Holiday rush, next-day delivery expectations, constant tracking updates, all of this pressure lands on real people, the delivery drivers who keep Massachusetts moving If you drive for UPS, FedEx, Amazon Flex, or another delivery service, you already know what “delivery driver crunch” feels like: long hours, unrealistic routes, heavy packages, traffic, and weather that will not cooperate.
When that pressure results in an injury, everything can change overnight. Suddenly, you are worried about medical bills, lost paychecks, and whether your job will even be there when you are ready to return. Many drivers are unsure whether they qualify for workers’ compensation or how to stand up to a powerful insurance company.
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers is a Boston-based workers’ compensation law firm that has fought for injured workers across Massachusetts for decades, including drivers injured on the job.
This guide explains how workers’ compensation works for delivery drivers, what to do after an injury, and when to talk with a lawyer.
Why Delivery Drivers Face a Unique “Crunch”
Delivery companies compete on speed and volume, and drivers often feel that pressure every minute they are on the road. Common realities include:
- Routes that keep getting longer without adding more time.
- Strict delivery windows that encourage rushing.
- Heavy and awkward packages that must be moved alone.
- Frequent in and out of vehicles, climbing stairs, and walking on icy or uneven surfaces.
- Constant use of handheld scanners and GPS devices.
For many UPS and FedEx drivers who are treated as employees, the demands of the job build up over the years, leading to chronic back or shoulder problems, knee injuries, and repetitive stress issues. Amazon Flex drivers often face the same physical risks, yet many are classified as independent contractors, creating confusion about workers’ compensation and insurance coverage.
Common Injuries for UPS, FedEx, and Amazon Flex Drivers
Some of the most frequent injuries we see from delivery driver crunch include
- Vehicle crashes in city traffic, on highways, or in parking lots.
- Back and shoulder injuries from lifting and carrying heavy or awkward packages.
- Knee and ankle injuries from climbing in and out of trucks or walking up stairs all day.
- Slip and fall injuries on icy steps, wet floors, cluttered walkways or broken sidewalks.
- Repetitive stress injuries from scanning packages, gripping steering wheels, and handling doors and dollies.
- Heat exhaustion or cold-related injuries during extreme weather.
- Dog bites and assaults while making residential or commercial deliveries.
Even a “minor” injury can sideline a driver for weeks, and many injuries that start small become serious when drivers are encouraged to “push through” pain to keep up with route expectations.
Are Delivery Drivers Covered by Workers’ Compensation in Massachusetts
Workers’ compensation in Massachusetts is a no-fault system. If you are an employee who is injured in the course of your job, you generally have the right to medical coverage and partial wage replacement regardless of who caused the accident.
Employee drivers
Most UPS and many FedEx drivers are classified as employees. If you are employed by the company and hurt while doing your job, you should be covered by that company’s workers’ compensation insurance. This can apply to:
- Injuries that happen while driving your route
- Loading or unloading your truck
- Slipping in a warehouse or customer location
- Injuries that develop over time, such as chronic back or joint problems
Amazon Flex and other “gig” drivers
Amazon Flex drivers are usually treated as independent contractors, not employees, which typically means the company does not provide traditional workers’ compensation benefits; however, that does not always end the story.
In some situations:
- A driver may have been misclassified and should legally be treated as an employee.
- Another driver on the road may be at fault for a crash, creating a third-party personal injury claim.
- A property owner may be responsible if a dangerous condition caused your fall or other injury.
Sorting out who is responsible can be complicated, especially when multiple insurance policies are involved. This is one reason many injured Flex and gig drivers talk with an attorney as early as possible.
What Workers’ Compensation Can Provide
If you qualify for workers’ compensation in Massachusetts, benefits may include:
- Medical care for reasonable and necessary treatment related to your work injury, with no copay under the workers’ compensation system.
- Temporary total incapacity benefits, generally about 60 percent of your average weekly wage, if you cannot work at all for a period of time, typically for up to 156 weeks.
- Partial incapacity benefits, if you can work but earn less because of your injury, are often up to 75 percent of what your total disability rate would be, and are usually available for up to 260 weeks.
- Permanent and total disability benefits, where a serious injury prevents you from ever returning to any gainful employment, these benefits can continue for as long as your disability lasts.
- Scarring and loss of function benefits, in some cases, for permanent scars or loss of use of a body part.
The rules that decide which category applies, how long you can receive benefits, and at what rate are detailed and technical, and insurance companies often interpret them in the narrowest way possible.
Real World Examples of Delivery Driver Injuries
The following examples illustrate common fact patterns.
Example 1: UPS driver with a back injury
A UPS driver in the Boston area feels a sharp pain in his lower back while lifting a heavy package off the truck, he reports the injury immediately and is taken off the route, the insurance company later claims he had “preexisting” back issues and tries to limit his benefits, with legal help he gathers medical evidence showing that his prior aches were minor and that the work incident significantly worsened his condition, eventually he receives ongoing weekly checks and coverage for recommended treatment.
Example 2: An Amazon Flex driver hit in traffic
An Amazon Flex driver is rear ended by a distracted driver while making deliveries in Cambridge, although she is considered an independent contractor for Amazon, she is still an injured motorist, she brings a claim against the at fault driver’s insurance and may also be able to access benefits under her own auto policy, an attorney helps coordinate these claims and make sure all available coverage is used to pay her medical bills and lost income.
Example 3: FedEx driver slips and falls
A FedEx driver slips on an uncleared icy walkway at a business in Worcester, workers’ compensation should cover his medical bills and wage loss as an employee, but the property owner may also be legally responsible for failing to keep the premises safe. This can create a separate personal injury case in addition to the workers’ compensation claim.
Why Delivery Driver Workers’ Compensation Claims Are Often Contested
Delivery driver claims are frequently challenged because:
- Insurers argue the injury happened “off the clock” or outside the course of employment.
- Employers or insurers claim that a condition was preexisting and not work-related.
- Drivers are pressured to return to work on “light duty” before they are ready.
- Gig companies rely on independent contractor labels to deny workers’ compensation altogether.
- Documentation is incomplete, including late injury reports and gaps in medical treatment.
The Massachusetts workers’ compensation system involves strict deadlines and a multi-step process, including conciliation, conferences, and, if necessary, hearings before an administrative judge at the Department of Industrial Accidents.
Trying to navigate all of this while you are in pain and worried about paying your bills is incredibly stressful. Having an experienced lawyer handle the legal side allows you to focus on recovery.
When Should a Delivery Driver Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
You should strongly consider contacting a workers’ compensation attorney if:
- Your injury required emergency care, surgery, or kept you out of work for more than a few days.
- Your employer or the insurance company denies your claim or delays payment.
- You are told you are an independent contractor and “not eligible” for workers’ compensation.
- You are being pushed back to work before you are ready, and your doctor believes you are ready.
- The insurer sends you to its own doctor, then says you can return to work.
- You receive a lump sum settlement offer and do not fully understand what rights you are giving up.
Early legal advice can prevent mistakes that are difficult to fix later, such as missed deadlines, incomplete medical records, or accepting an unfair settlement.
How Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers Help Injured Delivery Drivers
At Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, our workers’ compensation team carefully reviews each case, monitors changes in Massachusetts law, and fights insurers who try to minimize benefits for injured workers.
When you contact the firm after a delivery driver injury, the legal team can:
- Listen to your story in a free, confidential consultation.
- Confirm whether you are legally an employee or an independent contractor.
- Explain what benefits you should receive and how the process works.
- File your workers’ compensation claim and communicate with the insurer.
- Gather medical records, delivery logs, route data, and witness statements.
- Prepare you for independent medical exams and hearings.
- Represent you at conferences and hearings before the Department of Industrial Accidents.
- Evaluate potential third-party claims, for example, against a negligent driver or unsafe property owner.
- Advise you on whether a lump sum settlement is in your best interest.
The firm handles workers’ compensation cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay attorney fees unless the firm successfully obtains benefits or a settlement for you.
What To Do After a Delivery Driver Injury
If you are hurt while making deliveries, try to take these steps as soon as you can:
- Get medical care right away: Tell the doctor that your injury happened while working as a delivery driver.
- Report the injury in writing: Notify your supervisor or dispatcher as soon as possible and ask to fill out an incident report; keep a copy for your records.
- Document everything: Take photos of the scene, your vehicle, and any hazards. Save delivery logs, route information, and app screenshots. Write down names and contact information for witnesses.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions: Attend all appointments and follow restrictions; gaps in treatment are often used against you.
- Do not sign paperwork you do not understand: Be cautious about recorded statements and broad releases from the insurance company; talk to an attorney first.
- Contact a workers’ compensation lawyer: An early consultation can provide you with a clear plan and protect your rights from the start.
Talk With a Boston Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
Delivery driver crunch should not cost you your health or your livelihood. If you were injured while driving for UPS, FedEx, Amazon Flex, or any other delivery service in Massachusetts, you do not have to face the workers’ compensation system alone.
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers is based in downtown Boston and represents injured workers across the Commonwealth. The firm offers free, confidential consultations, and there is no fee unless they are successful for you.
Call 617 777 7777 or contact the firm online today to speak with an experienced Massachusetts workers’ compensation attorney about your delivery driver injury, get answers, protect your rights, and take the next step toward financial stability and recovery.