Personal Injury & Death Claims Against the Government

Knowledgeable Colorado Wyoming Governmental Tort Claims Attorneys

Attorneys filing cases against the United States Government, its Agencies and its Employees need to have special experience. Federal Tort Claims Act cases are much different than others:

1. The law requires the filing a complete and thorough SF95 Administrative Claim form with the correct Federal Agency generally within two years of the error with some limited exceptions. Filing a late Administrative Claim may bar your claim completely and failing to provide adequate detail in the proper manner could result in the dismissal of parts of your case even if the Administrative Claim form is timely filed.

2. The law requires that the Federal Agency be allowed to administratively settle your claim before you can file a case in Court. There are specific requirements and time frames that must be followed. When there are requests for information made by the Government during this process, and if settlement discussions occur, critical errors may happen if you do not have the assistance of a qualified attorney skilled in this area.

3. Once the Federal Agency has denied your Administrative Claim, there are specific time frames in which the lawsuit must be filed in Federal Court. If it not filed in the correct court within the proper time frame, your case may be procedurally barred even though it has merit and you have suffered catastrophic damages.

4. The types and amounts of damages that can be awarded may vary by State. Even though your case will be heard in a Federal Court by a United States District Court without a jury, the types of damages which can be awarded depend on the governing State law. Selecting the proper State in which to file your Federal Court case may be critical to its outcome.

Just as claims against the United States require special handling, so, too, do claims against State and Local Governments. In Colorado, there are very short time frame for filing of governmental Administrative Claims, often 180 days, complicated procedural requirements, and special filing deadlines once an Administrative Claim has been denied or deemed denied. If these requirements are not timely satisfied, your claim may be barred.

In Wyoming, there are many Government Claims pitfalls which can also lead to dismissal of your case. These pitfalls require expert advice to preserve and successfully prosecute your case against the State or one of its local governmental entities and their employees.

Claims against Governmental entities and their employee present complicated and unique issues. For this reason, most attorneys do not feel comfortable handling these types of cases. We are committed to helping you to receive full and fair compensation in these types of cases.

Contact the law firm of Jouard & Pickering to determine whether you may be able to successfully pursue a claim for injury or death against the Government. They will arrange a free initial consultation, during which they will evaluate your case and advise you of your legal options.

Jouard & Pickering, P.C.
2038 Caribou Drive
Suite 100
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: 970-482-1977
Toll-free: 888-482-1977
Fax: 970-225-6649
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