Foodpanda ordered to pay HK$1.3million to delivery rider injured during typhoon

Hong Kong's High Court has ordered Foodpanda to compensate a delivery rider HK$1.348 million for injuries sustained during Typhoon Signal No. 8 five years ago. The 48-year-old South Asian motorcycle courier suffered back, right knee, and finger injuries requiring 785 days of sick leave after being blown off his bike by strong winds while returning home after completing a delivery.

Deputy Judge of the High Court Andrew Li Shu-yuk ruled that Foodpanda's claim that riders could freely reject orders during busy periods contradicted both common sense and employment contract terms. The court found the company failed to promptly shut down its automated system despite issuing a Telegram warning about suspending operations when the typhoon signal was hoisted, unnecessarily exposing riders to danger.

The incident occurred on August 18, 2020, when the plaintiff continued delivering after Signal No. 8 was raised, completing his final order 18 minutes after the warning. Foodpanda's parent company Delivery Hero Food Hong Kong Limited was held 80% liable for the accident, with the judgment emphasizing the company's responsibility for rider safety during extreme weather conditions.