Many Americans are social distancing and self-quarantining in light of the coronavirus pandemic. To help reduce the effects of the drop in business, more companies are seeking drivers to deliver groceries, takeout meals, and other items to customers. If you are looking for work as a delivery driver and plan to use your own vehicle, you need to be aware of possible auto insurance consequences if you’re in a crash in Maryland.
Have you been injured in a wreck? An experienced Waldorf car accident attorney at Trollinger Law LLC can help you navigate the complex insurance issues you might be facing. Call or contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.
Can Delivery Drivers Use Their Own Car Insurance?
Check your auto insurance policy to find out if crashes that occur while you are making deliveries will be covered. You may have an exclusion in your personal car insurance policy that means you aren’t covered if you are involved in an accident while using the car for business purposes. That means that you would be required to pay for any injuries and property damage out of pocket.
What Is Commercial Auto Insurance?
Companies that use vehicles to carry out business tasks are required to have commercial auto insurance policies. These policies are purchased to cover the company’s entire fleet of vehicles. They are typically much more expensive than personal policies because the businesses are exposed to greater liability than others.
Commercial auto insurance may cover:
There are instances when a driver who uses his/her car for work may be covered under a company’s commercial policy. For example, Uber and Lyft drivers may be covered either by their personal auto insurance policy or the corporate one depending on their status at the time of the crash.
What Happens If I Get Hit by a Delivery Driver With No Commercial Insurance?
If the delivery driver who hit you was not covered by a commercial policy, the accident may be handled like a typical car accident. You (or a car accident lawyer if you choose to hire one) will file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company requesting compensation. Then an investigation would get underway to determine fault.
In Maryland, your ability to receive compensation could be strongly impacted by the state’s contributory negligence law. Under that statute, a person can only recover money if he or she can prove that the other driver was 100 percent at fault for the car accident. With so much on the line, Trollinger Law LLC strongly recommends that you hire a lawyer to review your claim and help develop your argument for full and fair compensation.
If you were injured in a delivery-driver accident in the Waldorf area, call or contact us today to arrange your free consultation.
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