I Was Hit By a Mail Truck! Can I File A Lawsuit?

 I was in an automobile wreck with a truck driven by a mail truck.  The wreck happened on the interstate in Robertson County, Tennessee.   Can I sue the driver and the Post Office for my injuries?

You can sue the Post Office, but there is a special process that must be followed.  The Post Office can only be sued in federal court after the failure of a special claims process.  

The law that gives you the right to sue the Post Office is the Federal Tort Claims Act.  The claim must be filed within two years of the date of the accident.  A special claim form must be used to file the case with Post Office.  If Post Office rejects the claim or does not act on it within six months you will have to file suit in federal court.

However, I hasten to add that just because the truck signage led you to believe that it was a Post Office truck that hit you it may well be that the truck was operated by a private company.  The Post Office hires private trucking companies to carry mail between cities.  If so, different rules apply.  For instance, because the wreck occurred in Tennessee if a private trucking company is involved suit must be filed within one year of the date of the wreck. 

It is suggested that you seek the advice of an experienced lawyer to guide you through this process.