For many of us, the urge to chow down can be overwhelming and now any restaurant meal can be dropped on any doorstep in minutes. It can be a problem for your waistline, but you might not realize the hazards all these deliveries add to the road.
Doorstep Delivery companies like Postmates stay busy at all hours bringing meals and even groceries to residents across Visalia. It’s handy for sure, but all of these pick-ups and drop-offs add more vehicles to the road and often more distracted drivers.
Postmates and Distracted Driving Accidents
Postmates drivers, in particular, can face a tough challenge of quickly driving from place to place while also handling complex orders that may include restaurants, and department and grocery stores. They handle multiple orders at once and juggle it all on the Postmates app.
It would be hard not to become distracted by even half of that all going on at once. If you think the problem isn’t bad you should consider that by some counts half of all Americans use delivery services to purchase meals. At least a quarter of those surveyed used an order takeout or delivery at least once a week.
Postmates employees can’t help but pay attention to their phones at times. They also feel the pressure of deadlines and the temptation to speed to their next destination. All of these added stress factors make for a distracted person behind the wheel. That distraction provides a real hazard to any other motorist on the road.
Finding Help After an Accident with a Postmates Driver
Accidents with a distracted driver almost always come out of nowhere, because the inattentive driver makes moves that are impossible to predict. The drivers aren’t in control of their own vehicle and that makes it harder for you to avoid a collision with them. In an instant, you can be left with a painful injury and a trip to the hospital.
In the days to come, you’ll see medical bills stack up and likely be unable to make it into work to earn a paycheck. Anyone in this situation would wonder if the at-fault drivers and their companies can be counted on for help with these injuries and the financial hardships they bring.
A Central Valley attorney at Maison Law can help you sort out these questions. In certain cases, the driver or Postmates or both parties can be held accountable. Having a Visalia attorney on your side to represent your case can help ensure you get enough compensation to pay for your entire recovery.
Does Postmates Provide Insurance Policies for Drivers?
Postmates requires that drivers carry their own auto insurance policies. A claim after an accident would be filed against the driver’s personal insurance company. If his or her insurance won’t cover the accident (many basic policies won’t cover the driver while they are on the clock) or if the driver’s policy doesn’t cover all of the damages, then Postmates provides additional coverage.
Postmates coverage applies to any accident caused by their drivers that happen anytime from the moment an order is accepted until the delivery is complete. In these cases, Postmates maintains a one million dollar third party supplemental insurance policy.
The problem when you are a victim in an accident is that you may not know when a vehicle is on a “Postmates” order and when it’s just a normal car. It may look the same either way.
Getting Compensation for a Visalia Postmates Accident
Postmates, of course, will try to avoid blame in every accident they hear about. But an attorney working for you can help force Postmates and its driver to take responsibility for your losses. An investigation into the driver’s record can often be used as evidence in a civil lawsuit. It’s also helpful to examine Postmates’ hiring process and the background checks they are supposed to make before each hire. Documenting the long hours the Postmates driver may have been recently working can also benefit your case.
If your claim for damages wins compensation many of the hardships you’ve suffered since the accident can be reimbursed. Some of those awards can include:
- Hospital and medical expenses (and any expected future expenses).
- Travel expenses.
- Earnings you’ve lost from missing work.
- Costs associated with a permanent physical disability such as a limp, scars, and the loss of a limb.
- Emotional Distress. A claim might earn you money towards counseling and psychological services and compensation for mental suffering.
- Damage or destruction of property.
Contact a Visalia Car Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in a collision caused by a Postmates driver it’s important to file a claim for damages as soon as possible. California allows victims up to two years after an accident to file a civil lawsuit but the sooner you file the easier it will be to gather evidence, collect documents, and locate witnesses for your case. Postmates will have their own team of lawyers and insurance adjusters so you’ll need an attorney on your side to help build a strong case they won’t be able to dismiss.
After an accident involving a serious injury, contact an experienced Visalia car accident lawyer such as Martin Gasparian for a free consultation and case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case. He believes that every client should work directly with their lawyer, get honest advice, and personalized attention to detail their case deserves.
