What Is The Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act?
When a person is injured in an accident caused by the negligence, recklessness, or intentional act of someone else, the injured person can file a personal injury claim for compensation. However, when the at-fault party is a government entity, such as a municipal or state agency, special rules apply. At Mitch Grissim & Associates, our experienced Nashville personal injury attorneys can help you file a personal injury claim against a government entity. To learn more, call or contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
Examples of Government Negligence
One of the most common examples of government negligence involves the use of government vehicles by employees. Many different local and state agencies have a fleet of vehicles that employees use when fulfilling the essential functions of their job. If a government worker is negligent behind the wheel and causes an accident, the Tennessee Government Tort Liability Act kicks in. Examples of government entity auto accidents can include the following:
- Non-emergency accidents involving firefighters or law enforcement
- Car accidents involving other government entities
- Truck accidents with local or state crews
- Dangerous or hazardous road conditions caused by a government entity
How to File a Claim
There are different steps involved in filing a claim under the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act. Unlike other personal injury claims, an injured person only has one year from the date of the accident to file a claim for compensation against a government entity. Exceptions include when the injury victim is a minor or disabled, or if it takes longer than one year to discover that a government entity was at fault for the accident. If the entity involved in the case rejects the claim for injuries, the victim has ninety days to appeal the rejection in court.
Compensation Under the Tort Liability Act
Compensation for personal injury claims include economic and noneconomic damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, loss of future income and benefits, pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. However, the Governmental Tort Liability Act does limit the amount that a personal injury victim can collect for their injury. Bodily injury claims for one person is $300,000, bodily injury claims per accident are capped at $700,000, and property damage claims are limited to $100,000. Our experienced personal injury lawyers can ensure that you are fully compensated under the Act and determine if other third parties may be at fault, as well, which may provide additional avenues for compensation after an accident.
Call or Contact Our Office Now
Not many people realize that the rules are different when filing a personal injury claim against a government entity. If you or someone you know has been injured by a local or state entity in an accident in the Nashville area, the knowledgeable lawyers at Mitch Grissim & Associates are here to help. Call the office or contact us today to schedule a free evaluation of your claims now.
