Need A Los Angeles Government Vehicle Accident Lawyer?
Each year in Los Angeles, tens of thousands of accidents occur. Some of these accidents are caused by people who are driving government vehicles. If you are seriously injured in an government vehicle accident that was caused by a government employee who was acting in the scope and course of his or her job, you may be entitled to recover damages from the driver and the governmental entity for whom the driver worked. When an accident is caused by a city employee, getting help from a Los Angeles government vehicle accident lawyer might make it more likely that you will prevail with your claim. A LA Personal Injury Attorneys can review your case contact us today for a free consultation.
Los Angeles Office: 323-553-1000 | Torrance Office: 310-256-2299
How Government Vehicle Accidents Differ From Other Motor Vehicle Accidents
Accidents that are caused by government employees while they are driving government vehicles for their jobs are different than other types of motor vehicle accident claims. In California, the personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury. However, claims against the government fall under the California Tort Claims Act and have much stricter deadlines. If you are injured in a government vehicle accident, you will be required to file your claim no later than six months after your accident. If you wait beyond that deadline, you will be barred from recovering damages for your losses.
The California Tort Claims Act requires plaintiffs to file a notice of claim with the governmental agency that they intend to sue within six months of the accidents. Government entities may be liable to pay damages for the actions of their employees when the employees were acting within the scope and course of their jobs and were carrying out a government function at the time of their accidents. For example, if you were hit by a city truck while the driver was on duty for the city, the city of Los Angeles may be liable to pay damages. However, if you were hit by a government worker during his or her commute to or from his or her job, the government will not be liable. Our experienced government vehicle accident lawyers can help you to understand whether the governmental entity might be liable and identify any other defendants who might share liability for your accident.
Proving Liability In A Governmental Vehicle Accident Claim
Nearly all claims involving government vehicle accidents will involve negligence. Negligence occurs when a defendant’s conduct falls below a reasonable person’s standard. In other words, negligence can include the actions or failures to act in the same way that a reasonable person would act in a similar situation. It is not enough to simply show that a defendant was negligent, however. You must also be able to prove that the defendant’s negligent conduct caused your accident and injuries and that you suffered losses as a result.
To prove the elements of negligence, an attorney might work with accident reconstruction experts, investigators, medical experts, and others to build a case of clear liability against the driver. If the driver was working for the city or another government agency at the time of the accident, the city or government agency that employed him or her may be vicariously liable for the employee’s negligence.
In some cases, the city or government entity may be directly liable in an accident. For example, if the city or government entity negligently retained, supervised, or hired an incompetent driver, the city or government entity may be directly liable to pay damages.
Government vehicle accidents might also involve other negligent parties that contribute to the accident. For example, if an accident was partly caused by a defective part, the manufacturer of the part may be liable to pay damages. Others that might be liable include third-party motorists, entities that maintained and repaired the government vehicle, and parties that are responsible for maintaining and repairing the roads. Our Los Angeles government vehicle lawyer will review all of the evidence in your case to identify the parties that should be named as defendants to the lawsuit.
Damages In A Government Vehicle Accident Claim
The value of your claim will depend on several factors, including the extent and severity of your injuries, your other losses, the actions of the defendant, and others. Some of the types of damages that might be available include the following:
- Past medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Past and future wage losses
- Property losses
- Pain and suffering
Why You Should Hire A Los Angeles Government Vehicle Accident Lawyer
Government agencies, including the City of Los Angeles, try to keep their costs low. Their insurance companies likewise try to minimize the amounts that they might be forced to pay when an accident occurs. Insurance companies may have teams of defense lawyers who are ready to defend against claims. Injured victims might be contacted soon after the companies learn that their accidents happened. Companies commonly offer early settlements to try to convince the victims that their claims are not worth as much as they are. If you accept an early settlement offer, you will not be able to ask for more money later.
You should contact an experienced government vehicle accident lawyer at LA Personal Injury Attorneys as soon as possible after your accident with a government vehicle. Our lawyers can help you to meet the deadlines for filing the notice of your claim and litigate on your behalf to try to recover the maximum damages to which you should be entitled. When you work with a lawyer, you can concentrate on recovering from your injuries while our attorneys handle the insurance company for you.
We will aggressively fight for you to recover the maximum possible compensation. Call us today for a free consultation.
Los Angeles Office: 323-553-1000 | Torrance Office: 310-256-2299
Learn more about other accident case types:
Personal Injury | Car Accident | Uber & Lyft Accident | Motorcycle Accident | Rear-end Accident | Truck Accident | Rollover Accident | Bus Accident | Government Vehicle Accident |
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