Injured while Delivering a Package – Can I Sue the Homeowner?

Are you an injured delivery worker in the Los Angeles area who needs information on the following questions?

• Can I sue a homeowner if I was injured from delivering a package?
• Can I sue a property owner or the person who ordered the package if I was hurt while making the delivery?
• What if I was bitten by their dog? Can I file a lawsuit for dog bite injury while I was delivering the item or the food that was ordered by the animal owner?

Unfortunately, the rate of injury is high among these workers, and many accidents are due to negligent conditions on the customer’s property. The property may be a home or apartment building, or a commercial premise, like a store or office. In either of these situations, you may have grounds to file a claim against the owner and receive monetary damages, such as lost wages, medical costs, and pain and suffering.

A delivery driver injury attorney is here for you day and night, so contact us immediately for a free consultation on your rights and legal options.

Fall Accidents Caused by Lack of Maintenance

Owners of residential, commercial, and publicly owned properties in California have a duty to maintain safe and sanitary conditions that minimize the potential for injuries to others. These rules are defined under the state’s premises liability laws, but it’s an unfortunate reality that far too many properties are neglected month after month, year after year.

All kinds of injuries can happen to an unsuspecting delivery driver, whether they work for Amazon, DoorDash, Postmates, UPS, FedEx, or some other company that brings an endless variety of items to people’s homes and businesses. The vast majority of accidents are slip and falls and trip and falls, though workers can also be hurt by falling objects, aggressive dogs, sharp objects, and other hazards. Accidents can also happen on the road due to reckless driving by another motorist.

With any of these accidents, it’s essential to understand your rights and what you can do to obtain compensation from an accident claim.

Can I Receive Workers’ Compensation?

You may be covered by workers’ comp in the event you are injured from making a delivery. Generally, you would need to be classified as an employee as opposed to an independent contractor in order to qualify for workers’ comp. However, some companies like DoorDash have their own form of occupational accident insurance for delivery workers that are injured on the job. So, that may be an option that’s available to you if you got hurt on a customer’s property.

Lawsuits against the Property Owner

As an independent contractor that does not qualify for WC, you still have the option to sue the property owner if dangerous conditions on the premises caused you to suffer an accident. Alternatively, you may be entitled to compensation from both a personal injury lawsuit and a workers’ compensation claim.

Dual claims for work-related accidents are immensely helpful, as WC benefits only cover economic losses, like two-thirds of your lost wages and medical expenses. If you also have grounds to file a lawsuit against the home / business owner, you can explore the option of suing for non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.

A member of our legal team can evaluate your accident and the coverage that’s available to you from your employer. Then, we will formulate a plan of action and fight to secure maximum payment for the harm you suffered.

What is the Deadline to File a Workers’ Comp Claim?

Workers’ compensation claims have a deadline of 1 year, starting from when you had a work-related accident or when you discovered an injury that occurred within the scope of employment. California law also requires workers to report the incident to their employer within 30 days of an accident / learning about an injury. Missing either of these deadlines will invalidate your right WC benefits, so it’s extremely important that you tell your employer right away if you slipped and fell, tripped and fell, or injured yourself in some other way during the course of your job duties.

If I Want to File a Lawsuit, How Much Time Do I have?

If you are eligible for compensation from a third party lawsuit, you have 2 years from the date of injury to sue the liable entity. As a general rule, the day of your accident is the starting date for the statute of limitations. But there may be circumstances in your case that will change the amount of time you have for a personal injury claim.

One example that’s important to note has to do with properties owned by the government. This includes a wide variety of indoor and outdoor properties, such as public school buildings, city parks, county courthouses, and police / fire departments. Lawsuits against government entities must be initiated by filing a liability claim no later than 6 months from the date of the accident.

As you can see, there are numerous variables that can impact how long you have for an accident injury case. One of our attorneys will be happy to confirm the deadline that applies to your situation and help you initiate a claim for monetary damages.

Law Firm Specializing in Delivery Worker Accident Cases

Delivery worker are often underappreciated and forgotten about, but they serve a vital purpose in our daily lives. As a delivery driver who was injured on the job, you have the right to seek compensation for injuries and damage to your property.

Whether you slipped and fell on someone’s property or got into a car accident while delivering a package, we are ready to hear your story and fight for the compensation you deserve. All you have to do is contact us and learn about your rights from a personal injury attorney.

All clients at our law firm are protected by the Zero Fee Guarantee. Under this agreement, we charge you $0 out of pocket for the cost of legal services. Legal fees are deducted from the compensation you receive from a successful injury claim. This is our only form of payment, so if we lose your case, you have the assurance of knowing that you us $0.

Please take a moment to schedule a free case review and learn about the ways we can help you.