While sovereign immunity has protected government entities from lawsuits, there are special procedures in place that allow you to pursue a claim against a government body if you suffer personal injuries and property damages because of their negligence. If you have been hit by a New Orleans Police Car, or any other city’s police car, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages. However, a claim filed against the City of New Orleans must follow proper procedure and protocol.
How To File a Claim For an Accident With a Police Car
You must follow proper procedure to file a claim against the City of New Orleans, or any other city. You will need to get a notice of claim from the City Attorney’s Office and then submit it with supporting evidence and documentation.
You should also indicate what happened, how it happened, the extent of your damages, when it happened, and why you believe the city is liable for your damages. You will return to the claim to the city’s Risk Management Department.
The agency involved will investigate your claim and then decide whether to award you compensation for your damages. If the city denies or your claim, or if they do not respond at all, you will then be able to pursue a personal injury claim against the government agency.
At this point, the claim will be filed as you would file a personal injury claim against an individual. You will want to have a personal injury attorney representing you.
How To Prove the Police Car Was at Fault
You will want to prove that the New Orleans police car was to blame for the accident, just as you would with any auto accident. For a successful personal injury claim, you will need to prove that the driver was negligent and that all four elements of negligence apply to your personal injury claim. An accident injury lawyer will hep you with your claim and will gather the supporting evidence your claim needs to succeed.
You will need a copy of the accident report, photos of the accident scene and damages, medical bills, repair estimates, and witness statements. If the accident was caught by dash camera or traffic camera, that can also help your claim. The more supporting evidence that you have, the more likely your claim will succeed.
Get Help When Filing A Claim Against a City
If you have been hit by a New Orleans police car, or any other city’s police car, and you believe that the city is liable for your damages, you may want to retain the service of a personal injury attorney who is familiar with the state and local laws that apply to pursuing a claim against that city. An attorney will ensure your claim is filed in a timely manner and will make sure that you have supporting evidence and documentation.
When you enlist the help of an accident injury attorney, you will not pay anything upfront. Your lawyer will take the case on a contingency basis. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form to share the details of your claim with an attorney in your area.
*Disclaimer: 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 city of New Orleans, or the state
government of Louisiana, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
