{"id":353002,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:35","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/you-can-sue-city-hall.html"},"modified":"2025-11-04T13:13:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T18:13:09","slug":"you-can-sue-city-hall","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/you-can-sue-city-hall.html","title":{"rendered":"You Can Sue City Hall for Personal Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

You Can Sue City Hall for Personal Injury<\/h1>\n\n
\n
\n By Ty McDuffey, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Katrina Wilson, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

If a city employee<\/span>‘s negligence or a public property hazard hurts you, you can sue for personal injury<\/span>. There are special rules and limitations that apply when suing local <\/span>government<\/span> entities<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Years ago, you couldn’t sue city hall or almost any government agency. The old legal doctrine of sovereign immunity protected governments from most lawsuits unless they consented to be sued.<\/p>\n

Times have changed. The decline of sovereign immunity has opened up the door to personal injury lawsuits and premises liability lawsuits against government entities.<\/p>\n

Today, if you are hurt or injured and the government is at fault, you can\u00a0sue them for damages<\/a>. These cases can be challenging, so seek advice from a personal injury lawyer<\/a> to understand the process.<\/p>\n

Government-Caused Accidents and Injuries<\/h2>\n

State governments maintain offices and facilities that people visit every day. They hire city employees to drive official cars, trucks, and buses<\/a>. Their employees also manage city property.<\/p>\n

Government employees can make the same kinds of mistakes as everyone else. This can lead to a fair share of accidents. Government workers can cause serious injuries to others and property damage. As with private employers, a government employer can be responsible for the negligence of its employees<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When governments are responsible for your accidents and injuries, you may be able to sue them. This can include\u00a0personal injury lawsuits<\/a>\u00a0for auto accidents. It also includes\u00a0premises liability lawsuits<\/a>\u00a0for slip and fall injuries.<\/p>\n

Some injuries result from the wrongful actions of police officers. Suing the police department<\/a> or an individual officer doesn’t always involve a claim against the city or municipality itself. But if local policies and practices encouraged the excessive force that injured you, you may have a city claim.<\/p>\n

Other Types of Lawsuits Against the City<\/h3>\n

Personal injury isn’t the only type of claim you may have against a city government.<\/p>\n

Here are examples of other potential lawsuits:<\/p>\n