Should you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being injured on government property or as a result of government employee negligence, it’s important that you take the necessary legal steps to protect yourself. Unlike “traditional” personal injury claims and lawsuits, there are numerous steps and strict regulations you’ll need to follow in order to bring a lawsuit against a government entity.
Common Personal Injury Claims Against Government Entities
There are a number of possible reasons why your personal injury claim needs to be filed against a government entity. For example, you may have slipped and fell inside a government building (such as a post office or city government office) and suffered injuries as a result. Or, perhaps you were injured in an auto accident caused by a police officer or mail delivery driver. Either way, the steps involved to initiate a lawsuit in these cases can vary greatly from that of a private citizen or business.
Understanding the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)
One important factor in these cases has to do with the Federal Tort Claims Act. This act allows lawsuits to be brought forth against the government in the first place. However, not all claims are covered under this act, and claims that aren’t protected fall under the realm of sovereign immunity. Specifically, the FTCA stipulates that lawsuits brought against the government must be proven to be caused by “negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government.”
Important Next Steps
If your claim is protected under the FTCA, it’s important to file a notice of claim as soon as possible, even if you’re not 100% sure of fault just yet. This is why it’s important to contact a personal injury attorney who has experience in these kinds of cases. Time limits to file claims can be very short, ranging anywhere from 30 days to 120 days after the incident.
Unfortunately, in a lot of cases, claims are simply denied. In these cases, it’s critical that you have an attorney available who will walk you through every step of this process. After all, proving government negligence is not easy on your own, and there will be many hoops to jump through.
If you’re in need of legal assistance with your personal injury lawsuit against the government, the personal injury attorneys at Ginnis, Krathen, & Zelnick, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale are here to help. Contact us today to schedule your free case consultation and get the ball rolling.