The delivery economy has positively exploded. Current rates suggest nearly 1 in 5 restaurant transactions will use a delivery app by 2030. To fully appreciate what this means and the harm it represents, we need to understand the rise of delivery accidents.
The Gig Economy
Every year since 2012 has seen a steady rise in the “gig economy.” It was revolutionary at the time; people were able to work as much as they wanted, delivering people and prepared food to their destinations. As the gig economy grew, so too did the number of delivery companies and the number of drivers.
Now, in 2020, there are hundreds of thousands of drivers for rideshares, food delivery, and package delivery. Amazon and UPS delivery fleets have seen incredible growth, but all of this comes with a price.
More drivers on the road means more accidents. Likewise, the pressure of making deliveries on time has caused a spike in accidents with delivery drivers and gig economy workers. The number of nighttime car accidents has risen significantly over the past five years.
The longer someone spends on the road, the greater chance they have of causing an accident. Current studies suggest that, on average, gig economy workers spend 50% of their time driving aimlessly, waiting for their next order, clearly the result of an oversaturated market.
The Cost of Convenience
A study from the University of Chicago suggests the delivery economy created a 3% increase in fatal car accidents. Put another way; delivery culture causes 90,000 injuries and an additional 1,000 deaths every year. That is the cost of convenience.
It’s great that we can have so many things at the press of a button. However, we need to understand the hidden costs. An oversaturated delivery economy is directly contributing to human tragedy. Whenever we think about having something delivered, we should take a moment to consider the world our choices are supporting.
If you or someone you love suffered serious injuries at the hands of a negligent delivery driver, you might have a case. If you’d like an experienced Long Beach personal injury attorney from McGee, Lerer & Associates to evaluate your case, please send us an email or call (562) 270-0546.