• $4,350,000settlement – Motorcycle collisionFlorence 2021
  • $507,500settlement – Car accidentHuntsville 2025
  • $2,350,000settlement – Workplace and construction injuryDecatur 2023
  • $290,000settlement – Bicycle crashHuntsville 2025
  • $696,762jury verdict – Trucking accident, upheld on appeal2020
  • $325,000settlement – Car accidentMadison 2025
  • $2,000,000settlement – Workplace injuryHuntsville 2025
  • $250,000settlement – Car accidentHuntsville 2026
  • $465,000settlement – Personal injuryMadison 2025
  • $1,025,000settlement – Motorcycle collisionHuntsville 2024
  • $200,000settlement – Car accidentDecatur 2025
  • $357,500settlement – Personal injuryHuntsville 2025
  • $350,000settlement – Truck accidentHuntsville 2026
  • $269,000settlement – Motor vehicle collisionHuntsville 2025
  • $337,500settlement – Car accidentHuntsville 2025
  • $300,000settlement – Workplace accidentHuntsville 2025
  • $175,000settlement – Car accidentDecatur 2026
  • $202,000settlement – Personal injuryHuntsville 2025
  • $250,000settlement – Car accidentHuntsville 2025

How to Handle Car Accident Claims Against Government Vehicles

May 30, 2023

Hunter Garnett
If you are involved in any accident with a government worker, you must talk to a lawyer immediately. If you are injured in an accident with a police car, garbage truck, Post Office vehicle, utility truck, or any other government vehicle, there will be special pitfalls that could gut your personal injury case before you […]

This article is general information about Alabama personal injury law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different. Full disclaimer

In this article

    If you are involved in any accident with a government worker, you must talk to a lawyer immediately. If you are injured in an accident with a police car, garbage truck, Post Office vehicle, utility truck, or any other government vehicle, there will be special pitfalls that could gut your personal injury case before you even get started.

    For example: Under Alabama law, there are specific notice requirements for claims against cities and counties. A specific letter must be sent within six or twelve months of the accident, depending on whether the claim is against the city or county. For most personal injury claims, the deadline to file your claim is two years. But not for claims against Alabama government workers.

    Additionally, claims against federal employees are even more complex. For example, claims against the United States Postal Services and its mailmen must be brought pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act. Choosing the best car accident lawyer for your case is important. You need someone with experience who has handled claims against US Postal workers. If you are hit by a Post Office truck, do not try to handle the claim by yourself.

    If you have a claim against a city or county employee, there may also be immunity issues in your case. Even a simple car accident case could become complex if the at-fault driver was working for the government at the time of the crash.

    Due to the time constraints, the best course of action is to schedule a consultation with a personal injury law firm. You can schedule consultations with multiple law firms. This will give you a chance to choose the best personal injury firm in Huntsville for your car accident case.

    When choosing your personal injury lawyer, you should always ask whether the attorney has experience handling claims against government entities.

    At Garnett Patterson Injury Lawyers, our lawyers have handled claims against cities and counties for over 40 years. In January of 2023, our attorneys helped to secure a confidential settlement against a local municipality for a client of ours who was seriously injured. Needless to say, our client is happy with the confidential settlement and glad he trusted Garnett Patterson Injury Lawyers with his case. His case involved disputed liability, serious injuries, and immunity issues, but ultimately were resolved with a confidential settlement.

    If you or a loved one have a claim against any government entity, you need an attorney. Give us a call at 256-539-8686 for a free consultation.

    Not sure what your records say about you?

    We review medical documentation as part of every free case evaluation. If something in your file is going to be a problem, it’s better to know now.

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      Legal disclaimer. The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is not intended to address the specific facts of any individual situation, and laws change over time. Reading this article, submitting a form, or contacting our office does not create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship is formed only through a signed written agreement with our firm.

      If you have been injured, consult a licensed attorney in your state about your specific circumstances. Do not delay seeking medical treatment or legal counsel based on anything you read here. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

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