Liability When Installers And Delivery Drivers Attack People In Their Homes

This happens all the time: You order something from online, or from a physical big box retailer. It’s a large item, so you schedule it for delivery, or perhaps, it’s an installation of something and there are installers coming in to install whatever it is that you bought.

You probably think nothing of that. In fact, you probably assume that the people installing or delivering whatever they’re supposed to be bringing, actually work for the company you purchased the item from. Because of that, you assume, there is some level of safety, because after all, large stores like Walmart, Best Buy, furniture stores, or other large retailers, surely take measures to make sure they know who is coming into your home.

Not Who You Think

Well, think again. Because in many cases, the companies that deliver larger items, or install them in your homes, have little, if anything to do with, the actual company you purchase these items from.

Many of the companies that deliver and install goods into your home, are independent companies contracted with, by the larger company that you bought the item from. That means that you may not know who is actually walking into your home. You thought it was, for example, City Furniture, where you bought that bed set from. But the company delivering it isn’t City Furniture.

And while larger, big box retailers may spend the time and money to ensure their employees have no criminal records, these independent delivery companies often do not spend the time or money to ensure that their delivery people—the ones walking into your home—are safe, and free from criminal histories.

Attacks do Happen

It does happen, that delivery people commit crimes against people, when they are in their homes.

In 2016, an installer who was working for Comcast, raped and choked a woman to death in her home.

In 2018, in Florida, installers or delivery people from a company doing an installation for Best Buy, brutally beat an elderly woman, and set her on fire. It was later revealed that the delivery person was high on drugs at the time, and had a criminal history, one that the delivery company apparently never bothered to check on. Best Buy claimed they had no idea about the lax background check standards used by their independent delivery company.

Making matters worse, many criminals seeking to do harm, have taken to faking association with larger companies. Just this year, in 2025, two men knocked on the door, holding a package, and dressed like Amazon delivery drivers. They forced their way into the home, and attacked the resident of the home.

Non Delegable Duties

Companies that do contract out with other companies, cannot point the finger at those companies, when delivery people injure or attack the homeowners. That’s because the duty of safety is a nondelegable duty—that is, the retailer from whom you bought the product from, carries the ultimate responsibility to ensure that the people delivering items on their behalf, are fit to do so.

If a large, big box retailer wants to blame a smaller, independent delivery company, it can blame them, but the ultimate legal responsibility (and financial liability) falls on the retailer.

Were you injured in any way by a delivery driver, or installation company? Do you think a company may be liable for a criminal attack against you? Contact our Rhode Island injury lawyers at Robert E. Craven & Associates at 401-453-2700.

Sources:

fox5atlanta.com/news/savannah-man-attacked-fake-amazon-delivery-drivers-police-say

thesun.co.uk/news/10039104/deliveryman-battered-grandma-washing-machine-florida/