Active, productive Washington residents share the roads with an array of government vehicles, such as city buses, post-office trucks, administrative sedans, and many municipal agency cars and vans. With the large number of government vehicles sharing our roadways, it’s not uncommon to ask, “What do I do if my Marysville car accident involves a Washington government vehicle?”
Under Washington Chapter 4.92.090, the law states the following:
“The state of Washington, whether acting in its governmental or proprietary capacity, shall be liable for damages arising out of its tortious conduct to the same extent as if it were a private person or corporation.”
What to Do After an Accident Involving a Washington Government Vehicle
The aftermath of an accident is turbulent and chaotic at the scene, especially if you’ve been seriously injured. If you’re incapacitated at the scene, you can only depend on others for help; however, if you or an uninjured companion can safely use a cell phone, you can begin to protect yourself at the accident scene by doing the following:
- First, call 911 to report the accident and request emergency services
- Use the phone’s camera to take photos of the government vehicle, including the government license plate
- Photograph anything relevant to the cause of the accident, such as street signs or signal lights
- Photograph any visible injuries
- Add the contact information of the driver of the government vehicle, and their agency
- Add the contact information of any eyewitnesses to the accident
Always go directly to the hospital from the scene of the accident. This not only ensures that you receive the emergency medical treatment you need, but also provides evidence that your injury occurred in the accident involving the government vehicle. Then, ask for a detailed medical report and carefully follow your doctor’s orders.
What Makes an Accident Claim Against a Government Agency Complex?
All car accident claims in fault-based states like Washington are complex, requiring an injury victim seeking compensation for their damages to prove the at-fault party’s liability. A claim against a government entity, such as a state, city, or county agency, has additional challenges due to unique time limits, deadlines, and filing requirements, such as the following:
- The injury victim must first file a formal notice of claim with the government agency to alert them to the impending lawsuit
- There is a 60-day waiting period after filing the formal notice of claim before an injury victim may file a lawsuit petition
The claim must be submitted either in person, by registered mail with a return receipt, or through the online form on Washington’s Department of Enterprise Services (DES) website. The formal notice of claim must include specific information, such as the date, place, and time the injury occurred, a description of the property damage and injuries, and the names and contact information of all involved drivers.
Failure to file a notice of claim results in the state barring the case from litigation, despite the usual three-year time limit for filing a personal injury claim in Marysville.
Hiring an Experienced Car Accident Attorney In Washington
Car accident claims are legally challenging as well as emotionally fraught when the accident has caused you serious injury, with damages like medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and sometimes permanent scarring or disability. By hiring a skilled car accident attorney in Marysville, your attorney does the following:
- Investigate all aspects of the accident
- Documents compelling evidence of liability
- Meets all notice and filing deadlines and requirements
- Carefully calculate your damages
- Sends the findings to the appropriate agency and insurer
With an attorney on your side, you maximize your chances of a successful claim against the government agency or driver responsible for your accident and damages. If you’ve been injured in a crash involving a government vehicle, contact a Marysville injury lawyer from Wells Trumbull as soon as possible to protect your rights and pursue the full compensation you deserve.