Sustaining an injury while working is not pleasant. However, this does not mean it is uncommon, or that you are required to handle your injury on your own. Workers’ compensation is a nation-wide law that provides compensation to qualified workers who were injured on the job. Even at government jobs such as the USPS, you may be entitled to repayment for your injury. Continue below to see if workers’ comp may be right for you. History of USPS Unlike most businesses, the government-run United States Postal Service began over 200 years ago in 1775. From its humble horseback roots headed by none other than Benjamin Franklin, the USPS has grown in the last two centuries to operate over 210,000 vehicles and employ almost 630,000 workers. To this day, it has remained the only official government postal system in the United States. Potential USPS Working Hazards Even government-run programs are not protected from a variety of different work-related injuries. The majority are caused by the following: In-store: Complications from package handling. The USPS handles over 506 million packages every day. This means, regardless of your location, that there will always be plenty of hard work to be done, and with the highest level of efficiency. Handling oddly-shaped or heavy packages can not only create a dangerous situation, but can also wear on workers over time to cause back, knee, shoulder, or neck problems. Falling stacked packages also have the potential to cause a variety of injuries, from mild to severe. Out-of-Store: Complications from package drop-offs. Driving for USPS is typically very safe due to the low-speeds of residential drop-off zones. However, many USPS drivers find that the least-safe situations revolve around parking and dropping off packages. USPS drivers can typically pull up to curbs and safely deliver their mail, but even with the right precautions, accidents can occur. While it may seem that getting workers’ comp from a government organization may be difficult, it is just as common as with other jobs. In fact, Every year since 2008, the USPS has spent over $2 billion a year solely on workers’ comp expenses. To prepare for your claim, be sure to: Take pictures of your injury and the location you received them Document all doctor’s visit, hospitalizations, and medications taken due to your injury Write a full explanation of what happened before, during, and after the incident(s) that caused your injury, including any damage to your work vehicle. After this, when you are ready, you can speak with the USPS and present your official workers’ comp request letter. Considering a Workers’ Comp Attorney Workers’ comp can be difficult to understand from a legal perspective, especially if you have never had to present legal documents before. Workers' compensation attorneys can be especially useful here. They can also help you to document your injury and the incident, and stay in contact with the USPS to see what will be best for you in your situation. They can also help appeal your workers' comp case in the event of a denial. Because even small shifts and wording and presentation can make a difference in these cases, it is always wise to consider a free consultation with a workers’ comp attorney first. *The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against The United States Postal Service, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
