Any kind of car accident can cause serious damage to your vehicle and painful and expensive injuries to its occupants. Many car accidents are not the fault of the driver of the car in which the injuries occur.
If you have been hit by a city bus, for instance, it is quite likely that the accident was caused by the way the driver was driving. It is possible to file a claim for compensation against a city owned bus authority or other government agency, but the procedure is more complex than against a private individual or business and depends on filing information within prescribed time limits.
It is best to talk to a personal injury claim before considering making a claim.
City and State Laws Regarding Government Personal Injury Claims
Claims against any government entity, whether it is the state government itself or any of the cities need to be made initially through a notice of claim filed within 6 months of the injury. If the claim is made against a government department, you should be able to download the claim form off the city’s own website.
The form should be carefully completed, preferably with the help of an attorney as once it has been submitted you will have no chance to add to it or correct any information. It is best to be very thorough when sending accompanying information. The city website that deals with claims does provide instructions.
Once the notice of claim has been submitted, there will be a waiting time in which theoretically the department involved has a chance to investigate the complaint of negligence. There should be a response within 45 days of the claim being submitted.
If there is no response or an outright rejection (which is common), then you may then proceed to filing a personal injury claim in the same way as it might be doe if the claim had been made against a private individual.
Reasons for a Government Car Accident Injury Claim
There are many reasons why you could end up in hospital after a car accident on any of the crowded highways. Most of them are due to the way other people drive. Minor causes are mechanical defects, defects in spare parts, failure in government owned structures, or the state of the road surface.
There must be in any of these examples clear evidence that negligence on the part of a government entity involved. More likely that the crash was caused by the way a government employee was driving.
There are many different city, or state, departments and they all have at least one vehicle at their disposal. Of all the city vehicles that could cause a car accident, the most likely are city buses.
Car Accidents Involving a City Bus
It also provides a dial-a-ride service on demand for disabled residents of the city and surrounding pars of the county. Any one of these vehicles could be involved in a crash if driven badly.
Bus accidents are caused for a number of reasons. In a minority of bus crashes, the blame may be on a catastrophic failure I an essential part of the bus mechanism, such as the steering system, but this would be rare.
The road surface can be a significant factor, especially if the bus driver attempts to avoid a pothole or crack in the road. Most crashes, though, are caused by driver negligence. For example:
- fatigue;
- intoxication;
- distracted driving;
- failure to adhere to road rules;
- failure to signal effectively;
- failure to look out for nearby vehicles, especially when pulling out from a bus stop or turning at an intersection.
Use an Experienced Attorney if Considering Claiming Against the City
It’s not easy winning a personal injury claim against any type of government entity because of the time limits and immunity clauses. However, claims can be won as long as the evidence is clear and unequivocal, the claim is filed on time and adequate legal assistance is provided by an experienced personal injury attorney, preferably by one with proven experience dealing with claims against a government entity.
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 Riverside or the state government of California, or any other party, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
