Traffic Injuries Caused by a USPS Driver
For the most part, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) drivers drive slow, are cautious, and are, more often than not, the victims of traffic collisions, not the at-fault parties. Three of the most common causes of traffic collisions are speeding/aggressive driving, distracted driving, and intoxicated driving—three things that few USPS drivers engage in on the job. However, USPS drivers are still human, and not perfect. There are plenty of cases where USPS drivers are at fault. Whether you were a pedestrian who was hit by an attentive USPS driver or an occupant of a vehicle that collided with a USPS vehicle, you have the ability to file a personal injury claim against the federal agency.
Sudden Stops
USPS vehicles make sudden, and sometimes abrupt stops. This can be a common source of confusion for other road users, as well as a common cause of collisions. USPS vehicles are required, like other motor vehicles, to use turn signals when they pull off the road to make a delivery. However, following too close (tailgating) and running into the back or side of a USPS vehicle is an example of a crash that is not the fault of the USPS driver.
Abruptly Pulling Into the Bike Lane or From/Into the Shoulder of the Road
Cyclists often find themselves competing for road space with USPS and other delivery vehicles. If the USPS driver pulled into your lane of traffic, including the shoulder of the road or bike lane, and you struck the USPS vehicle, the driver should be held accountable.
Driving On The Wrong Side of The Road
Believe it or not, a fair number of USPS collisions occur when the USPS vehicle was driving on the wrong side of the road.
Speeding
Speeding is a common contributing factor to all fatal collisions, particularly those with lower speed limits. In rural areas with speed limits equal to or less than 35 miles per hour, 40 percent of fatal collisions involve speeding, according to the Insurance Information Institute. In urban areas with the same speed limit, 30 percent of fatal collisions are contributed to by speeding. Among USPS drivers, it is more common for speeding to occur in rural areas with longer stretches between stops, though USPS speeding can happen anywhere and on any road.
Untrained or New Driver
According to the USPS, there are 29,000 USPS collisions annually. Nearly half of these involve new USPS drivers. New drivers are more likely to become distracted, fail to check their mirrors, do U-turns after missing delivery stops, and speed.
An Experienced Ocala Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You Win Your Claim
Claims against the USPS are more complex than personal injury claims against a private citizen or company, such as FedEx or Amazon, because the claim you are bringing is against the United States government. As such, you need to work with an Ocala personal injury attorney who has experience in such matters, as the entire personal injury claim process is much more difficult, and receiving fair compensation all the more an uphill battle. Contact the Glover Law Firm today at 352-484-0775 to schedule a free consultation.
Resources:
iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/urban-rural-comparison
about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2019/pb22534/html/cover.htm#:~:text=The%20three%20biggest%20causes%20of,on%20or%20off%20the%20job
https://www.gloverlawfirm.com/surgery-and-recovery-of-a-fractured-hip-or-pelvis/
