When a San Ramon family's parked car was unexpectedly struck by a runaway postal truck, they found themselves embroiled in a bureaucratic nightmare to recoup their losses. Despite clear video evidence, the U.S. Postal Service's slow response and lack of accountability left the family frustrated and out of pocket.

A Shocking Revelation Caught on Camera

A San Ramon family's routine day took an unexpected turn when they discovered their parked car had been damaged. Initially suspecting their teenage children, the parents were surprised to find that the culprit was actually a U.S. Postal Service delivery truck. Surveillance footage revealed the shocking incident, where the unattended truck slowly rolled away from the curb, crashing into the family's Volkswagen Jetta.

A Mysterious Incident and a Frustrating Aftermath

Brady Muir, the father, was stunned by the footage. "All of a sudden, I see the post office (truck)," he recounted. "All of a sudden it just went out of control. Then you hear a large bang, and the Volkswagen moved like four or five feet. Oh my holy cow, like, it was the post office – I was in complete disbelief."The driver of the postal truck, who had apparently left the vehicle unattended, quickly jumped back in and drove off, leaving the Muir family to deal with the aftermath. Muir immediately contacted the local post office to file a claim, but the process proved to be a frustrating and drawn-out experience.

Navigating the Bureaucratic Maze

Despite the clear video evidence, the Postal Service's response was slow and unresponsive. Muir was told to obtain two estimates for the damage and submit them, but even after doing so, he heard nothing back for months. "He's like, 'To be honest, it's gonna take six, nine months for us to get going on it,'" Muir recounted, exasperated by the lengthy timeline.The damage to the Muir family's car was significant, with the impact bending the frame and rendering the vehicle a total loss. The insurance payout was not enough to cover the replacement cost, leaving the family to settle for an older model car. Muir was also left to deal with the additional expenses, such as the insurance deductible, rental car costs, and lost work hours.

Persistence and Perseverance

Undeterred, Muir continued to pursue the claim, contacting the Postmaster General in Sacramento and following up repeatedly. However, his efforts were met with more bureaucratic hurdles, as he was told he needed to fill out a specific form, the "standard form 95," which no one had previously mentioned.Muir quickly completed the form, but as October came to a close, he still had not heard back from the Postal Service. Frustrated by the lack of progress, he reached out to the media, hoping to shed light on his plight and prompt a response from the authorities.

A Glimmer of Hope and a Lesson Learned

After 7 On Your Side's involvement, the Postal Service finally acknowledged the situation and promised to review Muir's claim that very day. They also apologized for the delay and assured Muir that he would receive a check in the coming weeks.While the Muir family's ordeal highlights the challenges of navigating bureaucratic systems, it also serves as a cautionary tale. The incident underscores the importance of being proactive, persistent, and well-informed when dealing with government agencies, as the lack of clear communication and guidance can often lead to frustrating and drawn-out experiences.