St. Louis Municipal Liability Lawyer
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- March 19, 2024
Lawsuits against government entities have different rules and challenges than personal injury claims involving private parties. If you or a family member has been hurt in an accident involving a municipal entity or city, the St. Louis municipal liability lawyers at Brown & Crouppen can help. If you are eligible to file a municipal liability lawsuit, we can help you gather and preserve evidence, build your case, negotiate with the opposing side, and fight for just compensation at trial.
Municipal entities, such as towns and cities, are responsible for the actions and negligence of their officials and employees. If you are injured because municipal officials and employees failed to maintain a property or were otherwise negligent, you may be eligible to file a municipal liability lawsuit for compensation.
The St. Louis municipal liability lawyers at Brown & Crouppen can determine whether you have a valid case and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
What Is Municipal Liability?
Municipal liability is when a local government entity, such as a town or city, bears responsibility for its employees’ and officials’ negligence or actions. This liability can arise when a local municipality fails to fulfill its obligations and duties, leading to property damage, injury, harm, death, and other damages for entities or individuals.
Can You Sue a Local Municipality?
Under Section 537.600 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, you can sue Missouri governments for the following:
- Injuries directly caused by public employees’ negligence while driving motor vehicles within the scope of their employment
- Injuries caused by the condition of a municipal entity’s property if the property was in a dangerous condition when the injuries happened, the dangerous condition directly caused the injuries, the dangerous condition created a reasonably foreseeable risk of causing injuries, and either:
- A wrongful act or omission of a government employee created the dangerous condition; or
- The public entity knew about the dangerous condition before the injuries but did nothing to fix or prevent the dangerous condition.
How Do I Sue a Local City?
Before you sue a local city, you must file a municipal claim against the Missouri state government with the Office of Administration’s Risk Management Division. You must prove that the city owed you a duty of care, that the city breached this duty, and that the breach caused your losses. You must also list the damages you believe the city owes you.
Once the city receives your claim, it may:
- Accept the claim and pay your damages
- Negotiate with you to settle your case for less than the damages you have specified
- Deny your claim
The city will most likely deny the claim or negotiate with you to settle for a smaller amount. If you cannot resolve the claim, you can file a lawsuit against the city for negligence. A Brown & Crouppen St. Louis municipal liability lawyer can prove the city was negligent and that the negligence caused or contributed to your injuries and losses.
Types of Municipal Personal Injury Claims
There are three main sources of municipal personal injury claims against the government: motor vehicle, slip-and-fall, and pool accidents.
Motor Vehicle Claims
Drivers can file motor vehicle municipal claims when they sustain injuries and property damage due to a road defect that the municipality failed to fix despite being aware of its existence.
Road conditions leading to municipal motor vehicle claims include:
- Debris on the road
- Lack of proper drainage
- Construction zone hazards
- Bus drivers failing to follow the rules of the road
- Faulty traffic control devices
- Uneven pavement and potholes
- Poorly designed intersections
- Unsafe road conditions
- Insufficient road maintenance
- Parking lot accidents
Slip-and-Fall Claims
Slip-and-fall accidents happen when someone is injured by tripping or slipping on a municipal entity’s property. They typically result from poorly maintained property.
Conditions that can cause slip-and-fall accidents on municipal properties include the following:
- Icy sidewalks at a public park
- Uneven pavement on a city street
- Potholes in a municipal parking lot
- Wet floors in a municipal building
- Poorly lit staircases at a local government office building
- A slippery floor at a recreation or community center
Pool Claims
You may be eligible to file a municipal personal injury claim for a swimming pool injury if you believe the municipality’s inadequate safety measures or negligence caused the accident.
For example, suppose a community center swimming pool fails to hire qualified lifeguards and a child drowns. In that case, the child’s parents can file a municipality liability wrongful death lawsuit against the community center.
Contact a St. Louis premises liability lawyer from Brown & Crouppen Law Firm to learn more about your options.
How Long Do I Have to File a Municipality Lawsuit?
Under Missouri law, you must file a claim with the municipality within 90 days of the accident date. If you fail to file a claim within this period, you may lose the right to file a lawsuit for your accident.
An experienced St. Louis municipality liability lawyer at Brown & Crouppen can help you file your lawsuit in time.
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
Why Hire a Lawyer for a Municipality Liability Lawsuit?
Although plaintiffs can file municipality liability claims without lawyers, doing so would take considerable time, energy, and research. Without legal expertise, you may miss the deadlines for municipal liability lawsuits or fail to follow proper procedures, jeopardizing your right to recovery.
You should hire an experienced city accident lawsuit lawyer for your municipality liability lawsuit. A skilled lawyer has the expertise and resources to assist with the following:
- Determine your eligibility: Your lawyer will analyze your case to determine whether you have the right to sue the municipal entity.
- Help you gather and preserve evidence: If you can file a municipal liability lawsuit, your attorney will help you gather and preserve evidence, such as medical records, police reports, physical evidence, and eyewitness accounts.
- Calculate damages: Your attorney can use the evidence to calculate the economic and non-economic damages you deserve for your injuries and losses. Economic damages are those that are objectively verifiable, such as medical costs, burial and funeral fees, lost wages, and lost earning potential. Non-economic damages compensate for subjective losses, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and emotional distress.
- Negotiate with the opposing side: Your lawyer will use their negotiation skills to land the compensation you deserve.
- Fight for your rights in court: If the opposing side refuses to settle, your lawyer can fight for compensation in court. Trial verdicts may have higher payouts, but the process is more time-consuming and riskier. Talk to your lawyer to learn more about the benefits and disadvantages of going to court.
Why Choose Brown & Crouppen Law Firm?
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident involving municipal entities, Brown & Crouppen Law Firm can help. Our seasoned St. Louis municipal liability lawyers understand the intricacies of premises liability and personal injury law and will fight tooth and nail to secure maximum compensation. We have recovered over $1 billion for our clients and won many awards, including Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Rising Stars nominations.
Contact us today at (888) 803-2581 to learn how we can help you. We represent people with multiple liability lawsuits in St. Louis, Kansas City, and all over Missouri and southern Illinois.
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- Last Modified:
- March 19, 2024
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