Personal Injury Attorney
If you suffer an injury at the fault of the city, state or county government, it is possible to file a lawsuit. As with an individual or a business, the government can be held liable. The biggest differences are that to sue the government, you have to follow strict steps. Any mistakes along the way and your lawsuit may be thrown out. Here is what you need to know about suing the county, city or any other government agencies.
Notice of Claim
In order to file a lawsuit, most states require you to provide a Notice of Claim. You address this notice to the person or entity responsible for your injury. You do not file this with the court, but instead you mail it to every government employee. You should also mail the claim to a single government agency. Once you send the claim, you have to wait between 30 and 120 days. If you file a lawsuit before the period expires, then you will end up having your lawsuit dismissed.
The notice itself needs to contain specific information. It needs to have your personal information, along with the details behind the accident and the medical care providers. Keep in mind that you need to follow all the guidelines or the court will dismiss your case.
Statute of Limitations
In all personal injury cases, you have to keep track of the statute of limitations. This is the time limit that you have in regards to filing a lawsuit. Often, the time limit you have ranges from one year to about six years. When you sue your local government, the statute of limitations becomes more rigid. Some jurisdictions may have time limits between 30 and 120 days. Now, there are some states that will not have specific statutes of limitations beyond what there would normally be for your injury. If you think you might have a case, the safest option is always to file a claim as soon as possible.
In some instances, you may suffer injuries that the local government is responsible for. Fortunately, you have options when it comes to filing a personal injury claim. When most people think about filing a personal injury suit, they may think of filing it against an individual or a business. The truth is that it can be a state or county government. To find out how to file a case against the city or county, contact a personal injury lawyer in Salt Lake City, UT for a consultation.
Thanks to Rasmussen & Miner for their insight into personal injury claims and how to sue a county or city.