When you get hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to sue them for damages. However, when a government entity is responsible for your injuries, the process for suing them is a bit different. It’s important to act quickly and consult with a Tom Green County, Texas personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so that you do not miss out on your chance to file a notice of claim and receive your compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Notice of Claim?
When you sue a person or a private company, you just file a lawsuit. When the government is the defendant, you first must file a notice of claim. This essentially informs the government that you were injured due to its negligence and that you will be suing as a result.
The issue is that the deadline for submitting this claim can come up sooner than you would expect. The normal statute of limitations in a personal injury case is two years, but you have just 180 days to file a notice of claim. This means that you need to quickly schedule a consultation with a lawyer and figure out the next steps.
Do I Need a Lawyer to File a Notice of Claim?
You do not necessarily need a lawyer to file your notice of claim, but having one on your side can be helpful. A lawyer from our firm can make sure that you include all of the required information and that you send the claim to the right place. We can also help you retell the events of the day you got injured, ensuring that the government has a complete picture of the incident.
How Much Can I Recover in Damages?
It is important to note that your settlement can be limited due to state law. Claims against the state can be capped at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per event. Claims against other levels of government can be capped at different numbers depending on who you are suing. Your lawyer can explain about any limitations and let you know if the government entity you are suing has any other rules to be concerned about, like a smaller window for turning in your notice of claim.
How Long Will My Case Take?
This can be hard to answer definitively since every case is different. You could be offered a reasonable settlement after sending your notice of claim, or you could end up in a longer legal battle. Expect your case to take at least a few months to conclude, but know that it could take even longer than a year.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
So if you were hurt on government property or injured due to the negligence of a government employee, you may be owed compensation. Contact the Mathis Law Firm to schedule a free consultation with our team. We can take a closer look at your claim and tell you more about your legal options.
