Here’s what Uber Eats drivers need to understand about premises liability.
Right now, food delivery services are keeping many restaurants afloat because of mandatory closures due to coronavirus. But in case you haven’t heard, that doesn’t necessarily mean that restaurants are hiring delivery drivers—that job now goes to independent contractors who sign on to deliver food for companies like Uber Eats and DoorDash. If you deliver for such a company, you already know that they don’t offer you much in terms of insurance coverage for work-related injuries.
Which means that property owners may end up footing the bill.
This area of law is known as premises liability, and it can be difficult to navigate without expert help. Want to learn more about how to set yourself up for a successful claim? Read on to see what you need to know.
What Is Premises Liability?
First, let’s define what we are talking about. Everyone who owns a home, operates a business, or manages another piece of property (including schools and government property) is responsible for keeping it reasonably safe for anyone who comes onto the property. If someone is injured while on your property, you may be held liable for the damages, which is usually covered by some form of insurance, whether homeowners or business liability.
The injured party will have to prove that the property owner was negligent in the management of their property. Simply slipping and falling and getting hurt doesn’t mean that you will be compensated—you have to show negligent behavior.
Common Scenarios That Can Lead to Serious Injury
To illustrate, let’s consider what could happen to an Uber Eats driver who gets injured delivering food to someone’s home.
Falling on Defective Flooring
Delivery drivers bring food right to your door, which often means that they must walk onto porches or even enter apartment buildings. Many homes have hazards that homeowners don’t even consider hazardous because they navigate them every day. They know not to step on that weak part of the porch. They know that sometimes the welcome mat slips when you step on it.
If you are a delivery driver, you can’t know these things.
Tripping on Stairs
Stairs are another common hazard for delivery drivers and can lead to a premises liability lawsuit. Stairs without handrails, stairs with risers (steps) that are too shallow, stairs with risers that are uneven, foreign objects on stairs—all of these situations might contribute to an injury.
Slipping on a Damaged or Hazardous Sidewalk
Homeowners must also keep their sidewalks and pathways reasonably safe, which includes any necessary repairs as well as keeping them free of clutter and slippery substances. Think about it—if you are delivering food late at night and you have to navigate an unfamiliar pathway, you might not see that bicycle that someone’s child forgot to put away. In the end, it all comes down to whether you can show that the property owner acted negligently.
Contact a Premises Liability Attorney Now
If you get injured while delivering food or other goods, give us a call. We will work with you toward the most desirable outcome for your case.
Are you ready to pursue your case? Contact us today and set up an appointment to speak to an attorney. Call us at 1-800-24-7-CRASH or write to us at [email protected].
