The Scoop On Obtaining Compensation If You Were Injured In an Accident With A Texas Police Car or Fire Truck

When most of us may think of police officers, firefighters and crashes, we think of them as coming to the scene to help. However, drivers of government vehicles can also be the negligent drivers causing the crashes. For victims, the fact that the vehicle is owned by a governmental agency adds an extra layer of problems when seeking the compensation that they are entitled to.

Who the Owner of the Texas Government Vehicle Is Can Affect Your Compensation

The government cannot be sued for many negligent acts under the doctrine of sovereign immunity. Fortunately, the Texas Tort Claim Act gives a person injured in an accident the right to sue the government if a negligent employee driving a police car or fire truck caused his injuries. The person would need to prove the following:

• The employee was working on-the-clock when the crash occurred.
• The employee owed a duty not to harm the victim.
• The victim’s injuries were caused by the crash.
• The employee would have liability for this type of crash if he was using his personal vehicle.

Under the Texas Tort Claim Act, the amount of damages a person is entitled to is capped at a certain maximum amount depending on whether the vehicle is owned by the state government, a local governmental unit like the county, school board, or county hospital, or a municipality—a city or town. Knowing who owned the government vehicle that hit the crash victim is critical when determining what the cap is. The maximum amounts a victim could recover are as follows:

• State units. $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for personal injury and death, and $100,000 per occurrence for property damage.
• Local government units. $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence for personal injury and death, and $100,000 per occurrence for property damage.
• Municipality units. These amounts are identical to those for state-owned vehicles.

Have You Been Injured In A Texas Car Accident?

If you've been hurt in a Texas car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Dallas Metro or Austin office directly at 817.485.8888 to schedule your free consultation.