What to Do if You Are Involved in a Crash With a Postal Vehicle

Even though the United States Postal Service (USPS) sometimes functions as a private business would, the rules for obtaining compensation from it are somewhat different. USPS workers are considered federal employees for purposes of liability. You cannot simply file a lawsuit against the federal government like you would a private party. To be clear, you do have the right to seek compensation when you have been injured by the negligence of government employees, but it follows a different legal process. All of this makes it even more important that you get the legal help you need after the accident.

Get Medical Help and Hire a Car Accident Lawyer

Like any car accident case, the first steps that you must take involve your own health and physical recovery. You stand the best chance of making the fullest possible recovery when you get prompt medical attention. Besides getting the medical help that you need to treat your injuries, you should also contact an experienced car accident lawyer to help you get full compensation for your injuries. Under federal law, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim for compensation. In addition, you are dealing with a difficult process that has its own unique rules.

Although the government typically has sovereign immunity for its actions, it agrees to waive it under certain circumstances. When you have been injured in a car accident that involved negligence of a government employee, you can hold the USPS responsible for your damages.

File a Claim With the USPS

The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) governs any legal actions that you file against the federal government. In reality, this is a complex legal system that is not always known to be friendly to claimants, making it even more crucial that you have an experienced lawyer who knows how to deal with both the government and the legal system.

Before you can even go to court, you must file a claim directly with the Postal Service under the FTCA. The claim would include the same information that you would typically file with the insurance company after a standard car accident. You would submit evidence about the accident that shows that the USPS employee was negligent, along with medical evidence and a statement of your damages. Your claim would seek a certain sum from the government that represents the damages that you have sustained. However, unlike other types of car accident cases, you cannot seek punitive damages because the government does not waive sovereign immunity in this regard.

File a Lawsuit if You Cannot Get Satisfactory Compensation From the USPS

The USPS will review your claim and determine whether to offer you money in a settlement. To be clear, the government does not get the final say about whether you deserve money and how much you may get. They have the ability to accept liability and offer you a settlement, but you can file a lawsuit in federal court if they either deny your claim or make you an insufficient settlement offer. Then, a federal court would determine whether you are eligible for money, and if so, how much you would be able to receive.

Do not make any assumptions that the government is on your side because they want to do the right thing. Their lawyers will protect their own financial interests, just as an insurance company would in the event of an accident.

Contact Our Lackawanna Car Accident Lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys to Get the Settlement You Deserve

If you have been injured in a crash involving a vehicle driven by a USPS worker, our Lackawanna car accident lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys are here to help you. For a free case review, submit our online contact form or call us today at 716-648-3030. Located in Hamburg, New York, we proudly serve clients in the surrounding areas.