Cities experiences high volumes of traffic every day of the week. When you drive virtually anywhere on a single day you are likely to witness a car accident. Even if you think you are one of the safest drivers on the road, that doesn’t mean you escape the chances of being involved in an accident. No one is immune to the situation. If you were involved in an accident that you did not cause, the usual course of events is to file a personal injury claim from the at-fault driver.
The situation is a little different if it’s caused by a city or state government vehicle, or even other government property such as a poorly maintained road. You may still be entitled to file a compensation claim but it’s likely to be a lot more cumbersome than suing a private individual.
City and State Laws Regarding Government Personal Injury Claims
If you’re injured by another person driving recklessly on the roads, you may decide to file a personal injury claim against the driver who caused the accident. However, if an employee of the state government is involved, the whole process is not that simple.
This is all to do with the ‘sovereign immunity’ rule which assumes the state never does anything wrong. A claim begins when the appropriate form is filed with the the city's administration.
Possible Car Accident Causes in the City
If you were involved in a car accident and you are certain a government vehicle or some other government property caused the accident there are only so many possible causes such as:
- • part of the structure of a government building falls on your car;
- • a poorly maintained road causes you to lose control of your vehicle bringing about a car accident;
- • a government vehicle is out of control and crashes into your car;
- • A bus driver loses concentration and the bus rear ends your car at a stop sign.
Causes of Car Accidents Involving a City Bus
Unfortunately, it’s not always safe sharing the road with a city bus and accidents do happen which could take place for one of the following reasons:
- • The driver loses concentration due to fatigue;
- • The bus hasn’t been maintained properly and has faulty brakes causing the driver to lose control;
- • The driver loses control while speeding and causes an accident;
- • The driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Use an Experienced Attorney if Filing a Claim Against the City
If you think you have a legitimate claim for compensation don’t expect to win easily. It is in your interest to speak to a personal injury attorney who has the knowledge and experience to help you win the compensation you deserve.
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 Lincoln, or the state government of Nebraska, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
