The rise of the gig economy has brought with it a new wave of job opportunities in ridesharing, food delivery, and goods delivery. While these jobs provide flexibility for workers, they also raise significant legal questions when accidents happen. Unfortunately, many corporations behind these gig jobs attempt to evade responsibility when crashes occur, leaving injured parties to deal with complicated insurance issues.

The Insurance Trap: Personal vs. Commercial Coverage

One of the biggest challenges with gig economy jobs is insurance coverage. Many gig drivers rely on their personal insurance policies without disclosing their commercial activities (i.e. driving for a rideshare service or delivering food). However, most personal auto insurance policies specifically exclude coverage for accidents that occur while the driver is engaged in commercial activity. This leaves both the driver and any injured parties at risk of being stuck with much lower insurance limits—or none at all.

Even when there is commercial coverage in place, it is often not disclosed to the gig drivers or injured parties right away. This creates confusion and delays in getting the proper compensation after a crash. The bottom line? Personal insurance is often not enough (especially in Florida) and understanding the way commercial coverage works is key.

Corporate Liability: Holding Companies Accountable

While the gig driver may seem like the obvious person to hold accountable for an accident, there’s often a larger player in the background—the corporation behind the app or service. However, these companies frequently try to distance themselves from the drivers by classifying them as independent contractors, hoping to avoid liability.

To expose corporate liability, we must show a direct link between the driver’s gig work and the company they’re working for. This can involve proving that the company exerted control over the work, that the driver was actively engaged in their work at the time of the crash, or that the company failed to provide adequate safety protocols. When done right, this approach can open the door to a much larger pool of insurance coverage and compensation that would otherwise be out of reach if only the driver’s personal insurance could be pursued.