Like it or not, we live in an on-demand world where people like to get what they want when they want it. And that usually means…NOW. As a Miami car accident lawyer, I can tell you that that usually means trouble.
May 1, 2011: enter Postmates.
Like food delivery services DoorDash and Uber Eats, Postmates can get you that fast food burger within minutes. But unlike these services, Postmates can get you a lot more. In fact, anything that you want delivered, you name it, Postmates will bring it to you!
Sounds pretty awesome, right? Unfortunately, this type of courier service also means that there are a lot more cars on the roads that need to get somewhere fast, and that often leads to—you guessed it—more car accidents.
Do you know what will happen if you get hit and injured by a Postmates courier? If not, this article is for you.
What the Postmates Insurance Policy Covers for Injured Third Parties
Like many other companies that are thriving today thanks to the gig economy, Postmates couriers are not actually employees of the company. Instead, they are classified as independent contractors. What does this mean if someone needs to hold the company liable for an injury? Here’s what the Postmates website says you should do if you are in an accident with one of their drivers:
Postmates requires that all on-demand independent contractors (i.e., Postmate couriers) maintain an up-to-date, personal auto insurance policy. Postmates does provide excess auto insurance for Postmate couriers in the event that their personal policy does not adequately cover damages they cause to other parties (i.e., third party property damage and/or bodily injury).
If you are involved in an accident with a Postmate while they are on an active delivery, please reach out to [email protected] and share all the relevant details. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
The language here is telling. As we’ve seen with Uber and Lyft, what this means is that Postmates might be off the hook if you get in an accident with one of their drivers while they are not logged in on the app. For such accidents, you and your Miami car accident lawyer will have to deal with the driver’s personal insurance, which the company requires all drivers to have. In many cases, the coverage on the policy is inadequate.
If you are lucky enough to get into an accident with a Postmates driver while they are logged in, damage to your car and any injuries you sustain will be covered by the company’s insurance policy:
- Coverage: $1 million for bodily injury and property damage sustained by third parties.
Of course, again, this only applies to your case if your accident happens when the driver is logged in.
Why You Will Probably Need an Attorney
Even if your accident occurs during a delivery, you are going to be facing obstacle after obstacle to get the compensation that you need and deserve for your injuries and property damage. Will you be able to file all the correct paperwork on time while you are still recovering from your injuries? If not, then you need to find an experienced attorney to handle your case.
Contact Your Miami Car Accident Lawyer for More Information
We will do everything in our power to get you the compensation you need. Discuss your case with us today.
