Delivery Driver Injuries: Your Rights To Workers’ Compensation In Maryland
During the COVID pandemic, many people relied on delivery services. In the aftermath, they have continued to increase in popularity. Delivery drivers make it easy to shop and eat at your favorite restaurants without ever having to leave your home.
Unfortunately, with the increase in demand comes a corresponding increase in delivery driver accidents. Our Maryland workers’ compensation attorney represents drivers in these cases. Find out more about your rights in seeking benefits.
Delivery Driver Accidents In Maryland
While Amazon, QVC, and other major online retailers were already popular, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a rapid surge in both local and national delivery services. Restaurants, grocery stores, and retail establishments all rushed to hire delivery drivers to keep up with demand.
In the years since, having various items delivered continues to be a popular option for consumers. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducted extensive studies on delivery services post-pandemic and found that rather than declining in the aftermath, deliveries are even more in demand today.
Driving for local or national companies is not easy, but it can provide a lucrative career, and there are plentiful job openings. However, the nature of the work creates certain risks and makes on-the-job injuries more likely to happen. Among the most common include:
- Delivery vehicle accidents;
- Parking lot pedestrian accidents;
- Overuse injuries due to lifting large or heavy objects;
- Burns due to hot foods or liquids;
- Dog bites and attacks;
- Slips and falls.
Maryland Workers’ Compensation Covers Delivery Drivers
Being a delivery driver is a complex job that puts you in contact with a variety of people each day. Accidental injuries can happen on the road, during pickups, and when making deliveries to homes or businesses. As this can create problems in terms of liability, it is important to be aware of your rights in the situation.
Delivery driver injuries can be covered by workers’ compensation, regardless of whether you are a full or part-time worker; however, only employees are eligible for coverage. Employers are not liable for injuries sustained by independent contrators, even if the injuries were directly sustained as a result of the job, and even if the exact same injury would have been covered for an employee.
Benefits available for delivery drivers through the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission can help cover your medical care, lost wages, and any long-term disabilities you suffer. To protect your rights in filing a claim, follow these steps:
- Report any type of accident immediately to your employer;
- If you are on the road at the time, notify the police and make sure an accident report is filed;
- Get the contact information for everyone involved, including witnesses;
- Take photos or videos of the accident scene and your injuries, if possible;
- Seek immediate medical care through an approved provider and make sure they know your injuries are work-related.
Contact Our Maryland Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
Workers’ compensation claims in Maryland are available for delivery drivers and can help cover medical costs and lost wages. To protect your rights to these benefits, get trusted legal guidance from Berman, Sobin, Gross LLP. Call or contact our office and request a consultation with our Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys today.
Sources:
ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=108430
wcc.state.md.us/
