If you have been hit by a UPS, or any other mail delivery service truck, and your vehicle has been damaged and you and any other occupants have been injured you may be able to claim compensation. A personal injury claim against UPS, or any other mail delivery service, itself could help to pay for the damage done to your car and any medical costs you have had to pay. You will find that a personal injury lawyer can provide useful advice and legal help when making a claim.
Damages Due to an Accident
There are four main types of damages that are claimed in any vehicle accident if your accident took place in an at-fault state for insurance. Only if injuries are serious can you file a personal injury claim in a no-fault state.
The four types of damages are:
- compensation for any damage done to the vehicle and any other personal property;
- compensation for injuries, taking into account any future medical costs
- compensation for pain and suffering;
- punitive damages if the driver or the company had acted with serious negligence.
What You Could do at the Site of the Accident
At the site of the accident, there are a couple things you will need to do that may help in a successful personal injury claim.
- Injuries should be addressed as first priority after a truck accident. The people involved should be made safe and anyone needing hospital treatment should be removed by ambulance as soon as possible.
- The police should be called unless the accident was minor. The police will compile a report which will be one of the more important pieces of evidence available if a claim is filed.
- Insurance details and names of the drivers involved should be exchanged as well as contact information.
- If time and injuries allow, it could prove very useful to obtain any further evidence that could help support a future claim for compensation. Typical evidence that could be collected at the crash scene includes:
- Witness contact details or statements
- Photographic evidence
- Anything else that you may recollect jotted down to help you describe what happened later on.
What Should Be Done After Leaving the Accident
Here are some tips for what should be done after leaving the accident scene.
- After the accident, you should make sure that anyone who may have been injured in your own vehicle is checked by a doctor. Some injuries do not show up until later, but you must still have proof of your injuries if you do make a claim.
- Your insurance provider should be notified as soon as possible after the accident.
- Make sure you obtain a copy of the police report made at the crash scene.
- Any other evidence that may support a personal injury claim should be obtained if you and your lawyer think you have a good chance of obtaining compensation. This should include evidence of:
- Any medical costs, lost earnings
- Extra transport costs if your vehicle is out of action
- Repair bills or replacement costs of property damaged.
Why You Should Contact a Lawyer
You will find that a personal injury lawyer will be very useful if you decide to file a claim against the driver or the mail delivery service, itself.
Your lawyer will have a much better chance of obtaining fair compensation than you would do all by yourself. Use the Free Case Evaluation Form available below to help you choose a suitable lawyer.
*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 UPS, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
