New York City runs on delivery. From Amazon vans and UPS box trucks to Uber Eats and DoorDash cyclists weaving through traffic, the rise of on-demand services has flooded the streets with commercial and app-based drivers.
With this surge has come a sharp increase in courier-related crashes, often caused by rushed schedules, distracted driving, or pressure to complete more drop-offs in less time. According to the NYC Comptroller, certain areas near FedEx and Amazon warehouses experienced around a 50% increase in vehicle crashes since 2017.
Recent reports show the real danger: a FedEx driver allegedly looking at a phone before a fatal crash, and multiple serious collisions involving box trucks and commercial vehicles across the region.
In a city this busy, victims are often left facing painful injuries, lost income, and confusing insurance questions.
If you were struck by a delivery driver in NYC, your next steps matter. These cases involve unique liability issues, and determining who is responsible isn’t always as simple as identifying the person behind the wheel.
Below is a clear, step-by-step guide to protect your rights and strengthen any future claim.
Step 1: Seek Medical Care Immediately
Even if you feel okay, always get checked by a medical professional after a crash. Adrenaline masks symptoms, and injuries such as concussions, soft-tissue damage, and internal damage don’t appear right away.
Your medical records also create a critical timeline linking your injuries to the collision.
Step 2: Document the Scene
If you can safely do so, gather crucial evidence before vehicles move or memories fade:
- Photographs of vehicle damage, road conditions, debris, and your injuries
- A picture of the license plate
- The driver’s name, employer, and contact information
- The vehicle’s company markings or app-based equipment (e.g., insulated shipping bag)
- Witness names and phone numbers
Physical evidence can disappear in minutes. Your documentation becomes essential later when insurance companies try to minimize or dispute fault.
Step 3: Get Driver and Employer Information
Liability often depends on who the driver was working for and what type of shipment was being completed.
Collect the following:
- The driver’s license and insurance information
- Any company ID badge
- The name of the service (Amazon, FedEx, UPS, DoorDash, Grubhub, Instacart, etc.)
- Whether the driver was on an active route at the time
This information helps your attorney identify all possible insurance policies, something that is important because many contracted drivers are not traditional employees.
Step 4: Do Not Give a Statement to Insurance Companies
After a delivery driver crash, you may receive calls from:
- The driver’s personal insurance
- The distribution company’s insurer
- The app-based platform’s third-party insurance
- Your own no-fault carrier
Do not provide a recorded statement or accept a settlement before speaking with a lawyer. These companies often try to shift blame, argue your injuries aren’t serious, or pressure you into a low offer.
An attorney can handle all communication and ensure no one twists your words against you later.
Once your immediate health and safety are handled, the next challenge is understanding who pays for your injuries, and in delivery driver cases, that answer isn’t always straightforward.
How NYC Delivery Driver Claims Work
Because not all drivers are classified the same way, claims can vary. Employment status determines who can be held liable, which insurance applies, and whether commercial or personal coverage is applicable.
Below are the most common scenarios and how each can affect your path to compensation:
Drivers Working for Large Companies (FedEx, UPS, Amazon)
If the driver is an employee, which is more common with UPS and FedEx, the company may be vicariously liable. Their commercial insurance policies often have higher limits than personal policies, providing access to greater compensation.
App-Based Gig Workers (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Grubhub)
Most app-based couriers are independent contractors; however, many platforms provide supplemental liability coverage only when a drop-off is in progress. Outside of an active delivery, the driver’s personal policy may apply, and some personal insurers exclude coverage for commercial use, creating complex disputes.
Drivers Using Personal Vehicles for Side-Hustle Deliveries
Some drivers deliver packages for Amazon Flex or make local courier runs in their own cars. In these cases, compensation may involve:
- The driver’s personal insurance
- Business-use coverage (if purchased)
- Any supplemental commercial policy provided by the platform
An experienced attorney can track down every policy involved, which is something most victims can’t do on their own.
How an Attorney Protects Your Rights
Crashes involving a parcel driver can become complicated. You need to know the driver’s role, whether they were on an active job, and what insurance coverage was triggered by the circumstances of the crash.
These situations often include:
- Multiple insurance companies
- Independent contractors
- Conflicting coverage rules
- Claims that your injuries don’t meet New York’s serious injury threshold
A car accident lawyer at our law firm can:
- Investigate the driver’s employment status
- Identify all insurance policies (personal, commercial, supplemental)
- Prove the driver was actively working at the time of the crash
- Preserve crucial evidence such as dashcam footage, app logs, and shipment tracking data
- Build a case that meets New York’s serious injury threshold for full compensation
- Handle all communications with insurers
This increases your chance of receiving compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Act Quickly—NY’s No-Fault Rules Affect Compensation
New York requires injured victims to file a no-fault claim within 30 days. No-fault covers basic economic losses, but it does not compensate for pain and suffering unless you meet the serious injury standard.
Evidence fades, witnesses disappear, and companies move quickly to protect themselves by resetting service logs.
That’s why early legal help is crucial for protecting your rights, preserving evidence, and positioning your claim for the fullest compensation available.
Injured by a Delivery Driver in NYC? Douglas & London Can Help
A vehicle crash can leave you facing medical bills, lost wages, and insurance headaches you shouldn’t deal with alone. Douglas & London has extensive experience handling complex NYC delivery driver claims and navigating the overlapping insurance policies involved in these cases.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact Douglas & London for a free consultation. We’ll protect your rights, handle the insurers, and pursue the full compensation you deserve.