Mail delivery trucks are encountered all over the U.S. Mail drivers are under pressure to get their parcels and packets delivered on time and may take short cuts to keep to deadlines. Tired, reckless, distracted and intoxicated mail drivers can cause unnecessary accidents.
If you have been hit and injured by a negligent delivery driver you may be able to claim compensation for the cost of medical treatment and damage to your car. Filing a personal injury claim against a large corporation like the UP, or any postal service, S isn’t easy. Here are 5 things you can do to help file a claim after an accident with the other driver.
1: Gather Evidence at the Accident Scene
The worst case scenario is that you are badly injured and taken to hospital before you can do anything at the crash site. Even if this is the case, there should be a police report you can get hold of later. This should identify possible eye witnesses and give details of how the accident happened. If the driver was speeding or drunk, police may lay charges against the driver which could help you when you submit evidence for a claim.
If you can be a little more pro-active at the crash, it will mean you have more evidence to back up your claim. For example:
• take photos of the damage and vehicle positions;
• check if there is a surveillance camera nearby;
• ask any eye witnesses to make a written or audio statement;
• make a sketch of the positions of the vehicles and note anything you can remember about what happened immediately before the crash.
2: Have a Medical Examination
You will need to see your doctor even if you are only slightly injured. Make sure you get a copy of the doctor’s report. If you need hospital treatment or any tests or x-rays, get a copy of the results.
You should also make sure you keep every invoice or bill for medical treatment including:
• doctor’s visit fee;
• medication;
• use of ambulance;
• hospital visits including accommodation;
• cost of tests, scans, x-rays etc.;
• anesthesia;
• surgery;
• estimated future medical costs.
3: Arrange for Auto Repairs
If your vehicle has been damaged by the mail truck, it will need repairs. It may need to be towed to a repair yard. Get a damage report and estimate of the repair bill to submit with your claim.
If the vehicle is a write-off, it will still need towing away to a scrap yard and then it will have to be replaced. You will need evidence of the cost of a suitable replacement vehicle as well as the cost of alternative transport such as a rental car, taxis or public transport until you replace or repair the vehicle.
4: Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Making a claim against the offending party is easier if you have a lawyer working for you. Most PI lawyers will provide a free initial consultation to discuss the accident. If the lawyer takes on your case, usually fees are deferred until a reasonable settlement is reached.
5: File a Claim
Once your lawyer has accepted your case, you can proceed with a claim. You will need to submit as much evidence as possible with your claim and take into account statutes of limitations which limit the time available to file your claim. These vary depending on the state where the accident took place.
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.
