What Happens After an Accident With a Government Vehicle?

If you’re injured in a car accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you face a challenging path forward toward just compensation. If, however, the at-fault driver was behind the wheel of a government vehicle, you can expect your case to be that much more difficult. Our trusted accident attorneys have reserves of experience successfully handling complex cases involving government vehicles, and we’re here to help.

The Government Has Immunity from Considerable Liability

State and local governments are shielded from liability in citizen lawsuits. To begin, Pennsylvania’s Sovereign Immunity Act limits legal liability for any injuries that state government agencies and their employees cause. And another legal act is in place that protects local government agencies like the City of Pittsburgh.

Exceptions for Motor Vehicle Accidents

Regarding the state’s limited liability, there are exceptions for traffic accidents caused by government employees. If you are not a criminal who was injured in the course of fleeing arrest, you have the right to sue in response to a traffic accident that an employee of the state or city caused.

To bring a successful car accident claim in the aftermath of an accident that was caused by a government employee’s negligence, you’ll need to prove an additional element. This is that the vehicle in question was in the government employee’s possession and under the government employee’s control at the time of the accident. This protects the government if a government vehicle is stolen and is subsequently involved in an accident.

If you were injured by the negligence of a government employee who was driving a government vehicle in the course of performing their regular work duties, the government’s immunity is unlikely to apply. At this point, you can file a claim against the governmental entity involved.

There Is a Mandatory Notice Requirement in Pennsylvania

Filing a lawsuit against the state or local government follows a different path than other car accident claims. To begin, you must provide the government with written notice of your intent to sue the governmental agency in question and must also notify the state’s attorney general. Further, the time limit for acting is abbreviated to just six months. If, for example, you are suing the City of Pittsburgh, you must file your written notice of intent to sue and your claim form with the City of Pittsburgh Department of Law, Claims Division within six months of the car accident.

Our Skilled Accident Lawyers Offer the Help You Need

Our practiced Pittsburgh car accident attorneys at Mette Attorneys at Law are well acquainted with the legal intricacies of traffic accidents involving government vehicles, and we have the legal skill and experience to help make a big difference in the outcome of your case. For more information about everything we can do to help, please don’t put off contacting us online or giving our firm a call at 717-232-5000 today.