Anyone who drives a lot on U.S. highways will have noticed the abundance of large, delivery vehicles like mail trucks. Even though ordinary mail volumes have been reduced because of communication through the Internet, the mail service still transports an extraordinary amount of parcels right across America. Delivery drivers aren’t always as conscientious as they should be and accidents occur when drivers take risks in heavy traffic.
Merging accidents, such as those when vehicles are forced to merge into another lane, are some of the most common traffic accidents. If you have been hit by a merging mail truck, you may be able to claim compensation by initiating a claim. Talk to personal injury lawyer as soon as you can before you submit a claim.
Injuries Caused by a Mail Truck Merging Accident
If you are hit by a merging driver, it will be most likely be an impact on the side of your vehicle and towards the rear. Your car will absorb some of the impact, but your car could be pushed to one side by the sheer size and weight of the truck. The danger is that this collision causes a cascading series of events which leads to you being hit by other drivers as you are forced into their path by the delivery truck. A roll over is a very real threat if the mail truck hit you at speed.
Injuries from a sideswipe or side impact collision could be anything from minor bruises right through to much more serious damage. If you are hit by another driver while trying to avoid the mail truck, for instance, you could be thrown forwards into the steering wheel or the windshield.
The Process for Filing a Personal Injury Claim For an Accident with a Mail Truck
As the delivery is a federal agency you will need to be aware of how to make a claim against it as it is a different process than if you were hit by a commercial truck. You have 2 years to complete Form 95 under the Federal Tort Claims Act. You then have to wait up to 6 months for a response before going ahead with a personal injury lawsuit through the federal court.
Every claim whatever the circumstances must be able to provide evidence that negligence was involved and that this negligence caused both the damage to your property and injuries to the occupants of the vehicle you were driving. The fact that the mail truck was merging when the accident took place should help to make it easier to prove that the truck driver was at fault.
Why you Need a PI Lawyer
Making a claim for compensation against any large corporation can be challenging, but the fact that you are up against a federal agency makes it just that more difficult, if not impossible. It will certainly help your efforts to win compensation if you have legal assistance from an experienced personal injury 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 the USPS, or another party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
