New York Municipal Vehicle Accident Lawyer
Not all crashes are caused by drivers going to and from work or the grocery store. A significant number of municipal vehicles, such as city buses and ambulances, use the roads as well. These drivers have a duty of care, just like everyone else. When they violate traffic laws and cause injury to another road user, the agency in question can be held financially accountable for the plaintiff’s medical bills, pain and suffering, property damage, and much more. However, you have a limited amount of time to file a claim with government agencies—much shorter than in a typical traffic collision personal injury claim. The New York municipal vehicle accident lawyers at Cohan Law Firm can get started at once.
Examples of Municipal Vehicles
There are tens of thousands of publicly owned vehicles on the road in New York every day. Bad drivers are behind the wheel no matter the type of motor vehicle being used, from law enforcement swat team trucks to small park maintenance cars. A few examples of city operated and other government vehicles include the following:
- Public buses
- School buses
- Fire trucks
- Ambulances
- Police cars and other law enforcement vehicles
- City maintenance vehicles
- New York Department of Transportation vehicles
- Federally owned vehicles
Who is Liable?
One of the first questions an injured victim might have after being involved in a collision with a government vehicle is: who is liable? Who do I seek compensation from? The answer depends on what government entity is responsible for owning and operating the vehicle that was involved in the crash. Chances are that it was a municipal or city-operated vehicle, in which case you would file a claim with the appropriate agency within the city of New York. However, if it is a state-owned or federally operated vehicle, you would not file with the city, but with the state or federal government.
Different Statutes of Limitations Apply
In a normal traffic collision between two privately owned vehicles, the plaintiff has three years until the clock runs out to file a lawsuit. The time frame for a crash with a municipal vehicle in New York is much shorter. The Notice of the claim must be served with the city of New York within 90 days of the incident. After this, you will not be able to file a lawsuit with the city.
Call a New York Municipal Vehicles Accident Attorney Today
Succeeding in a personal injury claim or winning a lawsuit against a municipality comes with a special set of challenges. In some ways, it is much more difficult to procure fair compensation if you are hit by a police car than if you were hit by a private citizen running errands. However, it is still possible to win a personal injury claim or lawsuit against a municipality. But the time to act is now. We urge you to take swift action to protect your financial interest by contacting the New York municipal vehicles accident lawyers at Cohan Law Firm today at 855-855-0321 for a complimentary consultation.
