What if I was hit by a government or city vehicle?

Claims against government entities in Florida operate under sovereign immunity rules that differ substantially from ordinary claims.

Three differences that matter.

A pre-suit notice requirement. You must present a written claim to the appropriate agency, and to the state's Department of Financial Services in many cases, before filing suit — and there's a waiting period afterward before suit can be brought. Missing the notice requirement can end the claim regardless of its merits.

A different deadline. The time limit for claims against government entities differs from the ordinary negligence period.

Damage caps. Florida limits recovery against government entities by statute. Amounts above the cap generally require a claims bill passed by the Legislature, which is a rare and lengthy process.

Who this covers: city and county vehicles, school buses, law enforcement, and state agencies. Sometimes contractors performing government functions, which is its own analysis.

The notice requirement is the reason these cases need counsel immediately rather than eventually.