ByDr. Tim Sandle
EDITOR AT LARGE
DIGITAL JOURNAL
August 24, 2025
Image: — © AFP Patrick T. Fallon
New UK research shows that gig delivery drivers, such as those working for Amazon or Uber Eats, face higher risks of collisions and unsafe driving behaviours due to intense delivery deadlines. Legal Expert explains the challenges in determining liability when accidents occur in the gig economy.
With the rise of online shopping and app-based food delivery, British streets are seeing more delivery vans, motorbikes, and cyclists than ever before. While this convenience is unmatched, new research suggests it comes with a cost: increased accident risk.
According to Angel Reyes and Associates’ UK study on delivery rider safety, motorcyclists have the highest fatality rate per billion passenger miles of any road user in the UK. Gig riders, those working for platforms like Amazon Flex, Uber Eats, and Deliveroo, face even greater risks compared to traditionally employed riders.
Survey findings reveal that gig workers were more likely to be distracted by their phones, commit speeding or red-light offences, and accumulate more penalty points. They also reported higher accident involvement, with 25% experiencing vehicle damage and 11% sustaining injuries in a crash.
One of the driving forces behind this behaviour is work pressure. Gig riders often feel compelled to meet strict deadlines, pushing them to take more risks. Employed riders, by contrast, report less stress, fewer traffic violations, and lower accident rates.
Who is Liable in a Gig Worker Crash?
If an Amazon Flex driver or gig motorcyclist causes an accident, liability becomes complex. Depending on the case, the responsible party could be:The individual driver
The small subcontracted delivery firm
The platform or retailer (e.g., Amazon), though this is harder to prove due to their use of independent contractor agreements.
The findings tally with the gig economy transforming. At the same time this e-commerce revolution has blurred traditional lines of responsibility in accident cases.
Legal Expert, Elliot Johnson from Angel Reyes and Associates tells Digital Journal: “Platforms like Amazon Flex and Uber Eats structure their contracts so that riders are classified as independent contractors, not employees. This arrangement allows the platform to argue they are not directly responsible for the driver’s negligence. In practice, if you’re injured in a collision involving a gig worker, the claim may be against the driver’s personal insurance, and in some cases, the small company they contract through. Proving that the platform bears liability requires showing that they exercised significant control over the driver’s work, such as setting unrealistic delivery targets that encourage unsafe driving.”
Johnson adds: “From a legal standpoint, victims should gather as much evidence as possible: dashcam footage, witness statements, app delivery records, and communications from the platform, to establish fault. The gig economy’s speed-driven business model can and does create environments where safety takes a back seat to deadlines. Until legislation catches up, holding large platforms accountable will remain an uphill legal battle”.
August 24, 2025
Image: — © AFP Patrick T. Fallon
New UK research shows that gig delivery drivers, such as those working for Amazon or Uber Eats, face higher risks of collisions and unsafe driving behaviours due to intense delivery deadlines. Legal Expert explains the challenges in determining liability when accidents occur in the gig economy.
With the rise of online shopping and app-based food delivery, British streets are seeing more delivery vans, motorbikes, and cyclists than ever before. While this convenience is unmatched, new research suggests it comes with a cost: increased accident risk.
According to Angel Reyes and Associates’ UK study on delivery rider safety, motorcyclists have the highest fatality rate per billion passenger miles of any road user in the UK. Gig riders, those working for platforms like Amazon Flex, Uber Eats, and Deliveroo, face even greater risks compared to traditionally employed riders.
Survey findings reveal that gig workers were more likely to be distracted by their phones, commit speeding or red-light offences, and accumulate more penalty points. They also reported higher accident involvement, with 25% experiencing vehicle damage and 11% sustaining injuries in a crash.
One of the driving forces behind this behaviour is work pressure. Gig riders often feel compelled to meet strict deadlines, pushing them to take more risks. Employed riders, by contrast, report less stress, fewer traffic violations, and lower accident rates.
Who is Liable in a Gig Worker Crash?
If an Amazon Flex driver or gig motorcyclist causes an accident, liability becomes complex. Depending on the case, the responsible party could be:The individual driver
The small subcontracted delivery firm
The platform or retailer (e.g., Amazon), though this is harder to prove due to their use of independent contractor agreements.
The findings tally with the gig economy transforming. At the same time this e-commerce revolution has blurred traditional lines of responsibility in accident cases.
Legal Expert, Elliot Johnson from Angel Reyes and Associates tells Digital Journal: “Platforms like Amazon Flex and Uber Eats structure their contracts so that riders are classified as independent contractors, not employees. This arrangement allows the platform to argue they are not directly responsible for the driver’s negligence. In practice, if you’re injured in a collision involving a gig worker, the claim may be against the driver’s personal insurance, and in some cases, the small company they contract through. Proving that the platform bears liability requires showing that they exercised significant control over the driver’s work, such as setting unrealistic delivery targets that encourage unsafe driving.”
Johnson adds: “From a legal standpoint, victims should gather as much evidence as possible: dashcam footage, witness statements, app delivery records, and communications from the platform, to establish fault. The gig economy’s speed-driven business model can and does create environments where safety takes a back seat to deadlines. Until legislation catches up, holding large platforms accountable will remain an uphill legal battle”.
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