So I got hit by a U.S.P.S. truck last night.

[Hoppy]

Then, the guy takes off. (Hit and Run). I followed him to get information to report the problem. He sees me following and increases his speed. He stopped at a stop light and I cellphone-photoed the numbers on the back of his truck....

Then, to avoid me, he blows through a red light.

Consensus among my friends is that I am S.O.L.

Any other opinions?

I am going to file a police report so at least I am covered by my comprehensive.

[NYC_SKP]

1. First you go to the local Law Enforcement Office and make a report.

And you call your insurance agent.

And you complain to the postmaster general.

And then we see what happens.

[Skink]

8. all the way to the Postmaster General?

That's harsh.

[Go Vols]

10. :/

[TroglodyteScholar]

18. Harsh for a hit-and-run by a public employee with a USPS vehicle?

Dude should at least lose the job.

[Fumesucker]

2. Welcome to the DU!

[LisaL]

3. You should have called police after you photoed his numbers.

And made a report.

[irisblue]

4. are you allright?

please do file the police report, take photos of your car, see your doctor and let us know what happens.

[reddread]

5. chase em down

those trucks aint so fast, and he is only going to do worse down the line. id suggest calling 911 at the time of pursuit and reading the plate to them. I did this in desperation when some tweaker in a lowered minitruck blew the sign on our frontage road and tagged the corner of our truck. Then after he slid into a curb and took off, I really had no choice but to pursue and ID.
I went straight for the phone and 911, a convenient modern luxury. As I was speaking to the lady on the line I was very impressed by the quick sound of sirens pursuing us.
In the ultimate stroke of luck on our quiet block, a cop had been coming the other way, saw this asshole tweaker blow the sign at the next corner, then saw me do the same in pursuit.
Such a SWEET STROKE of luck!
Made somewhat sour by the blurb in the local rag recounting the cops advice NOT to do something like that.
AS IF our insurance company would cover the damage.
AS IF that dangerous tweaking NO LICENSE having SOB would have been caught by that cop if I hadnt.
If you have their number recorded, the time and location notated, you will be protected.
Sorry for the experience you had.
I was motivated solely by the sense that it could have been my wife driving, and it could have been a worse hit.
Fucking tweakers.

[itsrobert]

6. he is probably on probation period

Where they could fire him/her for anything. Especially an accident. Christmas is over, so no job security right now.

[reddread]

7. very likely an immediate drug test

not always convenient.

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. Caling 911 to report a dangerous driver would have worked

probably, as you followed him.
The guy hits you, drives recklessly at a high speed afterwards, runs a red light....clearly dangerous and you, being very concerend about the life and safety of others, of course call the police on your cellphone and give them them your location and his direction of travel.
Sounding very very concerned about the lives of others, you see.

Works in my area.

[kentuck]

11. Is that why they call you "Hoppy"??

??

[Skittles]

12. sorry but..........

oh never mind

[Pretzel_Warrior]

13. Did you consider standing your ground?

Welcome to DU

[Gravitycollapse]

14. Thanks Obama.

[pinboy3niner]

15. Sounds like a case of mail privilege

Besides what kentuck, Skittles, PW, and Gravitycollapse said I got nothin'.

[winter is coming]

16. The Postal Service might be able to tell which truck it was, based on the location. n/t

[Hoppy]

17. I filed a police report and the officer will go to the post office tomorrow and follow through.

In hindsight, the 911 might have been a better idea. But in the heat of the moment, that didn't occur to me. I was more concerned with not losing the vehicle until I got the photo of the numbers on the back of his truck.

Call to insurance company tomorrow.

[pipoman]

19. Was it an actual USPS vehicle

or a contractor? The USPS outsourced much of their transportation 10+ years ago. Now they contract with private companies, many are one or two truck operations. The contractors must be insured or they lose their contract. Accidents happen. When they happen to companies with 50 trucks the loss is spread pretty thin, if it happens to a 'one man show' it can result in a significant rate increase or cancelation.

[dionysus]

20. cool story, bro. nt.