Ylla Gosney, Attorneys at Law can help you through the claims process if you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Tulsa. One of the most familiar vehicles you probably see every day here is a USPS mail truck. But like any vehicle, you can just as easily be involved in an accident with one of them. This brings up all the normal questions about what you can do, and that’s where we’ll help. Set up a free consultation today.
Getting a Lawyer After a Mail Truck Accident
It’s never a good situation when you’re hurt in an accident involving a mail truck in Tulsa. But because you see them everyday, it’s one of the most familiar sights on the road. That also increases the chances that there’ll be a collision. And when that happens, getting a lawyer probably isn’t at the top of your mind.
But soon after, you’ll start to understand why this kind of accident is a bit different. Not only do you have to deal with injuries and damage to your car, but because a USPS mail truck is under the control of the federal government, the claims process looks different too. That’s where most people start thinking about getting a lawyer. And that’s where our team can help you by:
- Looking into the accident to figure out exactly what happened
- Explaining your rights and legal options in plain language
- Gathering important evidence before it’s lost or becomes harder to find
- Handling talks with USPS representatives and the federal agencies involved in your claim
- Finding everyone who may be responsible for your injuries and losses
- Making sure your claim meets all requirements and filing deadlines
Obviously, every situation is different. The point of getting a lawyer after one of these accidents isn’t to make things more complicated—it’s to make things simpler for you and your family as you try to recover.
Information That Can Help a Claim After a Mail Truck Accident
In a collision with a mail truck, the first thing that usually goes through your mind is getting to safety and then assessing yourself and anyone else in the car for injuries. Mail truck collisions run the gamut, which means that there’s a lot of different variables when it comes to the information that’s available. So once you call 911 and take care of your safety, you should try to do what you can to get the following information:
- The police report from the responding officer
- The USPS driver’s name and any identifying information on the truck
- The vehicle’s license plate number, route number, or USPS vehicle markings
- Photos of your injuries, vehicle damage, the mail truck, and the surrounding scene
- Names and contact information for witnesses
- Medical records connecting your injuries to the collision
- Notes about your symptoms and how your injuries affect your daily life
- Your insurance claim number and any related paperwork
Remember, your first priority should always be your health and safety. Getting this information is important, but it comes second to reporting the accident and getting help. Our team can help you gather this information as you move along in the claims process.
Why Do USPS Truck Accidents Happen in Tulsa?
There’s two general reasons why USPS mail truck accidents happen so often in Tulsa. First, they’re scattered throughout the city. You see them in your own neighborhood, but also near Woodland Hills Mall and the I-44 interchange. Second, the nature of what mail trucks do make them hard to react to. Combine these together, and you have a recipe for accidents caused by:
- Frequent stops and slow driving speeds during mail deliveries
- USPS trucks driving on the opposite side of the road while making deliveries
- Mail or packages that weren’t properly loaded or secured
- Missed maintenance, mechanical failures, or faulty equipment
- Driver fatigue caused by long shifts and demanding delivery schedules
- Heavy traffic, construction zones, and changing road conditions around Tulsa
While these factors are present in virtually every mail truck accident, it hits differently when you’re the one that’s hurt. You’re left dealing with a ton of questions. The claims process can help you get better, but only if you understand how it works in this type of accident.
Liability With a Mail Truck Accident
One of the biggest complications with a mail truck accident in Tulsa isn’t your injuries and other damage you’re left with—although those two things are important. It’s that liability can bring in a different claims process.
A mail truck is operated by the federal government. That effectively means that a driver is acting within the scope of their employment—and that makes the USPS responsible for the actions of their driver. So when they cause an accident, the driver themselves aren’t personally responsible. Instead, legal liability falls on:
- The federal government
- A vehicle or parts manufacturer if defective equipment contributed to the crash
- A maintenance company if poor repairs or missed inspections played a role
- Another driver whose actions helped cause the accident
As you can see, there’s not just the USPS and mail truck driver that could be involved. That means multiple parties, and that usually leads to a lot of finger pointing about who’s actually responsible. All the while, you’re left dealing with things like:
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Ligament and tendon injuries
- Head, neck, and shoulder injuries
- Back and spinal injuries
- Lacerations and cuts
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Burn injuries
And with injuries and liability comes the claims process. You have rights and the ability to get financial help for what you’ve lost. But again, the process works differently with a mail truck
How the Claims Process Works After a Mail Truck Accident in Tulsa
With a mail truck accident, you have the same rights as you would with any other kind of accident. You still have to file an injury claim and get “damages.” But it doesn’t work the same way. Because the federal government is involved, it means filing your claim through the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).
With an FTCA claim, everything gets sped up because it’s handled through the federal government and the federal courts. Instead of the normal two year deadline, you have to file your FTCA claim within six months of the accident, then go through that whole process of investigation and, potentially, a lawsuit.
But once your claim is filed, the focus turns to your damages. They could include:
- Medical expenses, both current and future
- Rehabilitation costs and ongoing medical care
- Lost income from missed work
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work in the future
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Other property damage related to the accident
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death damages if you lost a loved one in the accident
Every USPS truck accident claim is different. Plus, it’s not guaranteed that it’ll just be the USPS involved. That could mean you would need to file a private claim against whoever else was responsible on top of your claim against the government. All of this is very confusing and overwhelming, but you don’t need to go through it alone.
Ylla Gosney Can Help You After a Mail Truck Accident in Tulsa
USPS trucks are a part of everyday life in Tulsa. Whether you’re driving through Downtown, Midtown, South Tulsa, or your own neighborhood, sharing the road with mail carriers is unavoidable. But that doesn’t make the aftermath of an accident any easier. You’re still facing injuries, car repairs, missed work, and ongoing pain. When that happens, our Tulsa mail truck accident lawyers at Ylla Gosney, Attorneys at Law can help you. Set up a free consultation today to get started.