If you own a small grocery store, bakery or dry cleaner's, for example, there's a good chance delivery trucks pull up to your premises every week. Perhaps even every day. If something goes wrong — if a driver backs into a customer's car, a delivery worker slips on your loading dock or a third-party courier hits a pedestrian in your parking lot — you could be facing a lawsuit. Armenian store owners across the country, especially in states like California where approximately 251,808 residents identify as Armenian (representing the largest Armenian-American population in the nation — World Population Review, 2024), need to take this reality seriously.
The statistics surrounding delivery-related injuries are alarming. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the private sector recorded 2.6 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2023, 946,500 of which were serious enough to result in time off work. Many of these injuries occur in settings similar to those managed by small business owners: loading zones, parking areas and pavements near storefronts. As delivery volume continues to increase, driven by app-based platforms and e-commerce, the risk to your business is growing. It's growing.
This article explains what you need to know as an Armenian business owner about liability for delivery accidents, your rights when someone else's driver causes harm on your property, and the steps you should take to protect yourself before and after an incident. Every situation is different and laws vary by state, so nothing here can replace the advice of a qualified lawyer. However, this will give you a solid foundation.
Table of Contents
Who is actually liable when a delivery goes wrong on your property?
This is the question that keeps small business owners up at night, and it's rarely easy to find the answer. When a delivery driver causes an accident at or near your business, liability may fall on multiple parties. According to legal commentary from the Estrada Law Group (2025), responsibility for delivery-related accidents may lie with the other driver, their employer, the delivery platform, the vehicle manufacturer or even the property owner, for example if the accident occurred in an unsafe area such as a loading zone.
So, yes, you could be held responsible. However, 'could' is doing a lot of work in that sentence. Whether or not you are actually liable depends on the specific facts of the case.
Here's a general breakdown:
- If the accident was caused by careless driving, such as speeding through a parking lot, reversing without looking or running a stop sign near your storefront, the driver or their employer is typically liable.
- As the property owner or tenant, you could be held liable if an accident occurred due to a hazardous condition on your property that you were aware of or should have been aware of. Examples include potholes in your parking lot, broken loading dock ramps, poor lighting or missing signage.
- A delivery platform such as DoorDash, Uber Eats or Amazon Flex might bear some responsibility, but this is complicated by the fact that, in 2025, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 22, ruling that app-based delivery drivers could be classified as independent contractors rather than employees. This classification limits the responsibilities of the platform in terms of workers' compensation and can shift liability in unexpected ways.
The legal term you'll hear most often in these cases is 'premises liability' — the idea that if you own or control a property, you are responsible for keeping it reasonably safe for people who enter it. This duty extends to delivery drivers.
Owner vs. tenant: Who is responsible for the loading dock?
Many Armenian business owners lease their commercial premises rather than owning them outright. So, if a delivery worker is injured on the loading dock, whose responsibility is it: yours or the landlord's?
Courts have actually addressed this issue directly. In Mowrey v. Eagle Rutland, LLC (2020), for example, the Vermont Superior Court ruled that a commercial landlord who neither possessed nor controlled the property could not be held liable when a delivery employee fell from a dock lift. The key factor was that the tenant had exclusive control over the loading area. The court confirmed the general rule that, when a commercial tenant controls the premises, including the loading dock, they are usually responsible for maintaining safe conditions, unless the lease specifically assigns that duty to the landlord.
What does this mean for you? Read your lease carefully. If your lease gives you exclusive control over loading areas, parking lots, or exterior walkways, it is likely that you are responsible for ensuring that these areas are safe. However, if maintenance responsibilities are shared or assigned to the landlord, this changes things. Either way, make sure you know what your lease says before an accident happens.
If you lease your business premises, check your lease agreement for details about maintenance responsibilities, communal areas and loading zones. This document could determine who is liable if someone is injured.
What courts actually look for in premises liability cases
A delivery driver slips on the ice near your back entrance. A courier trips over uneven paving in your parking lot. A lorry driver is injured because your loading bay lacks proper guardrails. In each of these situations, the injured person's lawyer will ask one key question: did the property owner or occupier fail to maintain reasonably safe conditions?
The courts consider several factors.
- Were you aware of the hazardous condition, or should you have been?
- Have you taken reasonable steps to fix the problem or warn people about it?
- Did the injured person act reasonably, or did their actions contribute to their own injury?
A Georgia appellate case illustrates how specific to the facts of the case these disputes can be. In one reported case, a fuel delivery driver was injured while checking underground storage tanks. The court found that the employer's demand for the driver to choose between unsafe practices or losing his job supported the driver's premises liability claim against the property owner (The Fine Law Firm, 2017). The lesson to be learned is that if you create conditions where someone has to choose between safety and getting the job done, a court may hold you responsible.
OSHA's focus on these specific hazards highlights their seriousness. In 2023, OSHA launched a three-year National Emphasis Program targeting warehousing, distribution centers and parcel delivery services due to serious safety hazards, including struck-by incidents and material handling problems commonly occurring around loading docks and delivery areas (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2023). Three of OSHA's five most frequently cited standards that year — fall protection, hazard communication, and powered industrial trucks — commonly arise around loading docks. According to data compiled by Miner Corp (2024), these standards accounted for more than 13,000 violations.
You don't need to be a safety engineer. However, you should walk around your property regularly, promptly fix any known hazards, and document what you have done. This documentation is extremely important if you ever end up in court.
The insurance gap that catches out too many small business owners
Here's a hard truth: According to a 2023 survey by Hiscox reported in the Insurance Journal, 75% of small businesses in the US were underinsured for business risks and only 65% had general liability coverage. This means that approximately one in three small businesses does not even have the most basic protection against a lawsuit.
If you're an Armenian store owner with inadequate insurance — or a policy with gaps you're unaware of — a single delivery accident could jeopardize all your hard work.
General liability insurance is the minimum requirement. It covers injuries that occur on your property. However, you should also ask your insurance agent about the following:
- Consider commercial auto coverage if you or your employees make deliveries using business vehicles.
- Coverage for hired and non-owned vehicles in case employees ever use their own cars for business errands.
- Umbrella policies provide additional coverage above your standard limits.
- Workers' compensation is required in most states if you have employees. It covers your workers if they are injured during a delivery-related incident.
Don't assume that your current policy covers accidents involving deliveries. Many policies exclude incidents involving vehicles, independent contractors or activities outside the main business premises. Ask specifically. Get it in writing.
Do you need an Armenian lawyer who speaks English? Heritage Web can put you in touch with a lawyer who understands the legal issues and the concerns of your community.
Language barriers do not erase your legal rights.
Armenian business owners face a particular challenge when it comes to navigating the legal system, especially when English is not their first language and they are dealing with insurance adjusters, OSHA inspectors or opposing attorneys who do not speak Armenian.
Federal law is clear on this point. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, individuals with limited English proficiency are entitled to language assistance when accessing services. Federal guidance emphasizes that agencies must proactively provide language access (Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization, 2023). A legal review published in the UIC Law Review concluded that inadequate language access can unlawfully restrict litigants with limited English proficiency (LEP) from participating effectively in court proceedings, including those relating to personal injury and civil claims.
In practice, this means that if you are involved in a lawsuit or regulatory investigation relating to a delivery accident, you have the right to an interpreter in court. You also have the right to understand any documents you sign. You should also never sign a settlement agreement, insurance release or statement to an adjuster that you don't fully understand.
Armenian-American communities outside of California, including significant populations of 24,630 in New York and 14,309 in New Jersey (according to World Population Review in 2024), face the same challenges. Wherever you are, don't let a language barrier push you into making a bad deal. A lawyer who understands your background can ensure that nothing gets lost in translation.
What to Do if You Experience a Delivery Accident at Your Business
If an accident involving a delivery happens on or near your property, the first few hours are crucial. Here's what you should do:
- Ensure that everyone is safe. Call 999 if anyone is injured. Not only is this the right thing to do, it also creates an official record of the incident.
- Don't admit fault. You can show compassion without saying 'I'm sorry, it was our fault'. Remember that anything you say can be used against you later.
- Document everything. Take photos of the scene, including the delivery vehicle, any property damage, the state of your loading bay or parking lot, the weather and any visible injuries. Do this immediately, before anything is moved or cleaned up.
- Get the driver's details. Name, employer, insurance details and license plate number. If they are an app-based delivery driver, note which platform they work for.
- Collect witness information. If any customers, employees or passers-by witnessed the incident, obtain their names and contact details.
- Notify your insurance company. Report the incident promptly and stick to the facts. Do not speculate about who was at fault.
- Contact a solicitor before giving a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters, whether representing you or the other party, are trained to obtain statements that minimize payouts. Talk to a lawyer first.
The rules regarding the time limit for filing a legal claim, known as the statute of limitations, vary by state. In California, for example, you generally have two years to file a personal injury claim. Other states have different deadlines. Don't wait to find out — check with a local attorney about the specific timeline in your area.
Protecting your business before anything happens
The best legal strategy is prevention. While you can't control how delivery drivers operate their vehicles, you can control the condition of your property and how deliveries are managed.
It is estimated that around 153,452 people were injured in crashes involving large trucks across the United States in 2023, averaging approximately 420 injuries per day (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration via Sabbeth Law, 2025). Although there is no specific data on how many of these occur in retail parking lots or loading bays, the sheer number of incidents indicates that delivery zones are high-risk environments.
Here are some practical steps you can take to reduce your exposure:
- Maintain loading areas, parking lots and walkways in good condition by promptly fixing potholes, cracks and uneven surfaces.
- Make sure there is adequate lighting around delivery zones, particularly if deliveries are made early in the morning or in the evening.
- Clear signage should be posted to direct delivery vehicles to designated areas away from customer foot traffic.
- Keep delivery paths clear of debris, stock and equipment.
- If you have a loading dock, you should regularly inspect it for damaged edges, malfunctioning lifts and missing guardrails.
- Keep a record of inspections and repairs — this documentation could be your strongest defense.
OSHA's National Emphasis Program specifically targets inspections at powered industrial vehicle operations, material handling, walking-working surfaces and means of egress — all of which are hazards that are frequently found in delivery zones (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2023). Even if your business is not large enough to trigger OSHA's electronic reporting requirements, which apply to establishments with 100 or more employees in high-hazard industries, adhering to these safety principles provides legal protection.
Your next steps
Running a small business is hard enough without having to worry about another company's delivery driver causing an accident on your premises. However, this risk is very real, and the potential consequences — such as lawsuits, insurance disputes and regulatory investigations — could be devastating if you're not prepared.
The Armenian National Committee of America runs the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights in Washington, D.C. The center engages in advocacy work and provides referrals for legal issues affecting Armenian communities. Organizations like this exist because our community looks out for its own members.
However, when dealing with a specific legal situation, such as a delivery accident, insurance claim or premises liability lawsuit, you need a lawyer who is familiar with the laws in your state and understands the challenges faced by Armenian business owners.
Get in touch with an English-speaking Armenian lawyer who understands your culture. Submit your case details via Heritage Web's secure referral form. The process is confidential and free of charge, and could be the most important step you take to protect the business you've worked so hard to build.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. If you require guidance on a specific situation, please consult a qualified attorney.
