A mail driver is constantly on the move, delivering parcels to customers throughout the country. S/he doesn’t always have the time to stop and take a rest so fatigue often affects these drivers.
When a driver suffers from fatigue all sorts of accidents can unexpectedly happen which involve other drivers. If this has happened to you and you have the evidence to prove that the accident wasn’t your fault, you may be able to file a personal injury compensation claim against the postal service.
1. Gather Evidence at the Accident Scene
Before you ever have the grounds to file a successful PI claim it is important to gather as much evidence as you can at the scene of the side swipe accident. This should include the following:
- obtaining the police report compiled by the officer who was called to the accident site;
- photographs taken at the scene of the accident including the vehicle’s position and the damage done;
- obtaining witness’ statements including their contact details.
2. Get a Medical Examination
If you were injured, you should be sure to seek medical help as soon as possible. If your injuries are serious you may require an ambulance to get you to the closest emergency room. As soon as you have checked into the medical facility, you should keep any receipts for the payment of medical treatment. You should also ask the treating physician to provide you with a medical report which includes a diagnosis for your back injury, treatment provided and likely treatment in the future.
3. Get Auto Repairs Done
Your vehicle was probably your pride and joy and to see it so seriously damaged with the trunk virtually totaled and most of the windows smashed can be heart wrenching. Make sure you take it to a mechanic and have it inspected for damage. The mechanic will provide you with a quote for the repairs. You should keep this quote and keep receipts of any repair work carried out by the mechanic. You should be able to include this in your PI claim.
4. Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
As soon as you have recovered sufficiently you should contact a lawyer who is experienced with these sorts of claims and will know the best way to create a strong and convincing claim. A lawyer will not only help you through the claims process but will also increase your chances of being successful.
5. File a Claim
At this point, you should have enough evidence gathered to file a claim. Your lawyer can file the claim on your behalf and ensure that it is done in the proper manner by filing it with the postal service. Filing claims against federal entities aren’t always that easy and require an initial notification of an intent to sue, so having an experienced PI lawyer helping you through the process will lead to a far higher chance of the claim being successful.
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.
