The more deliveries that DoorDash drivers make, the more money they earn. This system can lead drivers to behave dangerously on the road to make quick deliveries and maximize their pay. Dangerous driving, in turn, leads to car accidents and severe injuries.
Car accident claims involving DoorDash drivers present a unique question: Who might be held liable? Even if the driver is negligent, the company may incentivize that negligence by rewarding high delivery counts. The answer to this question lies in understanding how DoorDash car accident liability is established, the relationship between DoorDash and its employees, and how you can seek compensation after an accident.
What Should You Do If You Are Involved in an Accident with a DoorDash Driver?
Building a strong personal injury claim following an accident with a DoorDash driver begins with you. In the aftermath of a crash with a DoorDash driver, you should try to do the following:
- Document the accident scene — Photos and videos of the accident scene can provide crucial evidence of the DoorDash driver’s negligence and the damage they caused. Take pictures or video of the damage to both vehicles, accident debris, road conditions, traffic signals and signs, and the area around the crash. You should also collect personal information from the other driver and witnesses.
- Keep records — Documentation of your injuries and financial losses can help you recover the compensation you deserve. Save all medical records, invoices, receipts, financial documents, communications, and other relevant documents.
- Be careful when you talk with insurance companies — Auto insurance companies generally try to minimize payouts or deny claims. They may use tactics such as quickly offering a settlement, getting a person to admit fault, or convincing them to give up unnecessary information which the insurer will use against the person. For these reasons, you should consult with a lawyer before you speak with an insurance company adjuster or other representative.
- Get legal help — Working with an experienced Georgia personal injury lawyer can make a tremendous difference in the outcome of your case. Your car accident attorney can review your case for free, offer valuable advice, file paperwork and gather evidence, consult with medical and accident reconstruction professionals, negotiate with the insurance companies, and help you avoid critical errors.
How Do You Prove the DoorDash Driver Was Responsible for the Car Accident?
Showing that the DoorDash driver’s negligent actions caused the car accident is crucial to the success of your case. There are several ways a personal injury lawyer might do this, including the following:
- Obtaining police reports — The police report will offer essential details about the accident that can help prove the DoorDash driver’s responsibility. Those details include an accident diagram, information and statements from involved parties and witnesses, a description of road conditions, information on injuries and property damage, and any citations issued.
- Interviewing witnesses — Third-party accounts of the accident can offer an unbiased perspective and provide details you may not have observed yourself.
- Looking at activity logs — Your lawyer can potentially obtain the activity logs from the driver’s DoorDash app. Activity prior to or during the accident can show that they were distracted by the app.
- Collecting surveillance footage — Traffic cameras and nearby buildings may have caught the accident on video. If you, the driver, or a witness have a dashcam, that may also provide crucial video evidence of what caused the accident.
- Reconstructing the accident — Your lawyer can work with accident reconstruction experts to potentially establish liability by analyzing skid marks, crash dynamics, vehicle positions, and accident debris.
What Are Common Causes of DoorDash Car Accidents in Georgia?
When DoorDash drivers are distracted by their GPS while navigating unfamiliar roads and feeling fatigue from constantly making deliveries, the consequences for others can be severe. DoorDash car accidents can happen in several other ways as well, many of them due to negligence. Some common causes include:
- Distracted driving, such as texting, eating, or using a navigation system
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Unfamiliar roads
- Poor vehicle maintenance.
What Sort of Insurance Coverage Do DoorDash Drivers Carry?
Insurance coverage is another unique aspect of DoorDash driver car accident claims. In Georgia, the driver’s coverage will depend on their status, which constitutes the following:
- Using the app, but no delivery request accepted — When the driver hasn’t actively accepted a delivery request, their coverage will come from their personal auto insurance.
- Actively delivering — From the moment the driver accepts a delivery request and until that delivery has been completed, canceled, or marked unassigned, the driver is covered for up to $1 million by DoorDash’s liability insurance.
Can I Sue DoorDash for the Car Accident Caused by Their Driver?
In many instances, an employer can be held responsible for their employee’s actions while they’re on the job. However, that’s not necessarily the case in a DoorDash driver car accident. DoorDash protects itself from liability by classifying its drivers as independent contractors. However, the classification does not fully protect the company from all liability.
If it can be established that DoorDash was negligent by failing to properly vet a dangerous driver, then the company may be liable for your injuries. DoorDash may also be liable if it can be shown that its app encouraged negligent behavior resulting in an accident.
How Long Do I Have to File a DoorDash Car Accident Lawsuit?
Under Ga. Code § 9-3-33, you have two years from the date of the injury in a car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This law can be beneficial for protecting people who don’t realize the extent of their injuries until well after the accident. However, you should never put off pursuing a car accident claim. The legal process takes time, and insurance companies may employ stalling tactics. Once the filing window closes, your legal options are severely limited.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Attorney
Car accident claims involving Georgia DoorDash drivers can be complicated and challenging. An experienced personal injury attorney can manage those challenges for you as you seek maximum compensation for your injuries.
The team at Bayuk Pratt has more than 50 years of combined experience protecting the rights of injured clients in Georgia. We offer compassionate representation and tenacious advocacy, and we have the extensive track record of substantial settlements and heartfelt client testimonials to prove it. If you suffered injuries in a collision with a DoorDash driver, contact us today to speak with a car accident lawyer about your legal options for pursuing compensation.
