The United States Postal Service dates back to the 1860s when the U.S Post Office began to incorporate the Pony Express to get mail to California as the United States continued to expand west. Although the United States had been using stamps and sending mail since the 1770s, the Pony Express was one of the first to carry mail more than 1,900 miles.
More than a century and a half later, the United States Postal Service (USPS) processes more than 160 billion pieces of mail and delivers it to more than 152 homes, businesses, and post offices across the nation. Additionally, USPS employs more than 522,000 persons in facilities across the U.S.
As for their vehicles, the USPS has more than 212,500 vehicles in their fleet and they drive more than 1.3 billion miles each year. Additionally, in Arizona and Florida certain routes allow mail carriers to deliver to homes by bicycle.
According to the USPS Office of the Inspector General, during 2010 and 2011 USPS vehicles were involved in more than 20,000 accidents. Overall motor vehicle collisions represented 25% of all USPS accidents. In general according to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland security, in 2007 there were more than 9,800 truck accidents reported throughout the state.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a USPS truck collision, the victim may be entitled to compensation for property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and more.
For a free case evaluation, fill out the FREE CASE REVIEW form located to your right its 100% FREE and completely confidential.
Types of USPS Vehicles
With such a large amount of mail going from one location to another, it is no surprise that the USPS has one of the largest civilian fleets in world. Although we are used to seeing only the small USPS truck, they actually have many different types of trucks.
Some other types of USPS vehicles include:
- Large box trucks
- Minivans
- SUVs
- Semi-trailers
- Airplanes
Postal vehicles also lack regular license plates and are instead identified by a number on the front or rear of the vehicle. If this number is not clearly indicated it can make it difficult to identify the driver if they are involved in motor vehicle accident including a hit-and-run collision.
Types of USPS Accidents
As with all motor vehicles both drivers and vehicles involved in a collision are at risk of being injured depending on the type of collision that occurred and the vehicles involved. A crash between a motor vehicle and 18-wheeler is more likely to cause larger amounts of property damage and vehicle injuries than one with a small USPS truck.
Some common types of USPS accidents include:
- Side Impact Collisions
- Sideswipes
- Rear-end Crashes
- Rollover Accidents
- Truck Underride
Although not common, truck underride and jackknife accidents could occur when the mail carrier is driving cross country in a semi-trailer.
Causes of USPS Accidents
One of the most important traits of the USPS is their ability to get mail to their destinations in a timely manner. Unfortunately this means that speed is also a common cause of these collisions as workers often have a deadline to meet.
Some other common causes of USPS truck accidents include:
- Fatigued Driving
- Failure to Yield
- Failing to Obey Traffic Signs or Signals
- Inexperienced Drivers
- Improperly Maintained Vehicles
- Distracted Driving
Failing to inspect vehicles could lead to a number of issues including faulty brakes, risk of fire during a collision, and more. According to the report from the USPS Office of the Inspector General, 14 out of 23 postal locations inspected found that supervisors did not provide adequate oversight to ensure that vehicle inspections were completed. Additionally, 18 out of 23 postal service locations did not have any usable accident reporting kits in their vehicles.
Contact our Knoxville Truck Accident Attorney Today
With so many USPS vehicles out on the road, the chances of being involved in a collision with USPS vehicle is rather high. If you or a loved one has been involved in a USPS truck accident, the victim may be entitled to compensation for their injuries or property damage.
With more than 40 years of combined legal experience, the knowledgeable team of attorneys at Greg Coleman Law have representing personal injury victims in many trials. We are ready to help guide you through the entire litigation process to ensure you receive the MAXIMUM amount of compensation you deserve.
Our main office is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and we are also proud to serve the following areas:
- Fountain City
- Powell
- Karns
- Farragut
- Acoa
and many more local towns and cities in the surrounding area. Contact us at (865) 247-0080 to find out how we can help you with your truck accident claim. Our intake staff members will get you connected with one of our lawyers best suited in handling your claim after a few initial questions.
You may also contact us online by filling out the FREE CASE REVIEW form located at the top right hand corner of this page.
