The City of Seattle, like any other government entity, is often responsible for causing injuries to innocent people. There are a number of situations in which a person may be injured by the negligence of the City of Seattle. Some common examples include:
- Being injured while visiting a Seattle public building or facility (airport, parks, docks, etc.)
- Being victimized by the negligent actions of a Seattle city worker or official
- Pedestrians injured at dangerous Seattle intersections, being injured in a pedestrian or motor vehicle accident involving a driver operating a Seattle motor pool vehicle
- Being involved in an accident that was caused by a Seattle Police Department (SPD) officer who was perusing a criminal during a high-speed chase
Sometimes a lawsuit is the only way to get the attention of City of Seattle officials and get changes to policies that will secure the safety of all citizens. If you believe you have a case against the city, contact Davis Law Group today. (206) 727-4000.
City of Seattle Government Liability
The City of Seattle operates a number of other agencies whose negligence may have resulted in your injuries. Depending on where you were at the time of the accident or what agencies may have been involved, you may have a legitimate claim against:
- Seattle Department of Transportation
- Seattle Police Department
- Port of Seattle
- Seattle Public Schools
- Seattle Public Utilities
- Seattle Animal Shelter
Lawsuits Against City Governments in Washington
According to RCW section 4.96.020, any claim for injury or property damage that is brought against the state government can also be brought against the local government or a local official or employee.
Each local government, including the City of Seattle, has different rules for filing notice of the claim. Many of these local governments provide written claim forms like the ones used by the State of Washington.
The City of Seattle has a claim form and instructions on its website. Additionally, the City of Seattle will also accept the State of Washington’s tort claim form.
Notice of Claim Law and Definition
The City of Seattle, like many municipalities, have notice of claim provisions in their statutes that says before a lawsuit is started, a notice of claim must be filed within a reasonable amount of time. This period of time is usually three to six months after the injury.
In Seattle, you must file your claim within the state statute of limitations. There are different statutes of limitations for different types of claims in Washington. You can find these limitations at RCW 4.16.
The notice of claim usually contains the date of the injury, the nature of the incident, and other supporting facts regarding the claim. A failure to file a claim may result in a dismissal of the lawsuit.
The City of Seattle’s claims process is described as the following:
Shortly after your claim is filed in the City Clerk’s Office, it is delivered to the Claims Section. The claim is then assigned to an adjuster who will contact you with your assigned claim number and their contact information and then they will conduct an investigation which includes a written response from the involved department(s). The Claims Section will then evaluate and recommend a reasonable resolution of your claim which will be one of three alternatives:
- Pay a sum of money
- Tender – transfer to another party or entity responsible for your alleged damages
- Deny – where there is no evidence of any negligence by the City of Seattle
