy applies. We will ensure that you are treated fairly by handling insurance claims on your behalf, and we will fight to make sure you receive the proper coverage.

Contact Our Orland Park, IL Food Delivery Accident Attorney

At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we know how to uncover the details that can lead to a successful resolution to your case. Attorney Barker will handle your case personally to ensure no details are missed. Contact us at 708-321-1223 for your free consultation with our dedicated Orland Park personal injury attorney. You will not have to pay any fees upfront, and you will not owe us any fees unless we win compensation for you.