If you work for Instacart, DoorDash, UberEats, or any other similar business that involves delivering food, then you might wonder what happens if you are injured while doing so. You are not legally an employee of the company, so workers’ compensation would not cover you. Does this mean that all injuries must be covered by your own health insurance or out of your own pocket?
Keep reading to find out what happens if you are involved in a car accident, slip and fall accident, or another type of accident while delivering food for pay. Then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation.
Every Company Has Different Policies
There are many different companies for whom you can work in this capacity, and each of them has unique policies for how they handle these cases. If you have questions about a specific company, you can call them directly or request a consultation with an attorney. However, today we will look at Instacart to determine what its policies are. They are one of the most popular of all the grocery delivery companies.
The Instacart Contract Makes it Clear That Their Shoppers Are Not Employees
Any person who shops for Instacart is required to sign an independent contractor agreement that states they are independent providers of services. They are not eligible for any employee benefits, including workers’ compensation and disability. The agreement further says that it is up to the workers to get their own workers’ compensation insurance or disability insurance if they would like.
Instacart Does Offer Shopper Injury Protection Insurance
Starting in 2019, Instacart started adding injury protection insurance as a benefit for their shoppers. This is part of what they refer to as their “Shopper Perks Program.” This is comprehensive coverage for all full-service shoppers and covers up to one million dollars for medical costs, disability, and survivors’ benefits.
While this might sound similar to workers’ compensation, it is actually very different. Workers’ compensation is no-fault insurance that does not require the worker to prove that anyone was at fault for their injury. The shopper’s injury protection insurance works just like other insurance policies – the shopper must submit a policy, and the insurance company can decide if the injury is covered and what should be paid out on the said injury.
Have You Been Injured as an Instacart Driver? Contact Us Today
If you have been injured while driving to or from an Instacart job, or if you were injured on the property of an individual or a store while working for Instacart, we encourage you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707. We are standing by to provide a consultation at no cost.
