As food delivery becomes more popular in Los Angeles, many restaurants employ their own delivery drivers or register their business on delivery apps. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident caused by a food delivery driver, navigating the liability laws to identify the responsible party could be challenging.
Fortunately, you do not need to face this situation alone. A car accident Los Angeles lawyer from Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices may be able to work on your case. Our legal team can gauge which party or parties might be liable for your damages before we get to work on pursuing compensation from them.
The first step is to call our firm at (888) 522-6291 to speak with one of our representatives. We offer a free consultation to help you understand your case and answer any questions you might have.
Food Delivery Drivers May Work as Independent Contractors or Employees
In recent years, food delivery apps like Postmates and GrubHub have trended in social media as modern, mainstream forms of food delivery services. However, unlike employed food delivery drivers at restaurants, drivers who use these types of apps to make income work as independent contractors and are required to have their own auto insurance to cover them for any accidents they get into.
One of the first questions your lawyer might ask is whether you know if the food delivery driver was working under one of these food delivery apps at the time of the accident or whether they were working as an employee in a restaurant or food chain. Knowing what kind of worker the at-fault party is may point to what insurance policy may cover your accident.
If the driver is an independent contractor, you may be able to file a claim with their auto insurance. If necessary, you might also have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit against them.
When Multiple Parties Are Involved
If the driver worked for a restaurant or food chain, their employer might be liable for the accident. This is known as vicarious liability, in that companies may hold liability for the behavior and conduct of their employees.
Liability can also manifest in other ways, such as:
- A vehicle manufacturer is generally responsible for building vehicles without defects or defective parts.
- A municipality is generally responsible for maintaining proper road conditions for local citizens to travel on.
- A mechanic who worked on the delivery vehicle may be responsible for its proper maintenance.
If multiple parties are involved in your accident, you might have to file separate claims or lawsuits, which can get complicated. Rather than succumbing to the headache of legal paperwork, you may be able to hire a Los Angeles food delivery car accident lawyer from our firm to manage your case.
To discuss your case for free with a member of our client intake team, call Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices today at (888) 522-6291.
Go After the Compensation You May Need
Like any motor vehicle accident, food delivery accidents can lead to several damages for the affected party. There is no average standard for how much compensation a person may get in a personal injury case because the nature of “personal injuries” follows the notion that each case is unique. No two individuals will face the same challenges, even if both were involved in the same accident.
Depending on the challenges you faced as a result of the accident, you might be able to pursue compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering, and general inconvenience
- Vehicle rental costs if you needed alternative transportation while your car was being repaired
- Lost wages if you had to take time off work during your recovery
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries altered your ability to you perform your work duties
If a loved one passed away in a food delivery accident, you might be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit and pursue damages related to their death, such as funeral costs and loss of financial support.
Your lawyer may suggest other damages not listed in this section.
You Must File Your Food Delivery Accident Lawsuit on Time
Accident cases involving injury may follow personal injury law. That being said, if you want to pursue compensation for your food delivery accident, you must file your lawsuit within a specific timeframe, or you might risk having your case be dismissed.
According to the California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1, you generally have two years to file your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the food delivery driver or whoever is at fault for your or your loved one’s accident. Should you fail to do so, the defendant has the right to request the dismissal of your case for missing the statutory deadline.
Insurance companies might drag out the negotiation stage, which can put you at risk if you do not keep aware of the filing deadline. Keep in mind that after you file a lawsuit, you still have the option to negotiate outside of court and might not have to go to trial at all.
A Los Angeles Food Delivery Car Accident Lawyer Can Lead Your Case
Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices may be able to take on your case and fight for compensation on your behalf. It can be hard juggling a legal case with your personal affairs, which is why we want to offer you our services.
You do not have to be concerned about how you might be able to afford a lawyer. Our team works on the contingency that we only charge for our services if we win your case. If we do, we take our attorney’s fees from your compensation award so that you do not have to use any of your own money to pay for our services. If we do not win your case, you do not owe us attorney fees.
Call us at (888) 522-6291 for a free case evaluation with a member of our team.
Call or text 866-559-7223 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
