Have you been involved in a car accident in the city and were seriously injured? If you have been and the accident was caused by the negligent behavior on the part of a government employee, or even a city department had in some way contributed to your accident, you may be wondering whether you have the right to claim compensation. You are able to file such a claim but it’s not as simple as filing a personal injury compensation claim against a private individual. This means it’s far more important to hire a personal injury attorney to guide you through the process.
City and State Laws Regarding Government Personal Injury Claims
You need to send in a claim form which can be found on the city's website. The information you need to include is detailed as follows:
- • your name and address;
- • the location and date;
- • how the accident happened;
- • a brief description of your injury or any property damage;
- • the name(s) of the employee(s) of the public entity who caused your injury or loss;
- • the amount you wish to claim.
Typically, you have 90 days from the accident date to file the claim.
Possible Car Accident Causes in the City
Most car accidents in the city are caused by other drivers, apart from those employed by the state, which makes it relatively easy to file a personal injury claim if involved in an accident. However, there are city employees, such as bus drivers, who do get involved in accidents from time to time. The sorts of reasons why accidents take place include:
- • badly maintained roads which cause car drivers to lose control if they hit a pothole;
- • drivers who are distracted by a cell phone and rear end a vehicle in front of them;
- • drivers who drive too fast for prevailing road conditions.
Causes of Car Accidents Involving the Public Transportation
Even though it’s a well-used service, it doesn’t mean it is accident free. Every year accidents take place involving buses and car drivers and their passengers are seriously injured. Typically, accidents are caused due to the following reasons which are:
- • the driver fell asleep due to fatigue;
- • the driver is driving while intoxicated;
- • running a red light because the bus is late;
- • the driver is distracted by texting and calling on a cell phone.
Use an Experienced Attorney if You Are Intending on Filing a Claim Against the City
If you believe you are entitled to compensation for an injury received when a city bus hit your car and caused you to be injured, it won’t be that easy to get the full amount unless you hire a personal injury attorney to guide you through the process.
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 Newark, or the state government of New Jersey, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
