A lot of different people use Pennsylvania’s roadways each and every day. Many are private citizens and others may be governmental workers. These workers may cause a car accident just like any other driver. When a government vehicle is responsible for causing a crash, car accident victims may not understand their legal rights.

When an individual is involved in a car accident, that person may have the right to take legal action against any negligent party. The negligent party is responsible for damages related to the accident. These accident damages can include lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering and other costs from the accident.

If the governmental worker was responsible for causing the accident, is the government also responsible for paying damages? The answer to this can vary depending on the facts in each case. However, in many situations, the victim must take certain actions in order to preserve the right to take legal action against a governmental agency.

In particular, car accident victims must file a notice of claim with the governmental agency. The specific amount of time that they have to file this notice depends on the local laws in place. In some cases, it can be as little as 60 days. This notice allows individuals to get around immunity laws in the jurisdiction. It gives the governmental agency a heads up that you have been injured in an accident involving a government worker. It also gives the government the chance to respond to the claims made in your notice.

Individuals who have been injured in an accident with a governmental vehicle in Pennsylvania need to understand their legal rights. Quick action is often necessary in order to preserve these rights. While this blog post only provides general information, an attorney may be able to give specific legal advice about a particular accident.