Over 50 gig workers have been killed on the job in the United States since 2017, according to a report released today by Gig Workers Rising. Of that figure, nearly two-thirds (34 deaths) occurred this year and in 2021, which may indicate a worrying upward trend.

... In many of the cases, the families of the victims were not compensated, according to the report. This is due to the same loophole that precludes most gig workers from receiving guaranteed minimum wage, employee-sponsored healthcare or other job benefits: their status as supposedly independent contractors.

... DoorDash spokesperson Julian Crowley said the company’s occupational accident insurance covers homicides and provides survivor payments of up to $150,000 for eligible dependents. “We were the first national delivery platform to offer occupational accident insurers to Dashers at no cost to them, and with no opt-in or application required, which can support them if they’re injured while providing a delivery on our platform,” ... .

... Instacart provides eligible shoppers with accidental death benefit payments up to $320,000 for eligible dependents. The company also covers burial expenses up to $10,000. "Shopper Injury Protection applies to all U.S. full-service shoppers and includes coverage for certain medical expenses, disability payments, and accidental death benefits," wrote a spokesperson for Instacart in a statement.

... “Since day one, we’ve built safety into every part of the Lyft experience," spokesperson Gabriela Condarco-Quesada told Engadget. "We are committed to doing everything we can to help protect drivers from crime, and will continue to take action and invest in technology, policies and partnerships to make Lyft as safe as it can be.”

... "App corporations are not doing enough to protect the workers who make their apps run," Gig Workers United told Engadget. "Instead, the bedrock of their model is to offload risk onto workers."