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Government Vehicle Accidents
Accidents involving government vehicles pose significant challenges. This is because many government entities that use vehicles are immune from liability, even if the driver of the government vehicle is clearly the at-fault party. There are exceptions to this, however, and it is important to know your rights. At the Law Office of Paul M. Marriett, we are prepared for the challenges that come with filing a suit against government agencies. Our goal is to make sure you get the medical treatment you need and the fair compensation you deserve for your injuries, regardless of who is responsible.
Types of Government Vehicles
Below are some types of vehicles that are commonly owned by government agencies, if not exclusively so:
- Police squad cars
- Ambulances
- Fire trucks
- Snow plows
- EMT vehicles
- Buses
- Trains or other rail transport
The Compensation You Deserve
Under Illinois law, if you are involved in a government vehicle collision, you may have to go through a special claims process. Otherwise, you may be entitled to compensation through a normal civil lawsuit. You might have to submit to a claims process if the government agency responsible for the accident is immune from civil lawsuit. The total amount of compensation to which you are entitled may be less if you have to submit to a formal claims process. It is vital to your claim that you consult with an experienced attorney to determine your rights.
Illinois Time Limits on Filing Suit
Illinois sets a time limit of two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in the state’s civil court system. In most cases, this two-year time limit, known as a “statute of limitations,” begins to run on the date of the accident. Sometimes, however, a statute of limitations might run from the date that you discovered you were injured, rather than the date of the event that injured you. This later date is known as a “discovery date.”
For injury claims against a city or county, you have one year to file a lawsuit. The time limit to sue the state is generally two years, but you must file a formal claim within one year in order to sue.
A qualified personal injury attorney can help guide you through this difficult time and alleviate some of the stress.
Knowledgeable Representation
For a confidential, compassionate, in-depth, free, and, most importantly, thorough consultation with a Rockford Personal Injury Lawyer about your government vehicle-related auto accident injury case in Rockford, Belvidere, Freeport, Rochelle, Oregon, Loves Park, Byron, Machesney Park, Roscoe, Rockton, or elsewhere in the State of Illinois, call or text message us at (815) 391-0089, or e-mail us 24/7/365. We offer in-office consultations, and routinely make visits to clients’ homes, hospital rooms, nursing homes, and other off-site locations to make retaining our services as easy as possible.