When a person is injured at a government property such as a Post Office, he or she has the right to receive compensation for the damages the injuries. Government entities usually protect themselves through what is known as “sovereign immunity” which makes government completely immune from being sued and be found liable in a lawsuit.

Over the past several years, state and federal governments had effectively waived this immunity by allowing personal injury claims when such government entity was likely to have been negligent. However, the entire process of filing a claim and the chances of receiving compensation is different from that of injuries that occur at private or business premises.

Proving that the government entity was negligent is essential in filing a personal injury claim against them. One has to prove that the government entity owned and controlled the property where the injury occurred, then prove that the government entity has known or should have known of a dangerous condition existing in the property while also failing to fix or remedy the danger. In most cases, one must also prove that the injury was not caused by his or her actions.

There is a strict deadline for making a claim against a government entity which could be anywhere from 30 days to 6 months. It is important to check the deadline for filing a claim in that state government’s website. The court can dismiss your claim if you miss the deadline for filing a claim. Each state might have different requirements, but a claimant has to file a formal notice of injury which contains details such as:

1. Your name and address.
2. The date of the injury.
3. An accurate description of the injury.
4. Your claim that the government entity was negligent.
5. Your allegation that the negligence was the cause of your injury
a description of your injury.
6. Your medical bills and other financial losses to date.

This formal notice must be given to the right government entity responsible for maintaining the premises where your injury occurred. It must be sent there.

The federal government and most states also place a limit on how much you can recover from an injury that was caused by the negligence of a government entity. These limits differ depending on which government entity you are suing, but they can be very low and sometimes will not be enough to cover your damages fully.