Delivery options are a great way for your restaurant to reach new customers and markets and bring in revenue from customers who otherwise would not be able to order from your business. However, when you partner with a third-party delivery service, your restaurant could be at a greater risk for claims when things go wrong during delivery. It’s not always clear who will be liable in these different situations, so it’s important to know how to handle these claims. This article will review what kind of claims would trigger liability from different parties, and how your restaurant can be protected in these events.
Claims That The Delivery Service Is Responsible For
You might not expect it, but there are only a few instances in which delivery services are liable for claims by unhappy customers. These cases include technical errors from their app, glitches leading to improper deliveries or charges to accounts, data breaches, and failing to properly vet drivers and respond to complaints. Except in these cases, the responsibility will likely fall either on the delivery driver, or on the restaurant.
What Responsibilities Fall On The Driver?
While there are a few more things that delivery drivers are personally responsible for, these are typically only for intentional damages or obvious negligence. For example, delivery drivers would likely be personally responsible for:
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Damage to customer property
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Accidents while delivering an order (in some cases this can be passed on to the delivery service)
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Harassment or assault of a customer
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Food tampering or theft
What Claims Would Be My Restaurant’s Responsibility?
Restaurants are typically responsible for all other types of claims not already listed above. These include:
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Incorrect order or missing items
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Allergen contamination
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Misconduct by restaurant staff performing deliveries
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Foodborne illness contamination
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Data breaches from your end of the delivery software
Before your restaurant finds itself facing these potentially costly claims, it’s important to make sure that it has the right insurance coverage.
Restaurant Insurance Coverage That Protects From Third-Party Delivery Claims
To make sure that your restaurant doesn’t have to face a costly claim from an unhappy third-party delivery customer, you need to make sure that you have the proper insurance coverage. While general liability coverage or a restaurant insurance policy won’t always extend to delivery events, you can protect your business further with product liability coverage for damages caused by your food, and even cyber liability insurance for data leaks coming from your part of the delivery system.
While this may seem a bit confusing, Strickler Insurance can help your restaurant navigate getting the proper protection that your restaurant’s delivery needs. The pros at Strickler have lots of experience helping restaurants all around the Lebanon, PA area. Talk to an agent about your business’s restaurant insurance needs, and get a free quote today.
