What to Do After an Accident with a USPS Truck. An Experienced USPS Truck Accident Lawyer Explains

Getting seriously injured in a car accident is one of a driver’s worst nightmares. But what if that vehicle is a United States Postal Service (USPS) truck? While USPS drivers are professional and generally careful while on the roads, accidents do happen.

According to a recent USPS Office of Inspector General 2021 Report , the USPS had 144,607 vehicle crashes within a period of five years. Unfortunately, many of the accidents were not reported correctly in the required tracking systems leading to unrepaired vehicles and drivers operating vehicles with undetected safety hazards.

With statistics like this, you may wonder what to do if you are ever in a car accident with a USPS truck. The Doctor Lawyer Team is here to help. We are a Connecticut veteran-owned personal injury medical malpractice law firm with experience representing clients in these cases. We represent victims of USPS accidents nationwide. Keep reading as our USPS truck accident lawyer shares what you need to know if you are in an accident involving a USPS truck.

Take These Steps After an Accident with a USPS Truck

As with any accident case, take the following steps:

1. Call 911 right away. Once emergency responders arrive, they will assess the situation and provide you and any others involved with the necessary medical treatment. Remember, some injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, may not be immediately apparent, so it’s critical to take this step and call 911.
2. After calling 911, if possible, move your vehicle to a safe location after ensuring that everyone inside the vehicle is okay. Getting out of the way of oncoming traffic will reduce the risk of further accidents and injuries. If your car is not drivable, turn on your hazard lights and wait for help to arrive.
3. It is crucial to stay at the scene of the accident until law enforcement arrives because leaving could result in hit-and-run charges filed against you. Once law enforcement arrives, they will create an accident report you can use as evidence in any claims you file or personal injury lawsuits resulting from the accident.
4. Gather as much evidence as possible at the scene of the accident. This may include taking pictures of the damage to your vehicle and the accident's location, getting any witnesses' contact information, and speaking with the police officer who responds to the scene.
5. Do not give a statement to anyone from the USPS or their insurance company until you have spoken with an attorney. Remember, anything you say could be used against you later on.
6. Contact an attorney experienced with the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) . The reason for this is that the driver of the USPS truck is a federal employee, and you will pursue your claim in federal court. It will not be like other automobile accident cases involving state court. It will be against the USPS, and you need the experience of a federal tort lawyer .
7. Keep track of all expenses related to the accident, including medical bills, lost wages from time missed at work, and property damage repairs.

Making a Claim Under the FTCA

You might have a claim under the FTCA if the following apply:

• You were injured or had property damaged by a federal government employee
• A federal government employee was acting within the scope of their official duties
• A federal government employee was acting negligently or wrongfully
• A federal government employee’s negligent or wrongful act caused you harm

If you have documentation that your claim meets these requirements, you must first file an administrative claim before you can sue the federal government in court. Your attorney can assist you in putting together the required documentation.

How a Federal Tort Lawyer Can Help You File Your Administrative Claim

Claims filed under the FTCA must go through a specific protocol. You must complete and present Standard Form 95 to the appropriate federal agency. Though this form may seem simple enough for you to complete on your own, your responses to the questions on the form will be carefully scrutinized by the federal government agency and its attorneys. Too often we see costly mistakes made by individuals trying to represent themselves. Moreover, consider how serious a claim by an individual will be viewed when compared to a claim submitted by an experienced lawyer. Your federal tort lawyer can help with this process to ensure the form is correctly filled out and submitted.

Claims against a government entity (such as the USPS) have strict time limits, in contrast to most other personal injury claims. The government requires the form to be filed within two years of your injury to establish your claim. The government must respond to your claim within six months by stating whether it accepts liability and if so, the amount of compensation it is prepared to offer.

If you disagree with the government's decision, you have six months to file a lawsuit. A lawsuit against the USPS is filed in federal district court under the FTCA, as opposed to accidents involving private individuals or private businesses, which are filed in state courts. No matter where you live, the Doctor Lawyer Team can represent you when you submit a claim to the USPS and, if appropriate, file a lawsuit against the United States Government on your behalf.

Contact Our Experienced USPS Truck Accident Lawyer Team Today

If you are injured in a USPS truck accident, you must contact an experienced USPS truck accident lawyer with federal tort claim experience. The Doctor Lawyer Team understands how to deal with the federal government regarding federal tort claims and combines legal and medical expertise to deliver the results you need to move on from injuries sustained in a USPS truck accident.

We represent victims of USPS accidents throughout the United States. Contact The Doctor Lawyer Team today to schedule your free case evaluation by calling us at (833) DLT-WINS or (833) 358-9467 to learn more about your legal rights and best options for recovery. You can also fill out our online form . The Doctor Lawyer Team—Join the Winning Team.

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The information in this blog post (post) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.

The Doctor Lawyer Team
638 Prospect Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
(833) DLT-WINS; (833) 358-9467
https://www.doctorlawyerteam.com/