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October 30, 2025 8:29 pm
Hi everyone,
I need some advice after a car accident involving a USPS mail truck here in Georgia. Yesterday, I was stopped at a red light when a USPS truck came up behind me and slammed into my car. The impact wasn’t huge, but it definitely caused some damage to my bumper. The truck driver admitted fault right away, but now I’m not sure how to handle the situation.
Since it was a government vehicle, do I have to deal with the USPS directly or go through my insurance? Should I file a claim with the federal government, or is this like any other car accident? I just want to make sure I handle everything properly. Any advice from people who’ve been through something similar would be really helpful. Thanks!
Hey there, sorry you’re dealing with this — getting rear-ended by a USPS truck can be a bit more complicated than a normal accident.
Since the USPS is a federal agency, your claim falls under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which sets special rules for handling cases involving government vehicles. Here’s what you need to do:
- File a claim with USPS using Form SF-95. Include the accident details, police report, photos, and repair estimates. They have six months to respond.
- Tell your insurance company right away. They might handle the repairs and then seek reimbursement from USPS.
- Keep all your documentation — police report, photos, truck number, and any witness info.
- If USPS denies your claim or doesn’t respond in six months, you can file a lawsuit in federal court.
If there were injuries or major damage, it’s worth getting legal help familiar with FTCA cases, but for smaller claims, you can often handle it yourself.
November 3, 2025 4:29 pm
@tony-kalka Thanks, that really helps clear things up. One thing I’m still wondering — do I need to wait for USPS to finish their investigation before getting my car repaired, or can I go ahead and fix it and just keep the receipts for the claim? I don’t want to mess up the process, but I also can’t drive around with my bumper hanging off.
Good question — you don’t have to wait for USPS to finish their investigation before getting your car repaired, but make sure you document everything carefully first.
Take detailed photos of the damage from multiple angles, get at least one written repair estimate, and keep all receipts and invoices related to the work. You’ll need to include those when you file your Form SF-95 claim.
If your car isn’t drivable or the damage makes it unsafe, it’s completely reasonable to get it repaired now. Just make sure you keep copies of everything so USPS (or your insurance company) has the full record of the pre-repair damage and costs.
In short — yes, you can repair it, just preserve the evidence first.