The grocery delivery industry has exploded across South Florida over the past several years, and Instacart has become one of its biggest players. On any given day in Fort Lauderdale, dozens of Instacart shoppers are driving through neighborhoods, navigating parking lots, and rushing between stores and customers’ homes.
Most of the time, this works without incident. But when an Instacart driver causes an accident, the injured victim quickly discovers that the path to fair compensation is considerably more complicated than it would be after a standard car crash.
If you have been injured in an accident involving an Instacart driver in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Broward County, Rosen Injury Law is here to help you understand your rights and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Our firm has been protecting the rights of injury victims throughout South Florida for nearly 20 years, and we have recovered more than $125 million for our clients. Call us at (954) 787-1500 or complete the short form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your Instacart accident claim.
The Rosen Injury Law Advantage
- Our Fort Lauderdale accident lawyers have almost 20 years of experience protecting the rights of injury victims and their families.
- We have a proven record of securing maximum compensation and have recovered over $125 million for our clients.
- We will handle your Fort Lauderdale Instacart accident claim on a contingency fee basis. We will pay all costs associated with pursuing your claim upfront, and you will pay nothing until we secure compensation for you.
- Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers genuinely care about your well-being. They will work tirelessly to recover every dollar you are owed so you can get back on your feet after an accident.
Understanding How Instacart Works
Instacart is a grocery delivery platform that connects customers who order groceries online with independent contractors called “shoppers” who fulfill those orders.
Shoppers use their own vehicles to drive to the grocery stores, shop for the customer’s items, and deliver them to the customer. Shoppers are not actual Instacart employees. In fact, they set their own hours and can even work for competing grocery delivery platforms simultaneously.
Shoppers are independent contractors who pay their own expenses, including insurance and vehicle maintenance. Instacart argues that, since it is not the shoppers’ employer, it is not liable if a shopper injures someone in an accident while doing their job.
However, Instacart may be held liable in certain circumstances. You need a skilled Fort Lauderdale Instacart accident lawyer who knows how to evaluate your accident to determine what parties bear liability for your damages.
Liability in Fort Lauderdale Instacart Accident Claims
Determining liability in an Instacart accident case can be challenging. It requires a careful investigation of all facts surrounding the accident. Some potentially liable parties include:
- The Instacart shopper. The driver who caused the accident is directly liable for their negligent conduct behind the wheel. The shopper’s personal auto insurance and any commercial coverage they may carry are the first likely source of compensation.
- Instacart. While Instacart classifies its shoppers as independent contractors rather than employees, that classification is not necessarily the end of the discussion. Instacart’s app controls which deliveries shoppers receive, tracks their location, sets delivery time expectations, monitors their performance, and can deactivate them for low ratings, which are factors that an experienced attorney can use to build an argument for platform liability. Additionally, Instacart may face direct liability if it fails to implement adequate safety policies, screening, or training.
- The owner of the vehicle. Under Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine, the owner of a vehicle may be held liable for damages caused by someone they permitted to drive it. If the shopper was driving a vehicle owned by another person, that person may be a defendant in the claim.
- A third-party driver. Not every accident involving an Instacart delivery is the shopper’s fault. Another driver’s negligence may have caused or contributed to the collision. In that case, the third-party driver and their insurer become the primary targets of a liability claim.
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer. If the malfunction of a vehicle’s parts causes or contributes to the accident, the manufacturer of the vehicle or part could be liable.
- A government entity. If a road was dangerously designed or negligently maintained and contributed to the accident, a government entity could be liable.
Our Fort Lauderdale Instacart accident lawyers investigate every angle of each case to ensure that all responsible parties are identified and that all available insurance coverage is pursued.
Recoverable Damages in a Fort Lauderdale Instacart Accident Claim
In a successful Fort Lauderdale Instacart accident claim, you could recover economic damages such as medical costs, lost wages, property damage, and other financial losses and expenses. You could also recover non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, and other intangible losses.
In rare cases, you could be awarded punitive damages in addition to economic and non-economic damages. At Rosen Injury Law, our Fort Lauderdale Instacart accident lawyers will diligently pursue all available damages to maximize your compensation.
Why You Need a Fort Lauderdale Instacart Accident Lawyer
Instacart and insurance companies have teams of defense attorneys working to protect them from liability. You need the help of an experienced Fort Lauderdale Instacart accident lawyer to protect your rights and help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Your attorney can investigate the facts of your accident to identify all possible causes and all potentially liable parties so that all responsible parties are held accountable and to help maximize the sources of available compensation for your damages. They can take fast action to preserve vital evidence and work to uncover essential facts to build your strongest claim.
Your attorney can help establish and accurately value all your current and future economic and non-economic damages so you know what your claim is worth. They can work to reach a fair settlement of your claim as quickly as possible, and if a fair settlement is not reached, they can take your case to trial to demand the full compensation you are entitled to.
Your chances of a successful outcome are much higher if an experienced Fort Lauderdale Instacart accident lawyer represents you.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Fort Lauderdale Instacart Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in a Fort Lauderdale Instacart accident caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, we want to help you. At Rosen Injury Law, we have the experience, skills, and resources to help you secure maximum compensation for your claim. Call (954) 787-1500 or complete the short form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation to discuss your Fort Lauderdale Instacart accident claim.