Posted On Mar, 16, 2020 By jardinelawoffices
If you or somebody you care about gets injured due to the careless or negligent actions of another person, you should be able to secure compensation for your losses through a personal injury lawsuit. However, complications arise when cases involve a government agency in the state of Utah. At the Jardine Law Offices, our Salt Lake City personal injury attorneys want to discuss these cases and what your options are moving forward.
Why are these cases different?
In most cases, when a person is injured due to the careless or negligent actions of somebody else, they are able to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to recover compensation for their losses. Typically, this compensation is used to cover medical expenses, any lost wages, as well as pain and suffering damages sustained due to the injuries. Typically, injury victims have four years from the date the injury occurred to file a lawsuit against an at-fault party.
However, if your claim is against a city, county, or state government agency in Utah, you face a much more difficult time securing compensation.
What is governmental immunity?
In Utah, government agencies are protected by the concept of “governmental immunity” that was established by the Governmental Immunity Act of Utah. This is a broad set of protections that shields most government agencies and their employees from lawsuits if they cause harm to an individual. Governmental immunity even applies if the government entity or employee was at fault for the incident.
According to Rep. Brian King (D-Salt Lake City), “When you impose immunity on anybody’s actions, accountability goes right down the drain.”
While Rep. King does understand that the intention of governmental immunity is to protect taxpayers from paying enormous settlements in lawsuits against their government entities, he says that a flat-out immunity is not a good idea.
Nearly every government entity In Utah is protected by these laws. In this state, citizens are able to file a lawsuit against the government for intentional actions that cause harm, but then victims face additional hurdles:
- Cases against government agencies must be filed within one year after the injury occurs.
- There are caps on how much a victim can recover in these cases.
It is vital injury victims seek assistance from a skilled Salt Lake City personal injury lawyer if they have been harmed due to the actions of a government employee or government agency.
We are ready to help you with your case
If you or somebody you care about has been injured due to the careless or negligent actions of a government agency in Utah, seek legal assistance immediately. At the Jardine Law Offices, we are dedicated to helping victims secure the compensation they deserve. This can include:
- All medical expenses related to the injury
- Lost wages and benefits if you cannot work
- Loss of personal enjoyment damages
- Pain and suffering damages
We are not afraid to take on state government agencies. When you need a Salt Lake City personal injury attorney, you can contact us by clicking here or calling us at 801-350-3506 for a free consultation.
