Who Is Liable in a USPS Truck Accident?

The federal government could be liable in a USPS truck accident, which may complicate the process of recovering fair compensation for your crash.

Because these cases often involve unique rules and deadlines, it is important to understand your rights before pursuing a claim. Taking early action can help protect your ability to seek financial recovery.

The United States Postal Service may be held responsible if an employee’s negligence caused your accident. For example, liability may arise if a mail truck driver failed to signal, ran a stop sign, or became distracted behind the wheel.

A Colorado truck accident lawyer can investigate your case, identify all potentially liable parties, and guide you through the process of pursuing compensation.

When the Government Is—and Is Not—Liable for a USPS Truck Accident

The United States Postal Service is liable for accidents caused by their employees’ negligence. Mail truck drivers may be found negligent if they:

• Did not signal or check for oncoming traffic before pulling off or onto the road
• Parked illegally
• Ignored a stop sign, yield sign, or traffic light
• Were distracted by an electronic device or something else

While driver negligence is a very common cause of traffic accidents, it is not the only possible cause. Before filing a claim against anyone, it is very important to be sure that you know the identities of all at-fault parties.

Our legal team can investigate your case to see if any of the following parties may share responsibility for what happened:

• Vehicle manufacturers: If your vehicle or the USPS truck malfunctioned, this could be the fault of a manufacturer that produced defective brakes, tires, or other parts.
• The local government: Depending on what road you were on, the town, city, county, or state may have been responsible for keeping it clean, safe, and in good repair. Any failure on their part could justify legal action.
• A third vehicle: In multi-vehicle crashes, it can be difficult to determine who is liable and how much responsibility each party bears.

Why Is Establishing Liability for a Traffic Accident So Important?

Establishing liability is the only way we can hold the at-fault party accountable and compel them to pay damages, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Reduced quality of life
• Physical and intellectual disability
• Medical expenses
• Loss of income and earning capacity
• Property damage

This is why hiring a legal representative and letting them look into your accident is such an important step to take. Without a professional investigation, it is very difficult to be certain about the at-fault party’s identity because:

• Your memory of the event may be incomplete or unclear.
• Even if you know who is liable for your injuries—for example, if you saw the USPS driver run a stop sign—there may be other factors that you cannot possibly know about (a mechanical issue with the truck, for instance) until after an investigation.
• The liable party may try to deny that they did anything wrong or even blame you for the crash, making it very important for you to support your claim with plenty of evidence.

Can You Sue the Government for a USPS Accident?

Yes, you can, but there are special requirements that you will need to take into consideration:

• Your legal action would be subject to the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which sets strict rules—including hard deadlines—for suing a government entity.
• You will have to prove to the government’s satisfaction that their employee was negligent while on the job, and that this negligence led directly to your injuries.
• It goes without saying that the federal government is a very large and powerful entity with plenty of resources to fight claims like yours.

It is vital that you follow every rule and meet every deadline that the FTCA sets out. This can be difficult to do if you are a layperson struggling to deal with serious injuries, but help is available.

Our personal injury attorneys understand what goes into building and filing a claim against the government, including:

• How to compile evidence that proves the severity of your injuries and how the liable party caused them
• How to ensure that all paperwork is filed in a timely manner, and stay in touch with the other parties
• How to fight for the money you need to cover all past, present, and future losses

How Will the USPS Respond to My Personal Injury Claim?

The response you receive may depend on the specifics of your case, among other factors. For example, if you have very strong evidence to support all aspects of your claim, the government might be more inclined to pay what you need right away than if there is some dispute about the severity of your injuries or doubt about who is liable in your USPS truck accident.

If the government rejects or ignores your claim, you still have the option of suing them. At this point, if you have not already done so, it is a good idea to find a truck accident lawyer who can help you navigate the complex process of:

• Figuring out which court has jurisdiction over your case
• Setting trial dates
• Selecting jury members
• Submitting evidence and other materials to the court
• Preparing and delivering oral arguments
• Questioning witnesses
• Raising objections if the defense infringes on your rights

As your law firm, it would be our job to manage all of these tasks. You might not even have to appear in court: we would do all of the talking.

What you do after a USPS accident can have a huge impact on your family’s future. Do not take chances at this critical time. Get the legal support you deserve so you can focus on healing from your injuries without jeopardizing your right to compensation.

Want Representation After a USPS Truck Crash?

Matlin Injury Law is here to help. Over our 50-plus years of combined experience, we have fought for justice, over and over again. No matter who is liable in your USPS truck accident, we can fearlessly confront the at-fault party and fight for the money you need.

Call today for a free consultation.