In our 15-plus years of experience handling personal injury cases in the Kansas City area, we have seen negligence in many forms from our government. Whether it be a car crash or broken sidewalk, our government is just as apt to commit negligence as any other private citizen, organization, or business. However, there are a few key aspects of personal injury cases against the government. Here are a few.
- The claim must arise out of the government’s operation of a motor vehicle or because it created a dangerous condition on its property.
Generally speaking, the government is immune from personal injury lawsuits and claims. However, that immunity is waived if a government employee causes a car crash while on the job, or there is something wrong with government property that makes it dangerous. These exceptions are pretty broad and cover many of the most common personal injury cases like car crashes and slip or trip and falls.
- For some government entities, like big cities, there is a short time limit for making a claim.
Although not technically a statute of limitations, these laws require personal injury victims to notify the government usually within 90 days of an incident in order to make a claim. If they don’t, then they are usually barred from the claim.
- There is also a limit on the amount of money you can recover from the government.
In Missouri, the limit increases for inflation every year. In 2021, the limit is $441,130.00. This may seem like a lot of money, but it may not be enough depending on the severity of the injuries. It's important to keep this in mind when negotiating a settlement with the government.
There are other keys to a successful personal injury case against the government that we have developed over the years working on these cases. If you have been hurt because of the government’s negligence and have questions about your rights, please do not hesitate to contact us.