If you’ve walked or driven through Boston’s streets lately, you’ve likely felt it: the near-miss with a moped darting through a red light, the delivery driver double-parked in a bike lane, the scooter weaving against traffic at full speed. What once seemed like an occasional nuisance has become a genuine public safety crisis — and Boston’s City Council has acted.
On April 2, 2025, the Boston City Council voted 11-2 to pass the Road Safety and Accountability for Delivery Providers Ordinance, championed by Mayor Michelle Wu in response to the alarming rise in dangerous behavior by drivers working for apps like DoorDash, UberEats, and GrubHub. After a one-year implementation window, the ordinance went into full enforcement effect on April 11, 2026.
This is welcome news. But if you are ever injured in an accident involving a delivery driver, the existence of this law does not automatically protect you. Knowing your rights and acting quickly is critical.
Why Boston Passed This Law
According to the City of Boston, there have been 311 complaints about delivery vehicles in recent years — a 200% jump since 2022. Double-parked cars blocking lanes, mopeds running red lights, scooters riding on sidewalks — city officials described the combination as creating a “chaotic, unsafe feeling” on Boston’s streets.
The ordinance targets companies making more than one million food deliveries nationwide annually. To legally operate in Boston, those companies must now:
- Obtain an annual permit from the Boston Transportation Department
- Provide proof of insurance covering all drivers, including those on motorcycles, mopeds, and electric scooters
- Share quarterly data on delivery locations, vehicle types, and route patterns so the city can identify dangerous hotspots
Companies that fail to comply face fines of $300 per day, per restaurant they deliver from — or $300 per order — making non-compliance extremely costly.
The Hidden Danger: Uninsured and Underinsured Delivery Drivers
Here is what many Boston residents don’t realize: until this ordinance took effect, there was no requirement that delivery app companies carry liability insurance for their drivers. These gig workers — classified as independent contractors, not employees — have long operated in a dangerous gray zone when it comes to insurance coverage.
A typical personal auto insurance policy does not cover accidents that occur while a driver is working for a commercial delivery app. Many drivers either don’t know this or can’t afford commercial insurance endorsement. That means if one of these drivers strikes your car or hits you in a crosswalk, you could face serious injuries with no clear source of compensation.
The new ordinance helps to close this gap — but enforcement is only beginning, and full compliance is not guaranteed. Accidents will continue to happen, and when they do, the question of who is liable and who is insured becomes critically important.
If You Are Injured in an Accident Involving a Delivery Driver, Do These Four Things
- Document Everything at the Scene
Call 911 immediately. While you wait, photograph the vehicles, their positions, any skid marks, traffic signals, and the surrounding area. Collect names and contact information from any witnesses. Make sure a police report is filed and get the report number. The documentation you gather in those first minutes can make or break your case.
- Get the Driver’s Full Information — Including Who They Were Delivering For
Exchange the standard accident information — name, license, insurance, plate number — but go further. Ask directly which app they were delivering for and look for delivery bags or pouches in the vehicle. Ask whether they were on an active order at the time of the crash, since this determines whether the company’s liability policy or the driver’s personal insurance applies. Don’t leave the scene without this information.
- Seek Medical Treatment Immediately — Even If You Feel Fine
Adrenaline can mask pain. Injuries like whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue damage often don’t fully manifest until hours or days after a collision. If you delay seeing a doctor, insurance companies will argue your injuries weren’t serious — or weren’t caused by the accident at all. See a doctor the same day, follow all recommended treatment, and keep records of every appointment and expense.
- Consult a Personal Injury Attorney Before Talking to Any Insurance Company
Insurance adjusters — whether they represent the driver, the delivery company, or your own insurer — are not on your side. They move fast, and their goal is to minimize what they pay out. Do not give a recorded statement or accept any settlement offer before speaking with an attorney.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will investigate who is liable — the driver, the company, or both — and fight to recover full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any long-term impact on your life. The new Boston ordinance creates a stronger legal foundation for holding these companies accountable, and a skilled attorney will know how to use it.
Boston Is Acting — But You Have to Protect Yourself
The Road Safety and Accountability for Delivery Providers Ordinance is a meaningful step. But laws take time to change behavior, and accidents will continue to happen — sometimes involving drivers who are uninsured, working for platforms still coming into compliance, or operating vehicles not covered by any policy.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a delivery driver in Boston or anywhere in Massachusetts, the attorneys at Burns Jain Law are here to help. We understand the complex liability issues surrounding gig economy workers, and we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact Burns Jain Law today for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7 at 617-227-7423.