When you are involved in an automobile crash, you are entitled to receive compensation for your injuries from the at-fault driver. Medical bills, lost wages, property damage, physical pain, and emotional suffering are all damages that you may be able to receive compensation for in a personal injury claim. In some cases, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to receive a fair and just settlement for your injuries.
When your accident involves a large commercial truck such as a delivery truck, you may need the assistance of an attorney who specializes in truck accidents to represent your interests. Insurance companies for large companies have hundreds of attorneys working for them and on behalf of the offending party; therefore, you may need an attorney to level the playing field to seek justice for your injuries caused by an accident involving a mail delivery truck.
Like all accidents, you should do the following immediately after your accident
- seek medical attention;
- Trade contact information with the other driver;
- take pictures to document your accident;
- Contact the police to obtain an accident report;
If you do these things, you can make sure that you have enough information about your case to pursue a personal injury claim.
What To Do Immediately After the Accident
How Do I Determine Fault In a Mail Truck Accident?
Determining fault in a mail truck accident can be complicated and complex due to federal and state regulations that govern commercial trucking companies. In order to recover compensation for your damages in a mail truck accident, you must prove that you were not at fault for the accident. In other words, you must prove that the driver or the company was negligent, reckless, or careless and, because of this negligence, you were injured in a commercial truck accident.
Common causes for mail truck accidents include:
- Drivers falling asleep or driving too many hours
- Drivers speeding, driving recklessly, or driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol
- Improper training
- Failure to follow trucking regulations or standards
- Improperly loaded cargo causing cargo to shift during transit
- Improperly maintained trucks and/or trailers
In order to prove fault in a mail truck accident, a personal injury attorney conducts a thorough accident investigation that includes viewing the accident scene, requesting time logs and other driver records, requesting maintenance records, and records regarding violations of federal and/or state laws governing commercial trucks.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, it may be necessary to retain experts to reconstruct the accident in order to determine liability and prove negligence.
If You Have Been Injured By A Mail Truck, You May Need An Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
It is vital that you contact a truck accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident with a delivery truck. You may only have a short time to file a personal injury claim due to the Statute of Limitations law in your state. A personal injury attorney will help you recover compensation for damages including, but not limited to:
- Financial Damages – Lost wages, medical expenses, home healthcare, etc.
- Physical Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Stress and Suffering
Because personal injury lawsuits related to commercial trucks involves a complex set of laws and trucking regulations, you may need a personal injury attorney with experience and skill handling mail truck accident cases. The company will have team of lawyers defending it and its driver — you deserve to have an attorney fighting for your right to justice.
Damages That May Result Being Hit By A Truck
If you have been hit by a delivery truck, you could suffer a variety of damages. When you suffer damages in an accident, you will need to maintain documentation and evidence for your claim. Try to get photos of the accident scene and of the damages that you suffered because of the crash.
You will have both injuries and damages to personal property. You should always call the police to have an accident report filed when you have been in such an accident.
Always establish medical care right away. You want to be able to tie your injuries to the accident involving a mail truck. Delaying your medical care can lead to your claim being denied and can lead the company and their insurer to alleging that your injuries were not the direct result of the accident in which you were hit by a mail vehicle.
You will need to maintain copies of your medical bills, medical records, and medical excuses. You should document any missed work and lost wages because you will want to be reimbursed for those as well.
When you pursue your claim, you will want to be reimbursed for your lost wages and the medical expenses that you have incurred. However, you should consider your prognosis and how your injuries will affect you in the future.
If your injuries are serious, they could lead to lasting disabilities. There may be a need for future medical care, and you may have a future loss of earnings. Here are some of the more commonly claimed damages from such an accident:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Future loss of earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Property damages
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
There are many things that you can use as evidence to support your personal injury claim after you have been hit by a mail truck. Be sure to maintain thorough records to support your case. Here are few pieces of evidence that you can use to support your personal injury claim:
- Accident report
- Witness statements
- Medical bills
- Medical records
- Damage estimates
- Photos of the accident scene
- Photos of the damages and visible injuries
- Proof of missed work and lost wages
Be sure to gather all the supporting evidence that you possibly can for your claim. You should consult with a personal injury lawyer who handles auto accident injury cases in your area.
Personal injury claims can be challenging, and the other party will have legal representation looking out for their rights. You want to make sure someone is looking out for your best interests and ensuring that your rights are protected.
To get your claim underway after you have been hit by a mail truck, you should complete the Free Case Evaluation Form to share the details of your case with an attorney who handles auto accident injury cases in your state.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against FedEx, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
