Public transportation helps to cut down on traffic congestion, and these public options are heavily relied upon in the Twin Cities. The light rail system helps people get to and from the downtown area, but it’s the metro busing system that really helps get people closer to their destination. Unfortunately, these big buses and tight city streets aren’t always easy to navigate, and that can lead to traffic accidents.
You might imagine that a personal injury claim involving a city bus or another public transportation vehicle is similar to a standard injury claim involving any other driver, but that’s not the case. We explain what you need to do if you are involved in one of these automobile accidents in today’s blog.
Injured By A Government Vehicle In Minnesota
The government and its employees are held to a slightly different standard than the average Joe. Because of this, they actually have some immunity when conducting their work duties, which is why a standard injury claim may not work in some situations. However, Minnesota law doesn’t just leave the public empty handed. In these instances, you can file a tort claim.
Minnesota’s statute on torts is as follows:
“The state will pay compensation for injury to or loss of property or personal injury or death caused by an act or omission of an employee of the state while acting within the scope of office or employment or a peace officer who is not acting on behalf of a private employer and who is acting in good faith.”
Factors that influence your tort claim amount include:
- Your injuries
- Medical treatment required
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Future lost wages and future medical expenses
- Any related expenses as a result of your injury
Depending on your injuries, these tort payouts can reach seven figures, so it’s not something you’ll want to take lightly. However, you can bet that the government will have extensive legal assistance on their side, so you should do the same. You’ll want to hire an injury firm like Hey Workers to help ensure you aren’t taken for a ride, especially when you consider how the government likes to handle these cases.
The government’s goal in tort cases is to limit their payout and absolve themselves of liability. They do this by structuring a settlement agreement that offers a fraction of what you could collect and by inserting a clause that indicates that by signing the agreement, the government is not at fault for your injuries. Unless you take the matter up to the state’s highest court, it’s going to be tough to earn an award that explicitly states that the government is at fault, but if you play your cards right, you can get a much bigger compensation award.
This is where your lawyer comes in handy. Your lawyer knows that the government doesn’t want to admit fault, so while it’s unlikely the government will bend on that aspect, they are oftentimes willing to be flexible when pushed for more compensation. It’s not uncommon for claim awards to be 3x-4x or more larger than the original offer made by the city because of their desire to end the case and to not admit wrongdoing. If you’re filing a tort claim against the city, never take their first offer. Always run it by your lawyer and see what you can do to increase your potential payout.
So if you’ve been injured by a metro bus and are wondering how to collect what you are rightfully owed, reach out to a qualified legal team like the ones you’ll find at Hey Workers. For more information, give us a call today at (844) 439-9675.
