USPS Accident Attorney

In an instant, a collision with a United States Postal Service (USPS) delivery truck can change your life forever. You may have a stack of unpaid medical bills, with no idea how you’ll pay them. Plus, the insurance company may badger you to accept a small settlement offer that barely covers your costs. 

It can be even more aggravating if you discover that USPS cut corners which contributed to your accident. You need compensation for your injuries, but the thought of pursuing legal action may sound daunting. You need a zealous USPS accident attorney to help you fight for your fair compensation.

Gerling Law fights for accident victims throughout Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. Our firm prides itself on being genuinely client-centric, helping to ensure our clients feel heard, valued, and respected. We understand the challenges you face and are here to help. We won’t back down, even when facing large insurance companies or the USPS. Whether at the negotiating table or trial, we fight for justice for our clients. 

The Tragic Truth About USPS Accidents

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that rising pressures to meet deadlines and keep competition at bay led the USPS to make business decisions with deadly consequences. The Department of Transportation (DOT) reviewed USPS and discovered that many of the contractors USPS hired to help meet demand fell below industry standards. The consequence has been increased car accidents and fatalities involving USPS trucks. 

Additionally, many of the contractors employed by USPS have abysmal safety and compliance track records. For example, one trucking company worked with the USPS for over a decade, all while incurring dozens of violations, including using truck drivers who did not possess valid commercial driving licenses. Despite these issues, USPS either looked the other way or imposed fines. USPS’s failure to ensure that their contracted truck drivers comply with the law resulted in a USPS truck accident that killed a family of five in Colorado. 

According to the Wall Street Journal’s report, USPS drivers or contractors were involved in at least 68 fatal crashes, resulting in 79 deaths between 2020 and 2023. Many of the truck drivers responsible for these deaths had expired commercial licenses and broke many of the safety regulations in place to prevent these tragedies. Sadly, USPS knew about many of these violations and prioritized profit and efficiency over people. 

A USPS truck accident attorney at Gerling Law is standing by to help you and your family hold USPS responsible for what happened to you. No one should suffer injuries or lose their life in a truck accident, especially where USPS could have prevented the crash by taking reasonable precautions. The team at Gerling Law understands your pain and is here to listen to your story and help you pursue justice. 

What Are the Rights of USPS Accident Victims and Surviving Family Members?

If you or your loved one were injured in a USPS accident, you might be eligible to file a legal claim against the at-fault driver or company. Most accident cases rely on the legal principle of negligence to prove who was at fault. In legal terms, that means you must prove the following elements:

• The USPS truck driver owes you a duty of care. A truck driver owes all other drivers a duty to follow the law and drive responsibly. For example, truckers must refrain from driving more than the maximum number of hours a truck driver is permitted to drive under federal law. 
• The truck driver breached their duty of care. A truck driver breaches the duty of care by failing to follow the law or other trucking regulations. An example would be if a truck driver is speeding because they feel pressure to meet a delivery deadline. 
• The truck driver’s breach caused the accident. For example, if the truck driver was fatigued because they did not take a break and fell asleep at the wheel, causing an accident. 
• You suffered damages because of the accident. This means that you suffered a physical injury or property damage. 

A United States Postal Service accident lawyer can help you identify and assert your legal rights. For example, they can help you identify your legal claims and file your case before any deadlines pass. 

How Can a USPS Accident Lawyer Help?

Victims of USPS truck accidents often face crippling medical bills and pain from their injuries. Additionally, they must meet the daily responsibilities of providing for themselves and their families. If they add legal matters on top of this, it can be too much to handle on their own.

With a United States Postal Service accident attorney, crash victims can place legal matters into their attorney’s hands, allowing them to focus on healing. The lawyer will listen to the family’s story, perform vital legal research, and craft arguments to help maximize the compensation the client receives. Further, the attorney can negotiate and communicate with third parties, such as insurance companies, on behalf of the client, allowing the client the necessary space to breathe.