Pizza Delivery Driver Accident Lawyers in Santa Fe, New Mexico

CALL (800) 863-5312 to speak with santa fe pizza delivery accident lawyers for free

Food delivery services, including pizza delivery, are continuing to grow more popular across the United States, especially over last two to three years. This increase in convenience for many has also resulted in the increase in vehicles on the road whose drivers are often in a hurry to make deliveries. Unfortunately, the rush to deliver hot and fresh pizzas to customers’ doors can increase the likelihood of car accidents as drivers may speed or driver recklessly. Our Santa Fe pizza delivery accident lawyers are here to help.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a pizza delivery driver in Santa Fe, call Zinda Law Group today at (800) 863-5312 to schedule your free consultation with one of our skilled Santa Fe pizza delivery accident lawyers. We can help you determine your next steps after your accident, and if we are not able to win your case, you will not owe us anything.

Pizza delivery Drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident

The ease of being able to quickly order a pizza over the phone or even over the internet or through an app now and have a hot pizza delivered directly to your door can be exciting and convenient. However, this convenience can often come at a price as pizza delivery drivers are often more likely to cause car accidents than the average driver on the road. This increased risk of being involved in an accident can be caused by a number of factors, such as:

1. Pressure to Rapidly Make Deliveries

Most pizza delivery drivers are under significant pressure by the pizza company to make deliveries as quickly as possible, to make sure the pizza is still hot when the driver delivers it to the customer. This pressure can be even more intense on a weekend or during special events such as football games.

Aside from the intense pressure from the pizza company to make fast deliveries, pizza delivery drivers are dependent upon tips for most of their income. They know customers who receive a cold pizza or wait too long for their pizza are unlikely to tip. To earn larger tips from customers for making rapid deliveries as well as more deliveries per shift, these delivery drivers will have additional incentives to drive recklessly, speed, run stop signs or red lights, or otherwise drive dangerously.

2. Fatigued Driving

Delivery drivers can spend hours behind the wheel during a shift, rushing back and forth delivering pizzas, and this rush can be exhausting. This constant rush of making deliveries as fast as possible can leave drivers feeling fatigued and exhausted, especially during late night shifts. The fatigued driver may then be more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel or fail to react in time to avoid pizza delivery accidents in Santa Fe.

3. Inexperienced Delivery Drivers

Many pizza delivery drivers in Santa Fe may be young without much driving experience. They may not know how to deal with the constant pressure to make rapid deliveries.

Pizza delivery companies often fail to properly train these inexperienced drivers to perform their jobs safely without endangering themselves and others on the road. An inexperienced pizza delivery driver is more likely to make mistakes behind the wheel, such as aggressively switching lanes or tailgating.

4. Unsafe Parking

Because of the rush that pizza delivery drivers are usually in during every stage of the delivery, delivery drivers will often park anywhere they can find, regardless of whether they are parked in an actual parking space or not. These makeshift parking spots can be especially dangerous to passing vehicles as well as pedestrians, especially if the driver fails to pay appropriate care when pulling away.

5. More Time Spent on the Road

For any driver, the more time spent behind the wheel will usually increase the chances of being involved in an accident. Pizza delivery drivers spend the vast majority of their shifts driving, often at night, on unfamiliar roads, or during dangerous weather conditions.

6. Driving While Distracted

Given the number of addresses that delivery drivers must drive to for their deliveries, many of these addresses may be in unfamiliar areas of town. As a result, a pizza delivery driver may use their phone’s navigation apps or GPS to find addresses, potentially looking away from the road at a crucial time.

Aside from navigation, delivery drivers may also attempt to break up the boredom of driving back and forth by talking on the phone, adjusting the radio, or other actions that may distract them while behind the wheel. Distracted driving can lead the delivery driver to run a stop sign, fail to see vehicles ahead slowing down or stopping, or otherwise fail to safely respond to changing road conditions.

who is liable for pizza delivery accidents in santa fe?

Determining liability after a vehicle accident involving a pizza delivery driver can be complicated because of the employment status of the delivery driver. In many cases, the delivery driver is generally not considered an employee of the pizza company, like Domino’s or Pizza Hut. Instead, the driver is typically an independent contractor, which means the pizza company’s insurance does not cover the driver under the company’s plan, leaving the driver responsible for purchasing their own insurance coverage.

Many of these pizza delivery drivers may not even be aware that their personal insurance coverage alone will generally not cover an accident that occurred while the car was being used for a business purpose, such as for delivering pizzas. Instead, these pizza delivery drivers who are using their personal vehicles for business purposes must also obtain an additional commercial insurance policy to make sure they are covered by insurance in the event of an accident while performing a delivery.

Unfortunately, many pizza delivery companies or other delivery services these drivers work for tend to not inform these drivers of this important distinction. This omission in turn can leave victims of accidents involving these delivery drivers in a very difficult and complicated situation. Victims may be struggling to recover from their accident when the delivery driver’s insurance may not cover the accident, and the driver is often not financially able to provide the compensation a victim is entitled to after the accident.

Fortunately, while these cases are often complex, you may still be able to pursue compensation from the pizza company with the help of an experienced Santa Fe personal injury lawyer to assist you in proving the pizza company’s liability for the accident. Your attorney will investigate the accident as well as the pizza company’s potential responsibility for the accident.

If the pizza company hired a delivery driver with a suspended license or bad driving record—such as a history of speeding tickets or accidents—they may be liable for your accident. In other cases, the pizza company may have hired a driver with a history of alcohol or substance abuse problems.

what you should do after an accident with a pizza delivery driver

If you have been involved in any car accident in Santa Fe, we understand the aftermath is often confusing, especially if severe injuries are involved. However, it is crucial that you follow the necessary steps to make sure you protect yourself and your legal rights following the accident. If your car accident involved a pizza delivery driver, these necessary steps to follow will be similar, and it will be helpful to be familiar with these steps ahead of time so that you can rely on this knowledge during the confusing and emotional aftermath.

If you have already been involved in an accident, it is just as important to know and follow these steps as best as you can to help your Santa Fe injury attorney best prepare your case and assist you in pursuing maximum compensation. After pizza delivery accidents in Santa Fe, these steps are important to follow as closely as you can:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Car accidents can be very dangerous, and you will need to determine if you or anyone else involved in the accident may have been injured and need immediate medical attention. Even if you do not readily appear to be injured or your injuries appear to be minor, you should still seek medical care as soon as you can after the accident to be certain you are uninjured, as many car accident injuries may not be readily apparent.

Indeed, between the rush of adrenaline, distractions, and possible shock, many injuries—such as soft tissue injuries like whiplash, or internal injuries such as internal bleeding—may not become apparent until later. As a result, it is crucial that you seek medical care after your accident to identify and treat any injuries you may have suffered. By seeking treatment as soon as possible, your attorney will also be better able to use your medical records to provide comprehensive documentation that proves both the extent and cost of your injuries as well as that your injuries were caused by the accident and not something else.

2. Contact Law Enforcement

If possible, contact the applicable local law enforcement agency, such as the Santa Fe Police Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, or the New Mexico State Police if you are outside the Santa Fe city limits. Even if the accident does not appear serious, the law enforcement officer will file a police report.

The crash report will detail the accident, record witness statements and contact information, and note as well the officer’s observations and other important details of the accident, such as who initially appears to be at fault for the accident. Insurance companies will require a copy of this report before negotiating any potential settlements, so get a copy when it becomes available. This report will also help your attorney further support your claim.

3. Thoroughly Document Your Accident

If you are not too seriously injured, document your accident as thoroughly as you can. Take pictures of any vehicles involved in the accident as well as of your injuries and the scene of the accident. Take pictures of any traffic lights or signs, speed limit signs, or anything else that may have contributed to the accident.

Be sure to also collect the pizza delivery driver’s contact information, insurance information, the name of the pizza company the driver was delivering for, and whether he or she was making a delivery at the time of the accident. Finally, collect contact information for any potential witnesses to the accident as their testimony may be helpful to your attorney in helping prove the delivery driver’s responsibility for causing the accident.

4. Contact An Experienced Santa Fe Personal Injury Lawyer

Perhaps the most important step you can take to protect your legal rights after an accident is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in Santa Fe as soon as possible after the accident. One of our skilled attorneys at Zinda Law Group can help you by:

• Determining your legal rights after the accident
• Determining how much compensation you may be entitled to
• Determining who may be liable for the accident
• Filing your claim before any applicable deadlines
• Pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries and damages
• Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
• Taking your case to trial if necessary

One of the most common mistakes that accident victims make is attempting to pursue compensation after an accident without the assistance of a skilled Santa Fe injury attorney. A professional attorney with years of experience helping other car accident victims can more effectively pursue compensation for you, including for accidents involving pizza delivery drivers. Your attorney’s experience is irreplaceable in helping you seek compensation from the pizza company or other potentially liable parties.

contact skilled Santa Fe pizza delivery accident lawyers near you today

Unfortunately, car accidents can happen to anyone at any time. Victims are often left struggling to figure out their next steps and how they are going to recover physically, emotionally, and financially. When these accidents are complicated by additional factors such as a pizza delivery driver and the difficult question of whether you may be able to hold the pizza company responsible, your recovery can seem even more complex or unlikely.

At Zinda Law Group, our skilled team understands how confusing the aftermath of your accident can be, and we are dedicated to helping you focus on your recovery from your injuries while we handle your case for you. Let us help you pursue the maximum compensation you may be entitled to for your injuries and damages caused by the accident that wasn’t your fault.

If you or loved ones have been involved in one of the many pizza delivery accidents in Santa Fe, call Zinda Law Group as soon as possible to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys. We will discuss how you may be able to pursue compensation for the accident from the delivery driver, the pizza company, or any other potentially liable parties. As your lawyer, we can help you understand your legal options and discuss who may be liable for your injuries as well as how much compensation you may be entitled to as a result of your injuries and damages.

Call (800) 863-5312 today for a free consultation with a skilled Santa Fe injury lawyer. You will not pay anything unless we win your case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.

Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.

Our Awards

AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA BY THE NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (2016-2020)

AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA (2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2021), JOE CAPUTO (2019-2021), BURGESS WILLIAMS (2019-2020), & NEIL SOLOMON (2020-2021)

AWARDED TO JACK ZINDA (2016-2020), JOE CAPUTO (2016 – 2020) & BURGESS WILLIAMS (2016-2017)

LIFETIME MEMBERS JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA & JOE CAPUTO