There’s no need to explain the experiences citizens have had with government entities. Whether renewing a license at the DMV office or asking a city employee to fix the pothole on your street, they can respond with very little enthusiasm.
If you’ve been in a wreck with a USPS Truck, knowing this is also a government entity is essential. Some people might need help knowing where to begin.
A crash with a US Post Office truck is different from other parcel carriers like FedEx and UPS. Private companies carry their own insurance and have a direct link to their insurance adjuster. With USPS, the claim is against the federal government. No company insurance carrier is going to be contacting you. In this case, a claimant is required to go through the Federal Tort Claims Act, or FTCA (https://www.house.gov/doing-business-with-the-house/leases/federal-tort-claims-act). They must file a claim and ask for “reimbursement.” It takes work and plenty of time. And while you are trying to sort through forms and paperwork with uninterested government employees, the bills related to the accident are piling up. It’s intimidating, stressful and costly.
And if you receive a response from the FTCA after an accident, they’ll low-ball the claim and expect you to take it and be happy about it too. Instead, the best answer is “Talk to my lawyer.”
Cut Through the Red Tape and Contact an Attorney for a Wreck with a USPS Truck
Dealing with any parcel service company after a car accident can be difficult. Whether it’s FedEx or UPS, the insurance carrier is interested in paying a sum to cover the minimum damages. That’s why we say don’t even begin to talk to the insurance adjustor; contact us to handle it. We are very familiar with the tactics used by insurance carriers for parcel services. There’s always “red tape” to get through. And no one does red tape better than the government! It may be a different process, but JV Law attorneys are experts in handling these claims too.
Please don’t allow yourself to be intimidated into managing s wreck with a USPS truck alone. There are better times to learn how to deal with the FTCA. An attorney familiar with processing a claim with the government can do it faster, with better results.
There are several things you can do, though. While you are still on the site of the accident.
- Take photos and videos of the truck, plates, and damage.
- Take photos and videos of any physical evidence on the street, such as broken signs and skid marks.
- Don’t be a hero and accept medical help if it’s needed.
- DO NOT say anything that would admit fault.
Evidence that proves the USPS driver was in the wrong can help to achieve compensation. But after the accident, contact us to carry on with the rest.
The Bigger the Truck, the Bigger the Injuries
The USPS can be just as intimidating on the road since their parcel trucks are big. And a big truck increases the chance of more extensive damage during an accident. One of the main reasons for a USPS truck accident is mail carrier negligence. They aren’t paying attention and back up into your car or are speeding to get their packages delivered quickly. Other reasons can be distracted driving, flawed lane changes and turns, or ignoring traffic laws. In some situations, a USPS mail carrier may be under the influence.
Another reason for the accident is the truck itself. Defective vehicle parts finally break, and the driver can’t control the car.
In any case, you must prove the USPS truck driver was at fault. And proving liability without a lawyer will be a waste of time. This is the federal government, and they want to avoid paying you a penny.
Let JV Law handle the red tape and government rhetoric (https://jvlawfirm.net/practice-areas/accident-attorneys/). Claimants are entitled to complete payment for their damages, whether it’s a corporate parcel service or a federal parcel service.
