The rise of ordinary people’s ability to use their vehicles as a means to deliver food has offered a new income stream to thousands in Virginia. Companies such as UberEats, DoorDash, and Grubhub allow individuals to earn money on their own time while helping restaurants to increase their customer bases. In addition, the traditional job of delivery driver for restaurants also places additional drivers on Warrenton roads.
Just like all other travelers, these people can be involved in accidents. If they are at fault for those accidents, they are liable to provide compensation. This can include payments for medical treatment, compensation for “pain and suffering” and inconvenience, and reimbursement for lost wages. However, the driver’s status as an employee or an independent contractor will change whether their employer is jointly responsible for your losses.
A Warrenton car accident lawyer may be able to help you to pursue your case. We can explain your rights under the law and gather evidence that points towards the other driver being at fault for the incident. The legal team at the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC is prepared to hold every responsible party liable for your losses.
Contact us today at (571) 229-1800 for your free consultation.
Demonstrating Fault in a Car Accident
Every collision between motor vehicles in Warrenton is someone’s fault. There is no such thing as a no-fault collision—even in situations where only one car takes damage. Unfortunately, it always falls to an injured person to prove that the accident was because of another person’s actions.
The main goal of your Warrenton food order delivery car accident lawyer will be to prove that your collision was the fault of the delivery driver. This applies equally, whether the driver was working for a food delivery service or was an employee of a specific restaurant. Every driver has the same obligation under the law to follow the road rules and not place other people at an unreasonable risk of harm while behind the wheel.
Examples of failures to adhere to these rules include:
- Speeding
- Not stopping at red lights or stop signs
- Failures to yield
- Texting while driving
- Driving while intoxicated
An attorney could help you gather the evidence that leaves no doubt about whether a delivery driver was to blame for the collision. This evidence can include a police report, dashcam footage, and statements from third-party witnesses.
Lawyers also help to pursue claims for payments within the time limits allowed under the law. According to Virginia Code §8.01-243, most people who suffer personal injuries must demand compensation within two years of the date of injury. The legal team at the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC can help promptly prove your case.
Potential Forms of Compensation Following a Crash Which You Could Recover
A car accident has the potential to affect every part of your life. The goal of a claim for damages is to collect the compensation required to make things right. As a result, a major part of any claim is to make an accurate accounting of how the incident impacts the victim’s present and future.
Warrenton Food Order Delivery Accident Lawyer Near Me 571-229-1800
Economic Damages
The central aspect of any case is the victim’s physical injuries. Car crashes can result in relatively minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Of course, they may also inflict more serious harm in the form of concussions, broken bones, or burns. No matter how serious a person’s injuries may be, an at-fault driver is always responsible for providing payment for all necessary medical care. This includes reimbursing you for past costs as well as money for future rehabilitation.
Another potential form of compensation is lost earnings. If an accident inflicts injuries that force you to miss time at work, a liable driver must reimburse you for that lost income. Additionally, if the injury results in a permanent reduction in your ability to work, you can claim lost future income as well.
Non-Economic Losses
However, it is also possible that you are experiencing losses that extend beyond a physical injury. For example, many people find that they endure significant “pain and suffering” and inconvenience. While difficult to measure, these are compensable losses that a claim for damages must consider.
A Warrenton food order delivery car accident lawyer could work with you to evaluate the crash’s impact on every part of your life and seek out appropriate payments for your losses.
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When an Employer May Share Liability for an Accident
When pursuing compensation after an incident involving a food delivery driver, it is essential to identify all possible defendants in the case. While the car driver is certainly responsible for their actions, it is also possible that their employer will share liability. Whether this is true depends on the driver’s employment status under the law.
Drivers of company cars for specific restaurants are almost certainly employees of those restaurants. As a result, the legal concept of respondeat superior states that the employer shares blame for any accidents while that driver is on the clock. In these situations, a Warrenton food order delivery car accident lawyer could pursue joint cases against both a driver and their employer.
Unfortunately, this concept may not apply to every food delivery driver. Companies such as Grubhub and DoorDash have gone to great lengths to establish that their drivers are independent contractors under the law. This is to avoid the rules under respondeat superior and escape liability in case of accidents when their drivers are at fault.
As a result, if the driver of an at-fault car is operating under the umbrella of a food delivery service and not a specific restaurant, that driver is likely to be the only responsible party for the crash. An attorney could provide more information about the legal relationships between drivers and employers and how they affect your claim for compensation.
Reach Out to a Lawyer Today to Protect Your Rights
Food delivery drivers have the same obligations as all other motorists to keep you safe while on the road. This includes following the traffic laws and refraining from any activity that may lead to a distraction. Unfortunately, accidents can and do happen. If you suffered a personal injury because of a delivery driver’s poor decisions, you have the right to demand compensation.
Not only may the driver of the other car be liable, but their employer may share the blame. However, this only applies if the driver is an employee of a specific company and does not participate in a food delivery service program, such as Grubhub or DoorDash. It is easy to see why people may become confused.
A Warrenton food order delivery car accident lawyer wants to help you. The legal team at the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC stands ready to fight to protect your legal rights. From day one, we can help to explain your case, gather evidence that points to another driver’s fault, and pursue your claim for all appropriate payments.
Call us today at (571) 229-1800 for your free consultation.
Unsure about what to do after a car accident or have questions regarding your auto accident case that remain unanswered? Download our free Virginia Car Accident Guide eBook or give us a call at (571) 229-1800.
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