Food delivery services are now available in almost every town and city in the United States. While these services offer enormous benefits to consumers, the increased number of delivery drivers on the roads also means a greater risk of car accidents. For this reason, these drivers need to secure proper auto insurance before starting work.
What Is Food Delivery Insurance?
If you’re a driver, you know about car insurance. Not only does it protect you from substantial financial losses if a crash occurs, but it’s also legally required in most states.
But what if you’re a delivery driver? If you use your car for business, delivery services, or rideshare services, you will typically not be covered by your personal insurance policy. That exposes you to significant liability if you cause a car accident and cause injury to others.
Types of Food Delivery Insurance Coverage
To have your car insured as a food delivery vehicle, you may be able to add coverage for minimal business use to your personal auto insurance policy, though not all insurance companies offer this option. Another possibility is to obtain a commercial car insurance policy to cover your losses if a crash occurs while you’re making deliveries.
Can You Use Personal Car Insurance Coverage to Deliver Food?
You will have to refer to your insurance policy to determine your coverage options. Still, most personal auto insurance policies will not cover accidents that occur when the driver is delivering food or involved in a similar commercial activity.
If you can use your personal car insurance to deliver food, your insurance company will likely require you to add business-use coverage in the event of an accident while delivering food.
If your personal car insurance will not cover you when you’re making food deliveries, you need to get commercial car insurance. Without proper insurance coverage, you may be on the hook for paying for any injuries and other damages you (or others) sustain in an accident.
What If I Get Hit by a Delivery Driver with No Commercial Insurance?
If you’ve been seriously injured in an accident caused by a delivery driver who doesn’t have proper commercial insurance, you still have options to pursue the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses and other losses.
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you may be able to seek compensation from the delivery service company, many of which cover their drivers under specific circumstances, such as when they have food in their car to deliver or when they’re logged in to the service app. If the driver is not on duty at the time of the accident, you may still be able to pursue compensation through their private auto insurance policy.
If the delivery driver was uninsured, you may be able to turn to your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which all drivers are required to carry in Maryland. In this case, your insurance company can reimburse you for your losses up to your policy limits.
It is in your best interest to talk to an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible to determine your best options for seeking fair financial recovery after a crash with a delivery driver.
How a Lawyer Can Help
The car accident attorneys at Trollinger Law LLC have experience helping car accident victims pursue the compensation they need for their medical costs, missed wages, and other losses after being harmed by a negligent driver. Call us or contact us online for a free case evaluation today.
