Since 2013, the United States Postal Service has promoted a measure that will save the agency billions of dollars. By requiring newly built homeowners to use curbside mailboxes like those used by millions of other homeowners and renters, the associated costs will be significantly reduced.

While the change favors cost-cutting efforts, it does bring some degree of inconvenience for those used to traditional front-door delivery. That downside, however, doesn’t compare to the real risk posed by the newly introduced location near the highway: exposure to damage from a colliding car or other type of vehicle.

Due to the fact that roadside mailboxes are in close proximity to the constant movement of cars and trucks, there is an extremely high risk of them being hit and damaged.

Can I file a related insurance claim?

If another driver comes to your mailbox, be sure to ask for their phone number and address, as well as their driver’s license information. After that, make an official police report and file an insurance claim with the driver’s auto insurance. Purchase another mailbox like the one you are replacing and keep the sales receipt so there is proof of cost for the insurance reward.

As life goes on, you probably won’t be home if another car damages your mailbox. So what, right?

Check your doors for contact information that can be left by a summoned police officer or the driver himself. You can also call the police and see if a police report was filed about the accident. In case you don’t discover a note with relevant contact information or something about an associated police report, be sure to file a hit and run accident police report as soon as possible. If that gets you nowhere, you can still pursue a homeowners insurance claim. However, be prepared for a denial outright or a denial based on failure to meet deductible requirements.

In the event that your mailbox has been damaged due to vandalism, you can do the following:

• File a police report so the vandal will pay you when they arrest you as part of a court decision.
• You can also see if your homeowners insurance policy will cover you for such an act of vandalism. Consult your independent insurance agency for a professional opinion on the matter.