Fort Collins Government Vehicle Accidents

Fort Collins Government Vehicle Accident Lawyers

Legal Advocates for Victims of Government Negligence

No one expects to find themselves involved in a collision with an ambulance or a police vehicle, but these accidents happen more often than you would think. What driver’s ed may not have prepared you for is the fact that government workers can be just as reckless or negligent as other drivers. While they have an immense responsibility to drive safely and legally, they don’t always do that. From failing to check blind spots to running red lights without bothering to turn their sirens on, the driver of a government vehicle may feel as though they can’t be touched when it comes to accident claims, but we are here to tell you that isn’t true.

We at Tenge Law Firm, LLC have long served the people for Fort Collins in getting the compensation they need after an accident. Holding the government accountable can be tricky, but not impossible. With a Fort Collins government vehicle accident attorney who knows the law like the back of their hand by your side, you can still receive proper compensation for your injuries, as well as property damage.

If you have found yourself the victim of a government driver, call Tenge Law Firm, LLC at (970) 510-8077 today to discuss your claim in a no-cost initial consultation.

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Over $50M Recovered in the Past Seven Years

At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, our goal is to achieve the best possible result for our clients as soon as possible. Each case and each client is different, so we work directly with clients to meet their needs for medical care and personal situations. We have enjoyed great success, with exceedingly high client satisfaction, using this approach.

  • $3,250,000 Rollover auto accident involving defective roof and serious injuries
  • $1,475,000 Auto accident with head, neck and back injuries
  • $950,000 Car accident with brain injury and orthopedic injuries
  • $750,000 Policy Limits – Low speed auto accident leading to minor stroke
  • $533,000 Trial Verdict - Client hit by airborne patio umbrella with facial scar and concussion.
  • $450,000 Pedestrian hit by car
  • $300,000 Four-car accident resulting in vertebral fracture and facial injuries
  • $200,000 Auto accident with facial injuries
  • $120,000 Slip-and-fall at fast food restaurant

Types of Government Negligence

While most people may assume that a government driver would do their best to drive as safely as possible, it is important to remember that government workers are human beings. Any driver is capable of acting negligent, no matter what their job is. Given our years helping the people of Fort Collins, we have seen a number of common scenarios where government workers cause serious accidents. These include:

  • Ambulances and fire trucks rushing to emergencies without putting their sirens on
  • Garbage truck drivers not checking their blind spots when making a turn or merging
  • Break downs leading to accidents on public buses or trains
  • Police cars that take turns too quickly, run red lights, and speed through traffic while in pursuit of a suspect
  • Delivery vans, such as with the USPS, driven by delivery workers that are fatigued or rushing due to their tight schedules
  • Reckless drivers being allowed to operate school buses

While a government driver should be held accountable for their actions, doing so can be difficult. The laws around personal injury claims are different when the entity you are filing a claim against is the government. However, you should keep in mind that it is not impossible.

Hundreds of 5-star Reviews. Exceptional Results

  • "They treated me like family"

    Todd, Liz and Nina were amazing. They handled my case very professionally. I recommend this law firm to anyone looking for a great firm. They treated me like family

    - Jenn K.
  • "They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well."

    Paige and Nina were a delight to work with. They were extremely responsive and answered my questions very well. They made me feel like I was in good hands and could trust them!

    - Rachel V.
  • "Definitely made it a stress-free experience"

    Brenda was my attorney. She was amazing, helped me through the whole process. Definitely made it a stress-free experience, especially after going through something so traumatic! Was extremely attentive and always kept me updated on how my case was going! I would 1000% recommend them to everyone and anyone!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

    - Zitlaly O.
  • "Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient"

    I highly recommend this law firm! They take care of everything in a timely manner & alleviate any harassment while you recover from injuries. Everyone is extremely nice & very efficient...if you need an attorney, Tenge Law is the place to go!

    - Betty C.
  • "Would highly recommend to anyone!!"

    Tenge Law Firm helped me out when I was in a accident that involved my whole family. They were great and fast with the entire process, and were awesome at keeping me updated throughout the entire process. Would highly recommend to anyone!!

    - Zack K.

The Difficulties of a Government Claim

Colorado, like many other states, upholds what is called “sovereign immunity” for its state government. This essentially means that the government cannot be sued unless your claim falls under one of the eight specific exceptions laid out in the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA). Among these eight exemptions are car accidents. Specifically, “operation of a motor vehicle owned or leased by a public entity, by a public employee while in the course of employment.”

What this means is that if you are involved in an accident with a government vehicle and a government employee, then you can file a claim. However, you must file that claim within the statute of limitations, which is the legal time limit to file a claim. When going up against a private citizen, you should have three years to file your auto accident claim; however, filing against a government entity is much more urgent. You will have just 180 days from the accident to file an administrative claim with the correct agency.

Missing this 180-day deadline means that your claim will be barred, and you will not be able to recover any compensation, even if the government employee was clearly at fault. On top of that, a notice to the government must be filled out correctly with the appropriate information, if you want a chance to receive the compensation you need. Once the claim is filed, you must then wait 90 days in order to file a lawsuit, unless your claim was already denied or a settlement is reached. All of that being said, you should also keep in mind that compensation may be limited.

  • Reviews

    When our clients are happy, they say so. Whether we’re being described for how well we communicate, our responsiveness, or the quality of our service, we’re consistently rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by those we represent.

  • Ratings

    As an industry leader in the field of personal injury, we're proud to maintain a superb 10.0 out of 10.0 rating on AVVO.com, have a preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and have recently been awarded Client Champion Platinum status from Lawyers.com.

  • Results

    In the last ten years, we've recovered $50 million on behalf of our clients. Our motto is simple - You do what you need to do physically recover, and we'll handle the rest.

What Is a Case Worth?

When you file a claim, you do so in order to recover the damages that you have suffered from the accident. Typically, the amount you can receive in an auto accident claim is capped at a little more than $468,010 for non-economic damages, meaning pain and suffering, with the amount going up slightly every two years. This amount can be increased at the discretion of the court, as well, meaning that you could still receive more than that initial $468,010. In addition, there are no caps on economic damages, meaning your claim can be much higher based on your injuries and property damage.

However, when it comes to claims against the government, the cap is much lower. Currently, your compensation will likely be capped at $350,000 for a single person accident, which can increase to $990,000 limit if the accident involved more than one person. On top of that, you will not be awarded punitive damages under any circumstance, which may happen in a claim against a private citizen.

However, you can still recover compensation for multiple areas of damages, including:

  • Past and future medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of job opportunities
  • Lowered quality of life
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment

You should always keep in mind, however, the strict limits, both in terms of compensation and statute of limitations. If you neglect to work with an experienced attorney, it could place you in a position of losing out on the right to file a claim altogether. It is best if you recruit the help of an expert attorney right here in Fort Collins.

Tenge Law Firm Resources

At the Tenge Law Firm, we feel a profound responsibility to ensure our client’s physical and emotional well being during one of the worst times of their life. We've put together a page of resources to help you gain legal expertise and education about the law.

Excellent Legal Help From a Dedicated Law Firm

The team at Tenge Law Firm, LLC understands how frustrating it can be to go up against a government body, especially when one of their employees was clearly at fault for your injuries. Government workers should be held accountable when they act in negligence, just like everyone else.

If you have become the victim of a negligent government driver, then you need the help of a skilled Fort Collins auto accident attorney. Our firm has the expertise, knowledge, and skill to thoroughly review your case and advocate for proper compensation from the government department who injured you. We also work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not get paid unless we win your claim. 

To get started on your case, call our firm at Tenge Law Firm, LLC at (970) 510-8077.

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