If you have an accident and a mail truck is to blame for the damage, you may be able to claim compensation. If your car’s frame is buckled, this could amount to thousands of dollars in repair bills. You should definitely seek out a personal injury lawyer to help you prepare an effective claim to be submitted to their insurer.
Frame Damage After a Collision With a Truck
Frame damage is about as serious as it can get. You can drive without a bumper, but you can’t drive if your car’s frame has been hit hard enough to distort, bend or crack it. If you have an early model car, it may not be even worth repairing.
If the frame of the car has been damaged, it is likely to cost several thousand dollars to fix it, perhaps as much as ten thousand dollars. In addition, it is unlikely that the frame is the only part of the car that is damaged. There could be several other parts of the car that need repairing or replacing like the side panels, lights, engine and windows.
Filing a Claim
Whether you can claim compensation from them depends on whether you can prove that the driver was at fault. They will have a good third party property damage policy, so there are in some ways fewer worries about suing the offending party than a private individual who may be underinsured or even uninsured. You will need to have some certainty that the company can be blamed for the collision and the damage to your car.
You will also need to carefully calculate the cost of repairing the damage to your vehicle as well as any treatment you might need yourself if you were injured in the crash. A garage can provide a quotation for the repair bill.
If this comes to more than the replacement cost of an equivalent vehicle then you may decide to opt for this instead. Make sure you include the ‘nuisance cost’ i.e. the cost of renting another vehicle while yours is out of action or the cost of using a taxi. When you have prepared your paperwork then that is the time to submit your claim to the company’s insurer.
Evidence Needed to Establish Liability
The company’s insurer will not accept a claim unless liability is established. This is where it is vital to have supporting evidence such as:
- photos taken of the damage at the scene of the crash;
- eye witness statements, either written or oral, together with contact details so their account can be verified by the insurer;
- a police report if police attend the scene, if traffic is held up or someone is injured which is very likely;
- a damage report from the garage that has assessed the cost of repair.
Contact a Lawyer
Frame damage will cost a lot to repair and if the driver was to blame then you have a good chance of obtaining compensation as long as your claim is well prepared. A car accident lawyer can help you with the paperwork as you will need to convince the company’s insurance provider that you have a valid claim. Complete the Free Claim Evaluation to get connected with a lawyer today!
*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.
