The first recorded food delivery dates back to Naples, Italy in 1889 when a pizza being delivered to King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy. Today, the food delivery industry boasts an estimated 350 billion U.S. dollars in revenue, with more than 95 billion being generated by meal delivery drivers alone. Popular food ordering and delivery apps such as GrubHub and DoorDash make ordering your favorite meal as easy as a push of a button.
In large cities, like Dallas, Texas, and the surrounding areas, the demand for food delivery services has skyrocketed. While the popularity of these services has risen, so has, unfortunately, the number of car accidents across Texas. These accidents often result in serious injuries that have a lifelong impact on the injured party. While most Texans understand that they have a legal right to seek compensation for their injuries and damages from the liable party after an accident, this process gets tricky when there is a food delivery company involved. It takes an experienced food delivery accident attorney to help injured parties navigate the legal system to ensure they get the compensation they deserve.
The Hernandez Law Group, P.C. is dedicated to serving the hardworking individuals of Dallas, Texas, and the surrounding communities. Here is more information on our food delivery accident attorney services:
Understanding Food Delivery Accidents in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas has no shortage of places to eat. There are more than 15,000 restaurants in the DFW metroplex alone. Most, if not all of these businesses, have food delivery options available on popular food delivery apps such as DoorDash. While this is convenient for many Texans, it has also increased accidents in the area.
Hernandez Law Group, P.C. Insight: Food Delivery Statistics
The following statistics demonstrate the current trends with food delivery driver services in Dallas.
- As of November 3, 2024, the average hourly pay for a food delivery driver in Dallas, Texas is $16.08.
- The peak time for food delivery services in Dallas is between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- The most active areas for food delivery services in Dallas, Texas are:
- Uptown
- Knox-Henderson
- Oak Lawn
- The Dallas Arts District
- Klyde Warren Park
Common Causes of Food Delivery Accidents in Dallas, Texas
Several factors increase the risk of a food delivery driver accident, including:
- Speeding to meet tight deadlines.
- Reckless driving.
- Distracted driving from using GPS or the delivery app while driving.
- Fatigue from long hours or demanding schedules that impair judgment and reaction time.
- Idle driving between orders.
What to Do If You’re Injured in a Food Delivery Accident?
If you or a loved one was involved in a food delivery accident, it is important to take the following steps to protect yourself from further injury and your right to compensation:
- Move your car if you can do so safely.
- Check on the other driver/passengers.
- Call the police and emergency services if there are any serious injuries.
- Gather information about the accident:
- Name of the driver/drivers involved.
- Insurance information of the driver.
- Insurance information of the food delivery service they represent.
- Makes and models of the vehicles.
- Witness statements and contact information.
- Location and time of the accident.
- Take pictures of the accident scene and damages to the vehicles.
- Call a Dallas food delivery accident attorney.
- Visit a medical professional.
Can I Pursue the Food Delivery Company for Compensation?
Food delivery accidents are more complicated than an average car accident case because of the food delivery company. Oftentimes, food delivery companies like DoorDash offer liability insurance and occupational accident insurance for their drivers. However, for this insurance to apply, the delivery driver has to be actively working at the time of the accident. If they are in between deliveries or have just gotten off the clock, then their personal car insurance will be liable.
Most food delivery services, such as Uber Eats and DoorDash, carry up to $1 million in insurance coverage for their drivers. This coverage can only be pursued when the driver’s insurance coverage has been used and cannot cover the full amount for compensation.
How a Dallas Food Delivery Accident Lawyer Can Help
A food delivery company being involved in the accident can make seeking compensation more complex, overwhelming the injured parties of the accident. An experienced food delivery accident attorney can ensure that you get the compensation you deserve, helping you cover the astronomical costs of medical expenses and damages. The car accident attorneys at the Hernandez Law Group, P.C. can help you with the following:
- Investigating your case: Our attorneys will look in-depth at your accident to determine the best course of action to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. We will analyze important evidence such as the accident report, witness statements, and dash cam or surveillance footage.
- Building your case: Once we have completed our investigation, we will compile all of the necessary documentation to build your case to show how the liable party’s actions led to your accident and injuries This evidence includes the following:
- Medical records
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Proof of lost income
- Bills surrounding damages to personal property
- Negotiating with the insurance companies: Insurance companies are notorious for trying to trip victims up so they can pay the least amount of compensation. Our personal injury attorneys do not allow insurance companies to bully our clients! Instead, we talk to them for you, ensuring that you get the full compensation you deserve.
- Representing you in court: If an agreement cannot be reached, we are fully prepared to take your case to court. Here, we will advocate for your right to fair compensation and ensure that your voice is heard.
What Types of Compensation Are Available After a Food Delivery Driver Accident?
After an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the following types of damages:
- Property damages
- Medical expenses, both current and future
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
- Mental anguish
Why Choose Hernandez Law Group, P.C. for Your Case
The Hernandez Law Group, P.C. has been Dallas’s trusted car accident attorneys since our founding in 1999. We have helped our clients recover millions of dollars for their medical expenses and damages. With an over 98% success rate, our experienced attorneys have proven themselves as a formidable force in the advocacy of our clients.
Our attorneys know that winning is no accident. We work around the clock to ensure that you are getting the compensation you deserve. We handle everything for your case, including gathering evidence, negotiating with the insurance companies, and being your voice in court. Contact our attorneys today for more information on our food delivery driver services or to schedule your free no-obligation consultation. Let our family fight for yours!
Food Delivery Driver Accident FAQs:
If you have been involved in a food delivery driver accident, then you will need to take the following steps:
– Move your car if you can do so safely.
– Check on the other driver/passengers.
– Call the police and emergency services if there are any serious injuries.
– Gather information about the accident:
– Name of the driver/drivers involved.
– Insurance information of the driver.
– Insurance information of the food delivery service they represent.
– Makes and models of the vehicles.
– Witness statements and contact information.
– Location and time of the accident.
– Take pictures of the accident scene and damages to the vehicles.
– Call a Dallas food delivery accident attorney.
– Visit a medical professional.
The short answer is yes. If the food delivery driver was negligent in their actions and those actions caused the accident and your injuries, you have the right to sue them. However, to win your case, you will need to be able to prove their negligence, which means you will need to show the following:
– The defendant had a duty to the injured party.
– The defendant breached their duty.
– This breach was the cause of the injuries.
– The defendant owes the injured party damages:
– Loss of income
– Medical expenses
– Pain and suffering
– Mental anguish
– Property damage
– Funeral expenses (in cases of wrongful death)
The statute of limitations after a food delivery driver accident is two years from the date of the accident.
In Texas, food delivery drivers are typically considered independent contractors rather than employees. This is because they set their own schedules, use their own vehicles, and are responsible for their own taxes and business expenses. However, this is not true for every food delivery driver, as some of them may be hired by the food establishment themselves and considered full-time employees.