There are a few things you should know if you are in a mail truck accident with a United States Postal Service (USPS) carrier. First, just like with a regular car accident, it is important to exchange information with the other driver. Even if the truck is owned by the federal government and the driver is a government employee, you will need to get the other driver’s name and contact information. It is also important to take pictures of the damage to both vehicles.
If you are injured in a mail truck accident, it is important that you seek immediate medical attention. Even if you don’t think you’re seriously injured, it’s always best to get checked out by a doctor. In some cases, injuries may not be immediately apparent, but may become more severe over time.
If you can, it’s also a good idea to get contact information for any witnesses to the accident. this can be useful to prove what happened if there is a dispute later.
Once you have collected all of this information, you will need to contact your insurance company. make sure you have all the information and documentation ready when you call. The claims process can be complicated, so it’s important to be prepared.
If you have been injured, the claim process can become more complicated. Check out our step-by-step guide below on how to file a claim against the USPS. When you have been seriously injured after an accident with a USPS mail truck, you need to contact an experienced personal injury attorney. they will be able to advise you on his legal rights and options.
usps statistics
Who drives the United States Postal Service mail trucks?
United States mail trucks are driven by regular people who are employed by the USPS and are on the road almost every day of the week.
To give an idea of their activity, the USPS reports that there are more than 75,000 letter carriers who travel throughout the United States to deliver mail. According to USPS postal data, the United States Post Office processes and delivers more than 470 million pieces of mail a day.
How many vehicle accidents with USPS trucks occur each year?
In December 2019, the USPS published a cover story for Motor Vehicle Safety Month. In 2019, there were approximately 29,000 car accidents involving a US Post Office vehicle. uu. Of the 29,000, more than 13,000 occurred when the USPS motorized vehicle was traveling in a straight line down the highway.
what is the leading cause of vehicle accidents with a usps mail truck?
The cover story indicates that distracted driving plays a significant role in these types of accidents. Although the USPS indicates in its article that its objective is to improve safety, it does not offer concrete solutions to reduce these vehicle accidents.
With texting, calling, social media, and many other applications available through our cell phones, we shouldn’t expect the number of accidents due to distracted driving to decrease.
Getting hit by a USPS truck means your personal injury case will be different than your typical car accident case because you were hit by a government employee driving a government vehicle.
Do mail trucks have the right of way?
There is a common urban legend that when a police car with sirens blaring, an ambulance with sirens blaring, and a USPS mail truck arrive at an intersection at the same time, the post office vehicle has the right of way.
While Post Office vehicles are generally not under state jurisdiction and therefore not subject to local traffic laws and may not be ticketed, drivers of Post Office vehicles Couriers are still subject to the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) and can be sued for negligently causing any accident or injury. Therefore, even if a mail truck driver is not cited for his dangerous driving, the USPS may still be liable for any accidents he caused.
Is it a felony to run over a mail truck?
Another popular urban legend suggests that it’s a felony just to hit a USPS mail truck. however, it is not a felony to hit a post office vehicle (unless you did it on purpose!), and the usps may be liable for any injuries or property damage that you negligently cause in a vehicle accident. as a private commercial transport company.
If I get hit by a USPS truck, what happens? how is it different from a normal car accident in illinois?
in common car accidents in illinois, the law that will control your path to recovery is illinois state law and how your courts have developed that law. When a vehicular accident involves a USPS employee inside one of his trucks, the federal law, that is, the federal damage claims law, will be the law that will procedurally guide the case. imposes different requirements when filing a claim or lawsuit because it involves the federal government.
how to report an accident and file a claim against the usps
Because the USPS is an agency of the federal government, there are small but critical differences when it comes to filing an injury claim. To file your claim against the USPS, you must:
- complete form 95. complete a government damage, injury or death claim form 95, available online.
- identify your injuries. This document must identify your injuries and damages, including physical injuries, property damage, and any lost work.
- State the factual basis for your claim. This section should identify why the USPS controller was at fault. remember, any damaging confession you make will be used against you, so talk to an attorney before filing!
- identify witnesses. if someone witnessed the accident, they will need to provide their name and contact information.
- insurance. You will also need to disclose your auto insurance information.
- A lawsuit for damages. Form 95 requires you to file a demand for liquidation of damages with your claim. you should work with your attorney to determine a reasonable initial claim.
- submit your claim. Under USPS regulations, claims may be submitted and must be accepted at any post office or postal facility.
There is a strict two-year deadline to file your claim against the USPS, so it is essential that you act quickly to gather police reports, witness statements, medical bills and other accident information to avoid giving up your rights.
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Once the USPS receives your claim, it has six months to respond to your claim. if you accept your claim, you will pay the full amount of the required damages. If you deny your claim, you will have six months to file a lawsuit against the agency.
How much does the USPS pay for car accidents each year?
Payments to settle claims against the USPS are substantial. In 2017 alone, the USPS accepted more than 12,000 claims and paid nearly $80 million in damages. these payments include claims for both minor property damage and serious personal injury.
how do i report unsafe driving by a usps driver?
if you witnessed unsafe driving by a driver of a post office vehicle, you can submit a report to usps toll-free hotline at 1-800-ask-usps (1-800-275-8777) Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. m. to 7:30 p.m. m. or Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. m. to 5:00 p.m. m.
try to get the vehicle identification number and be sure to mention the date, time and place of the incident to improve the chances that corrective action will be taken. Alternatively, you can also file a report on the USPS website.
I was run over by a US Post Office mail truck. USA, do I need a lawyer?
Even if you have already successfully dealt with private insurance companies when you have been seriously injured in an accident, dealing directly with the US Postal Service. uu. requires strict adherence to its protocols before there is a resolution. the process involves a different set of rules and is a complicated process.
If you fail to follow the process set forth in the federal tort claims law, your claim may be permanently barred. this means that you will not receive the financial compensation to which you are entitled.
A person who chooses to represent himself should remember that a judge will hold him to the same standard as a lawyer. they will not be offered any breaks for important deadlines or devices or statute of limitations.
Unlike private individuals, USPS is self-insured and does not carry insurance on its vehicles. This is because it is exempt from state vehicle insurance statutes. Plus, unlike private insurance companies, the money you may possibly be able to recover is not limited to the applicable auto insurance policy that was in effect at the time of the accident.
While the federal tort claims law extends to all employees of the federal government, the most common example is those involving the United States Postal Service and its mail trucks because they are on our highways almost every day. days. they drive much of their workday around the community to which they are assigned.
The process of starting, negotiating, and finalizing a claim with the USPS is a difficult, complicated, and confusing procedure. An error or mistake may result in you not receiving anything for your personal injury.
To ensure timelines and requirements are met, contact one of the attorneys at kryder law group if you were involved in an accident to further discuss the details of your personal injury case. We represent seriously injured victims. call today for a free consultation.
what can i do if i am injured when hit by a usps mail truck?
If you are injured in a USPS mail vehicle accident, you can start building your case by:
- contact an experienced illinois law firm that handles personal injury cases
- obtain a copy of the police report of your accident, including photos of the scene and contact information for witnesses
- obtain traffic camera footage of mail truck accident scene
- refer insurance adjuster or defense law firm to your attorney
can you sue the usps for a car accident?
Under federal tort claims law, you cannot sue the USPS for a car accident until you have exhausted all “administrative remedies.” When dealing with the United States Postal Service, that means you will have to complete and file a 95 claim form within the statute of limitations, which is within two years from the date of the vehicle accident. If the USPS denies your claim, you will have six months to file a lawsuit.
a fillable pdf of form 95 is available in the us. uu. general services administration website.
do mail trucks have cameras?
Unlike many other commercial trucking and delivery companies, today’s US Post Office vehicles. uu. They don’t have cameras. however, it looks like this will change when the new and improved mail trucks are rolled out in 2023.
How do I know if I have a case?
The personal injury process is a stressful process. The adjuster will use aggressive tactics to try to minimize the value of your case. The Kryder Law Group is a leading Illinois law firm that focuses on personal injury cases involving federal government employees, as well as other matters that may require litigation in the federal court system.
The personal injury attorneys at kryder law group will deal directly with the adjuster or defense firm so you have peace of mind knowing their attorneys are working to maximize the compensation you deserve.
Our law firm has already helped thousands of illinois clients recover the benefits they deserve. Call us to discuss your case if you were injured in an accident.