Government Vehicle Accidents

57Have you been involved in an accident with a government-owned vehicle in New York City? Pursuing a compensation claim against the government involves a different process from a regular auto accident claim. An NYC government vehicle accident lawyer from The Perecman Firm, can guide you through this complex process and help you seek the financial recovery you need for your injuries.

Our attorneys have recovered more than half a billion dollars for our clients in settlements and verdicts over the last 40 years. We utilize cutting-edge technology, collaborate with industry-leading experts, and leverage our team’s collective knowledge to pursue legal strategies tailored to getting you the results you deserve.

Reach out to The Perecman Firm, now for a free initial case evaluation. You can speak with an NYC government vehicle accident lawyer about your options for pursuing compensation for your injuries. Let us work to obtain the financial recovery you need for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other losses.

What Is Defined as a Government Vehicle in NYC?

A government vehicle includes any motor vehicle owned by New York City, New York State, the federal government, or another governmental body. Government vehicles can include those owned and operated by public agencies, such as the MTA, the Port Authority, or school districts, for example. They may also include motor vehicles privately owned by local, state, or federal government employees and used by those employees for their government jobs.

Examples of motor vehicles that are used as government vehicles in NYC include:

How Government Accidents Differ from Non-Government Claims

Motor vehicle accident claims involving government vehicles differ in several important ways:

Government vehicle accident claims have shorter filing deadlines. Claims against New York City, New York State, or the federal government may have shorter deadlines to notify the relevant agency that you have a motor vehicle accident claim against the government. Failing to follow these deadlines could cause you to lose your right to recover compensation for your injuries and related losses.
The state and federal governments have sovereign immunity. By default, the state and federal governments have immunity from civil claims and lawsuits. State and federal statutes waive the government’s sovereign immunity for limited categories of claims. A claim that does not fall within the scope of the government’s waiver of its immunity cannot be pursued.
Your compensation may not be limited by insurance policy limits. Compensation in motor vehicle accident claims is often limited by the at-fault driver’s liability insurance coverage. However, the government has substantial financial resources to compensate you for all the expenses and losses you incurred from an accident caused by a government vehicle.

Statute of Limitations for Government Accident Claims in NYC

Claims against the government arising from accidents caused by government vehicles must comply with notice deadlines under state or federal law.

• New York City – Under New York General Municipal Law §50-E, you must give notice of a claim against the City of New York to the relevant entity within 90 days of an accident with an NYC government vehicle.
• New York State – Under the New York Court of Claims Act §10, you must file a claim or give notice of your intention to file a claim for an accident involving a state government vehicle to the New York Attorney General within 90 days of the accident. After providing notice of intent to file a claim against the state government, §10 further requires you to file your claim within two years of the accident.
• Federal – Under 28 U.S.C. 2401, you must give notice of a claim arising from an accident with a federal government vehicle within two years of the accident. The notice must be sent to the relevant federal agency, which has six months to accept or deny your claim. You have six months after the mailing of the government’s notice of denial of your claim, or six months after the expiration of the government’s six-month review period, to file a personal injury lawsuit against the federal government.

Failure to provide the city, state, or federal government with timely notice of your government vehicle accident claim may result in you losing your right to recover compensation from the government for your losses.

How Our Lawyers Can Hold Government Drivers Liable

The Perecman Firm, is prepared to handle every aspect of your legal claim, giving you time to focus on your medical recovery with the knowledge that your case is in good hands. Our legal team will work to hold government employees liable for causing motor vehicle accidents by:

• Recovering evidence through an investigation of the crash, including accident reports, accident scene photos and videos, surveillance and traffic camera footage, and eyewitness testimony
• Calculating your ongoing and future expenses and losses
• Working with accident reconstruction, medical, vocational, and financial experts to bolster the strength of your case
• Timely filing your claims under the applicable notice deadlines
• Aggressively pursuing maximum financial recovery for you, whether through a negotiated settlement with the government or by filing a personal injury lawsuit and going to trial if necessary

Potential Compensation for Accidents with Government Vehicles

Depending on the circumstances, you could be entitled to compensation for the following losses after an accident with a government vehicle:

• Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation of your injuries
• Costs of long-term care you may need for permanent disabilities
• Lost income and loss of future earning potential caused by a temporary or permanent disability that prevents you from working
• Physical pain
• Emotional trauma and distress
• Lost quality of life due to disabilities, scarring, and disfigurement
• Vehicle repair bills or the value of your car if it was totaled in the accident

Contact Our Government Vehicle Accident Lawyers in NYC Today

Contact The Perecman Firm, today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal claims with our government vehicle accident lawyers. Our firm will not rest in our pursuit of the justice and financial recovery you deserve after being injured by a government vehicle in New York City.