St. Louis USPS Truck Accident Attorneys

If you have been injured in an accident with a United States Postal Service (USPS) driver in St. Louis, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your losses. However, claims against the USPS are very different from typical auto accident claims and require a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to manage them.

The attorneys from Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC have extensive experience navigating claims against government bodies like the Post Office and can offer support and guidance at each step of the process. We understand the unique challenges of suing the USPS for an accident and can work toward the best possible resolution for your case.

What Makes USPS Truck Accidents Different from Other Crashes?

The main factor that makes USPS mail truck accidents different from other crashes is the involvement of a government entity. The USPS is an agency of the federal government, so claims are governed by the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) rather than state laws.

The rules for suing the federal government are much stricter than standard injury claims, and there are limits on the types of compensation you can recover.

Can You Sue the USPS After a Truck Accident in St. Louis?

The Federal Tort Claims Act waives the federal government’s immunity from civil liability for injuries in some instances. According to the FTCA, injured individuals can file claims against negligent federal employees who injure them in the course of their job duties. USPS drivers are federal government employees, meaning the federal government can reimburse you for losses resulting from their negligence or wrongdoing.

You must prove four things to make a successful claim under the FTCA:

You were injured by a federal employee.
The employee was acting in the scope of their employment.
The employee acted negligently or wrongfully.
The negligent or wrongful action caused the injury in question.

Before filing a lawsuit, you must first seek an administrative resolution and submit Standard Form 95 (SF-95) Claim for Damage, Injury, or Death. SF-95 should contain all relevant information, such as photos, medical documentation, police accident reports, and witness statements. After submitting, the federal government will review your claim and issue a settlement check if they approve it. If they deny or undervalue your claim, you can pursue the case by filing a lawsuit in federal court.

How Long Do You Have to File a USPS Truck Accident Claim?

Missouri typically gives you five years to make a truck accident claim. But the time limit for filing a USPS mail truck accident claim against the federal government is significantly shorter.

You must file an SF-95 within two years of the accident date or the date you discovered your injuries. If you miss this deadline, you will lose your right to seek compensation. If the government denies your claim, you have six months to file a lawsuit to appeal the decision.

The time limits are very strict, so you should start your claim as early as possible to reduce delays. Our St. Louis USPS truck accident lawyers are ready to help you now.

How Do I Know Who Is Liable in a USPS Delivery Truck Crash?

Liability in a postal service truck crash injury claim follows the same common law negligence standard as other injury claims. Recovering compensation rests on demonstrating negligence on the part of the USPS driver.

USPS drivers can engage in several behaviors that create unnecessary risks, like speeding, ignoring road signs, or distracted driving. Evidence in USPS truck accident claims is largely the same as in other truck driving claims and includes:

Police accident reports
Photos and video recordings
Eyewitness statements
Physical evidence
Medical documentation
Electronic logging device data

In some cases, other parties may bear partial liability, like other negligent motorists. In such cases, you could potentially pursue compensation from each party individually. The truck accident attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC stand ready to investigate your claim and identify all liable entities to maximize your compensation.

What Compensation Can I Recover from a USPS Accident Claim?

Depending on your injuries and the accident’s circumstances, you could pursue compensation for the following types of losses from a commercial truck accident:

Emergency medical bills and continuing medical expenses
Lost work income and other forms of employment compensation
Reduced lifetime earning capacity due to permanent disability
Other injury-related expenses (for example, childcare, home modifications, and transportation)
Pain and suffering from your injuries
Discomfort and inconvenience from disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life

Damage caps in federal claims default to state law, and Missouri has no statutory caps on the compensation you can recover from a personal injury lawsuit. However, truck accident victims cannot recover punitive damages in claims against the federal government.

What Are the Common Causes and Types of USPS Truck Accidents?

USPS truck drivers frequently work long and demanding shifts, and performance pressure can cause them to make mistakes, leading to vehicle collisions. A few examples of potential causes of USPS truck accidents include:

Fatigued or distracted driving
Speeding
Unsafe parking
Ignoring traffic signs and signals
Stopping without warning
Mechanical failures
Insufficient driver training
Driving under the influence
Improperly secured cargo
Aggressive driving

USPS trucks get into the same kind of accidents as other trucks, ranging from rear-end and sideswipe collisions to head-on and T-bone collisions. The United States Postal Service uses large commercial trucks of varying sizes to deliver mail, including tractor-trailers, box trucks, and small delivery vans. Accidents involving larger trucks tend to be more severe.

How Can a St. Louis USPS Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me?

The St. Louis truck accident lawyers at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC are highly experienced in handling claims under the FTCA and can be relied on for effective legal support in USPS truck accident cases. We can manage every aspect of making a federal claim and provide litigation support for escalated claims. It is challenging to hold the federal government accountable, but an experienced personal injury lawyer from our firm can level the playing field and protect your interests.

Contact our offices online or call today for a free case consultation with a postal truck accident lawyer on our legal team. We are available 24/7, so feel free to reach out at a time that is convenient for you.

(314) 367-2661