If you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault it’s quite acceptable to file a claim for compensation from the person who caused the accident. Once you have negotiated the compensation and you have covered the costs of your medical bills and loss of wages while you recover, you don’t need to worry so much about the consequences of the accident.
However, if your accident was caused by a city bus driver or another government entity recovering compensation is not quite so easy. Government agencies, whether state, federal or local protect themselves from individuals filing civil claims under ‘sovereign immunity.’
It’s not quite as bad as this as many states have these days waived the conditions of sovereign immunity and in some cases will accept liability for accidents caused by government employees or structures.
As the process is harder than a claim against a private individual or entity it’s a good idea to discuss your situation with an experienced personal injury attorney.
City and State Laws Regarding Government Personal Injury Claims
Most state governments have laws that are in place for filing any injury claims against them. These have been passed so that not all accidents and injuries caused by states or cities are protected by sovereign immunity.
You are required to use the claim form of the appropriate governmental agency. On this form you must provide all the information that proves the accident was caused by the individual or entity as well as including contact details of witnesses.
You need to include details about the nature of your injuries and how much the likely medical costs should be. You must be quite certain that the city or state employee is the cause of the accident.
Possible Causes of Car Accidents
Chula Vista, like any other city, is a busy city with many traffic lights, intersections and a range of vehicles using the roads and highways. There are many likely situations involving government employees using city or state owned vehicles that cause car accidents but the commonest are:
- a drunk driver running a red light;
- a driver distracted by his or his cell phone;
- a driver who is under the influence of drugs;
- an intoxicated driver.
Bus Accidents and the Causes
Every week there are accidents of some type involving city bus drivers. Sometimes they are suffering from fatigue due to long hours and fall asleep behind the wheel while other times they are distracted by the cell phone.
If they are running late they are more likely to run a red light or fail to stop at an intersection. If they are going through a stressful time at home they may even come to work intoxicated. All these possible scenarios can cause a serious accident and life changing injuries to car drivers who could be the victim of a car crash with a bus.
Use an Experienced Attorney if Considering Claiming Against the City
If you have been injured by a city bus and you can’t afford the costs of medical treatment and you are unable to go to work you may be considering filing a personal injury claim against the city.
Taking on a government entity is never a simple matter so seeking the help of an experienced personal injury law is essential in order to get the compensation you deserve.
Additional Resources
*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 Chula Vista, or the state government of California or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
