Can You Sue the Government for Injury?
It probably won't surprise you to learn that you can't usually just walk into your local courthouse and file a lawsuit against the government. That's always been true if you just disagree with a certain government policy. But even if a federal, state, or local government action or decision has a direct and negative effect on you, there are typically laws and procedures in place that require either (or both):
- having the government's permission before you can challenge or sue over a particular action or event, and/or
- following a specific procedure before you can get compensation for harm caused by the government.
The specifics depend on the kind of harm you're claiming and the law of the state that you’re in. But in general, the government (at all levels) makes it difficult for claimants to win any kind of case against it. The articles on this page can walk you through the specifics, including the laws in your state when it comes to suing the government for injuries.
If you think the state or local government (or a government employee) is to blame for an injury or property damage you've suffered, in order to get compensation you'll likely need to play by a unique set of rules laid out in your state's laws. Choose from the list below for the details where you live.
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Texas
Washington
Wisconsin
Information on Injury Claims Against Selected States
If you think the state or local government (or a government employee) is to blame for an injury or property damage you've suffered, in order to get compensation you'll likely need to play by a unique set of rules laid out in your state's laws. Choose from the list below for the details where you live.
If you think the state government (or one of its employees) caused your injury, getting compensation means playing by a unique set of rules.
Injured by a federal government employee? You might be able to file a claim and bring a lawsuit under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
A look at the challenges you'll have to overcome to win a lawsuit against a public utility.
After a slip-and-fall accident on government-owned property, any injury claim you make will be governed by strict procedural rules.
It's not easy getting compensation for injuries or property damage caused by a police pursuit, but you do have options.
When you are injured by a VA doctor or other employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), you have two legal remedies available to you.
Many states have special rules and procedures that must be followed before a suit can be brought against a state or local government agency.
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