If you are out and about on a freeway or highway the chances are you will pass many mail delivery vehicles. They always have deadlines to meet as they rush mail from one side of the country to the other. Delivery drivers may get tired and irritable and may not be taking as much care as they should. This is when an accident with a delivery vehicle could take place and you could be seriously injured.
If this has happened to you it may be possible for you to get personal injury compensation for the financial hardship caused to you as the result of the accident. You should consider talking to a PI attorney before you file your PI claim. Note that as some mail carriers are federally owned organizations, claims for compensation are not the same as for private individuals or businesses. You are urged to contact a personal injury attorney before you file such a claim.
How Soon Should You Settle?
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a postal vehicle you will need to file a PI claim. There are strict rules concerning these claims as they come under the Federal Tort Claims Act which means you have to file your claim on Form 95 with a statement called ‘sum certain.’
There is a time limit for filing this form which is 2 years from the injury date. Once you have filed Form 95, you will probably have to wait at least 6 months before you are eligible to file a federal lawsuit. In this time the negotiations will be between you and the federal agency.
Why You Should Take Your Time to Settle
As soon as you have started the PI process you don’t need to rush. It’s important you collect a settlement that represents your financial hardship. This means you will need a detailed evaluation of the likely cost of medical treatment that will carry you through until you are well again.
If it’s unlikely you will return to work you will need the PI compensation to cover this. Also you don’t want just an estimate of your lost earnings but you need to ensure you are fully compensated for the full amount otherwise you will be out of pocket. It may take time to come up with a full evaluation of your loss of earnings.
How an Attorney Can Help You
It’s a good idea to talk to an experienced attorney who will negotiate on your behalf to get the PI settlement you are entitled to. Your attorney will know when enough information has been collected and when it’s the right time to settle your PI claim.
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 the USPS, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
