Municipal Government Liability
We're not afraid to take on governments to bring you the justice you deserve
Because municipal services address such a broad range of circumstances, many types of injuries can fall under governmental liability, from a slip-and-fall accident in a public building to an automobile accident involving a collision with a snow plow. The government is also a major employer, and workers' compensation concerns can again fall under government liability.
Governments have the same responsibility to provide safe and responsible environments and services as any private company. When municipal buildings are not properly maintained, government employees are involved in accidents on the job, and professional negligence on the part of government officials causes harm to people, the government needs to be held responsible. However, filing a lawsuit against a municipal government is a complex and challenging process, requiring the help of an experienced attorney.
At the Law Offices of James Morris, we have years of experience holding municipal governments accountable for the injuries they cause through negligence. Some of the cases we handle include:
Building a case against a municipal government demands a great deal of time and resources. We'll thoroughly research your case, pore over documents and interview witnesses to make sure we have a complete picture of what happened. Our attorneys will do everything in their power to prove negligence on the government's part and hold those negligent parties responsible.
Your government ought to be accountable to you. If you've been hurt in an accident for which a municipal government was liable, contact our offices at (800) 477-9044. Schedule your free case evaluation today.
All levels of government have an obligation to maintain a safe environment for the members of the public who utilize public buildings or spaces. Many public buildings are in daily use, with offices such as the Division of Motor Vehicles often servicing thousands of people every day. Others only get seasonal use and need a different level of attention; for instance, the bleachers inside a school gym must be maintained during off season to ensure that they do not collapse when they are used for the first time in the new school year.
When public buildings are not properly maintained or secured, any of the hundreds or thousands of people who use them could be injured. Our attorneys will carefully investigate your injury to determine whether the government was to blame, then build your case to get the compensation you deserve.
While most law enforcement is enacted justly and fairly, at times, violations can occur. When police shoot a suspect who does not pose a legitimate threat or guards beat someone held in a prison or jail, they are liable for serious instances of excessive force. Not all cases of excessive police force require direct physical harm, however. Even the deprivation or denial of civil or constitutional rights may constitute an excessive use of force, depending on the circumstances.
Injuries Resulting from Police Pursuit
A municipality is responsible for the conduct of law enforcement officials engaged in vehicular pursuit, independent of the guilt or innocence of the suspect being pursued. If officers are negligent in their pursuit of a suspect, such as veering into oncoming traffic, causing a motorist not involved in the pursuit to swerve and strike a guardrail, that motorist may be entitled to compensation for injuries suffered in the car accident.
Our experienced attorneys know how to comb through accident reports, police personnel records, and dispatch and communication logs to prove that you were injured as a result of police pursuit. We're not afraid to stand up to the team of lawyers the police have on their side.