Florida is slowly beginning to loosen restrictions related to the coronavirus, but social distancing is still emphasized as an important way to fight the spread of the disease. As such, people are relying on delivery services for essential items such as groceries and meals more than ever before.
Individuals that want to earn some extra money during these hard times may pick up extra work as a delivery driver. But if you’re a delivery driver in Florida, you should know the details of your auto insurance policy in case an accident occurs.
Can a Delivery Driver Use Their Own Car Insurance?
All drivers in Florida must carry minimum amounts of auto insurance liability coverage. Many people who work as delivery drivers may believe that they can rely on this insurance when they are using their vehicle for work purposes. This, unfortunately, is untrue and a dangerous assumption to make.
Personal insurance policies are just that. They include insurance that will cover damages sustained during the personal use of the vehicle. When a person starts using his or her vehicle for business purposes, their personal insurance policy may become void. If the insurance company finds out the vehicle was being used for commercial reasons, they may cancel the policy altogether. Before starting a delivery service job, it’s important to check whether you need to change or make additions to your auto insurance policy.
What is Commercial Auto Insurance?
Commercial auto insurance in Florida will contain all of the same terms as a personal auto insurance policy, but the amounts will increase in value. The theory behind this is that commercial drivers spend more of their time on the road and so are more likely to have an accident. Many commercial policies also include a “combined single limit” rule. This gives the driver a certain amount of coverage per accident regardless of whether the damages involve bodily injury or property damage.
What Happens If I get Hit by a Delivery Driver with No Commercial Insurance?
Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state. This means that even if a delivery driver hits you and they do not have commercial insurance, you will still go through your own auto insurance company to claim compensation for any injuries or property damage.
In the event that you sustained a serious permanent injury, you can claim up to the limit on your own policy and, to recover the remaining losses, file a claim against the negligent driver. If their auto insurance company has cancelled their coverage because they did not have commercial insurance, you may be able to use your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM), if you purchased it at the time of taking out your policy.
Depending on what company a delivery driver works for, he or she could also be covered through auto insurance coverage from his or her employer. For example, Amazon Flex provides insurance for its drivers but also requires them to have a personal auto policy to cover certain “gap” periods.
How Can Brooks Law Group Help Me?
It is natural to feel confused after any car accident, but crashes involving delivery drivers are different than the average vehicle collision. If you have been involved in this type of wreck, call a Tampa delivery driver accident lawyer at Brooks Law Group today. We can determine which company you should file a claim with and help you through every part of the claims process.
Hit by a delivery driver? Call or contact us online to arrange a free consultation today.
