Can a Grubhub Driver Sue for a Slip and Fall on Ice in Michigan?

Yes, a Grubhub delivery driver can absolutely sue for a slip and fall on ice in Michigan. Even though most Grubhub drivers are classified as independent contractors rather than traditional employees, this status does not prevent you from bringing a Michigan premises liability claim if you slip and fall on ice while making a delivery.

Whether the fall occurred on a customer’s property, at an apartment complex, outside a restaurant, in a parking lot, or at a gas station, the property owner has a legal obligation to maintain reasonably safe conditions. When they fail to do so, you may be legally entitled to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by your injuries.

If you are a Grubhub delivery driver and were injured due to a fall on ice, you should contact the award-winning lawyers at The Buckfire Law Firm now. We will investigate your claim and begin working on your case immediately. You pay no money unless you win a settlement.

• Michigan Law on Slip and Fall on Ice for Delivery Drivers
• Important Steps after a Slip and Fall on Ice While Delivering
• What is the Compensation for a Grubhub Driver Slip and Fall Claim?
• Call a Michigan Grubhub Driver Slip and Fall Lawyer

About Grubhub

Grubhub is a major on-demand food delivery service headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It connects customers with restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores. Grubhub drivers and bikers, known as delivery partners, are independent contractors who use their own vehicles for deliveries. They are paid through the platform and receive tips.

How Grubhub Drivers Get Hurt on Ice in Michigan

Michigan winters are brutal. From November through March, snow and ice blanket the state, creating hazardous conditions on driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, and entrances. For food delivery workers making multiple stops per hour, often in the dark and carrying food bags, these conditions create serious injury risks.

Common Locations Where Grubhub Falls Occur

Grubhub drivers regularly slip and fall on ice at various locations, especially on a customer’s property, where legal responsibility for injuries may arise. These locations include:

• Single-family homes with snow-covered driveways, icy porch steps, or unsalted walkways
• Apartment complexes with frozen parking lots, slippery stairwells, and untreated common areas
• Grocery stores and restaurants where pickup areas have accumulated ice near entrances
• Office buildings with neglected exterior walkways
• Parking lots at strip malls and commercial properties that haven’t been plowed
• Gas stations with refrozen puddles near fuel pumps and convenience store entrances

Specific Winter Hazards That Cause Injuries

The most dangerous winter conditions for Grubhub delivery workers typically include:

• Black ice on driveways and sidewalks that’s nearly invisible, especially at night
• Packed snow on porch steps that turns slick after repeated foot traffic
• Downspout runoff that refreezes into sheets of ice near building foundations
• Unplowed parking lots where tire tracks create uneven, icy terrain
• Unsalted store entrances where melting snow from foot traffic refreezes overnight

These falls often happen while the driver is carrying food, walking quickly to meet delivery time expectations, or navigating poorly lit paths after dark. The combination of time pressure and hazardous conditions increases both the likelihood and severity of fall injuries.

What are Common Injuries from Falls on Ice?

A slip and fall on ice can cause serious, life-altering injuries. Grubhub drivers commonly suffer:

• Wrist fractures and broken bones from trying to catch themselves
• Ankle fractures and sprains from twisting on uneven ice
• Torn knee ligaments (MCL, ACL) requiring surgery
• Back injuries, including herniated discs
• Hip fractures, particularly in older drivers
• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries from hitting pavement
• Nerve damage from impact or awkward landings

These injuries can sideline a delivery driver for weeks or months, creating both immediate medical expenses and long-term lost wages.

Michigan Law on Slip and Fall on Ice for Delivery Drivers

Michigan premises liability law governs Grubhub slip and fall cases involving snow and ice. This area of law establishes when a property owner can be held accountable for injuries caused by unsafe conditions on their land.

Under current Michigan law, property owners must use reasonable care to protect “invitees” (people on the property for business purposes, such as delivery workers) from dangerous conditions, including snow and ice. The law examines whether the owner took reasonable steps within a reasonable time after storms to:

• Shovel walkways and clear snow
• Apply salt or sand to icy surfaces
• Fix drainage issues that cause refreezing
• Warn visitors about hazardous conditions

Negligence can include failing to maintain parking lots, ignoring complaints about slippery conditions, or waiting too long after a storm to address accumulating ice.

What Insurance Company Pays a Settlement?

The customer’s or landlord’s liability insurance typically covers these claims. This might include:

• Homeowner’s insurance for residential deliveries
• Landlord policies for apartment buildings
• Commercial general liability policies for businesses

Any settlement or verdict is usually paid by the insurance company rather than directly out of the property owner’s pocket.

Can I Sue a Property Owner if I Receive Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Yes, you can still sue if you fell on ice while making a Grubhub delivery. Drivers are independent contractors, and you may not even have workers’ compensation insurance. If you do have the free Occupational Accident Insurance or any other workers’ compensation type insurance, it does not prevent you from filing a lawsuit against negligent property owners. Even if another type of insurance pays your medical bills and lost wages, you can still file a pain and suffering lawsuit against a private homeowner, apartment complex, restaurant, strip mall, commercial building, and any other business or entity responsible for the location where you fell.

Important Steps after a Slip and Fall on Ice While Delivering

1. Get Medical Care Right Away

Your health comes first. For serious injuries, call 911 or have someone drive you to an emergency room. For less severe injuries, go to urgent care or your primary doctor as soon as possible. Why timing matters: Medical records dated the same day or within 24 hours of the accident are powerful evidence connecting your injuries to the fall on ice.

2. Report the Fall and Preserve Evidence

Report the accident in writing if possible:

• Notify the property owner, tenant, landlord, or store manager
• Ask for a copy or photo of any incident report created on the property
• Get the name and contact information of whoever you report to

Photograph and document the scene:

• Take clear photos and videos of the icy area
• Capture close-ups showing ice texture and accumulation
• Take wide shots showing context (steps, driveway, parking lot, entrance)
• Document weather conditions, lighting, and lack of salt or shovel marks

In a Michigan winter case, photos taken within hours of the fall can be crucial. Snow, melting, or salting can change the scene quickly, eliminating evidence of the dangerous conditions that caused your accident.

3. Notify Grubhub and Your Own Insurance

Report the incident through proper channels:

• Use the Grubhub app or support channels to report the injury
• Follow Grubhub’s current injury reporting procedures
• Save screenshots of your report and any responses

Notify your personal insurance:

• Contact your health insurance for coverage of medical bills
• Notify any disability or supplemental insurance for income interruption

When should I contact a Michigan Slip and Fall Lawyer?

Speak with a Michigan personal injury attorney who handles:

• Snow and ice premises liability cases
• Delivery driver and Grubhub-related claims

Early involvement lets the lawyer:

• Secure surveillance footage before it’s overwritten (often within 30-90 days)
• Obtain weather data showing conditions at the time of your fall
• Request maintenance logs showing when the property was last treated
• Send preservation letters to landlords, property managers, or businesses demanding they retain evidence

The Buckfire Law Firm offers free consultations, and we work on a contingency fee arrangement. This means no legal fees unless they recover money for you.

What is the Compensation for a Grubhub Driver Slip and Fall Claim?

You can sue for two different types of compensation after a fall on ice.

1. Pain and suffering compensation cover:

• Physical pain from fractures, torn ligaments, back injuries, and nerve damage
• Emotional distress, anxiety, and fear of walking on ice again
• Depression or PTSD from trauma
• Loss of enjoyment of activities you can no longer do

2. Grubhub drivers can claim lost wages, including:

• Lost earnings from missed days or weeks of delivering
• Lost tips and bonuses you reasonably would have earned
• Lost pay from other types of employment affected by your injury

Documentation for gig-economy income may include:

• Grubhub app earnings history and weekly summaries
• Bank deposit records showing typical income
• Tax returns showing income before the fall
• Screenshots of scheduled deliveries you couldn’t complete

For serious injuries, your claim may also include reduced earning capacity if you cannot return to the same level of delivery work or must switch to a lower-paying job.

Call a Michigan Grubhub Driver Slip and Fall Lawyer

A Grubhub delivery driver should contact a personal injury lawyer at The Buckfire Law Firm as soon as possible after a slip and fall on ice. We will start our investigation immediately and begin gathering the necessary evidence to prove and win your case.

It costs no money to start your case, and it is FREE unless you WIN! Call now to get started!

Legally reviewed by:

Lawrence J. Buckfire, J.D., Lead Trial Attorney at Buckfire Law
Lawrence J. Buckfire, J.D. has over 30 years of experience specializing in personal injury and wrongful death cases. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and attended Wayne State University School of Law. Lawrence has been named a Super Lawyer, U.S. News Best Lawyer, and in The National Trial Lawyers-Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
Date of Review: Jan., 2026