King County Government Liability Attorney
Getting compensated after a government-caused injury depends on one thing most people never hear about until it is almost too late: the claim has to be presented to the right office, on the right form, in the right way, before the lawsuit can even begin. Injury Law Group NW handles King County government liability cases for people hurt by dangerous roads, negligent public employees, unsafe public property, and transit and agency vehicles, serving injured clients across King County, the Eastside, Seattle, and the greater Puget Sound region.
A claim against a county, city, school district, or state agency does not run like a claim against a private driver or a store. There is a presentment step, a mandatory waiting period, and procedural traps that can end a strong case before a judge ever sees it. We walk clients through each of those decisions, because the choices made in the first weeks tend to matter more than anything argued at the end.
Why Choose Injury Law Group NW for a Claim Against a Government Entity
Injury Law Group NW is a personal injury firm that represents people hurt by someone else’s negligence throughout King County, including Issaquah, Bellevue, Seattle, Sammamish, Redmond, Kirkland, Kent, and Renton. Our attorneys spent decades defending insurance companies and their corporate clients before representing injury victims, and that history matters in government cases, where the defendant is often backed by a public risk pool or a claims department with its own internal valuation habits. We know which records those adjusters ask for, how they decide whether to settle, and when they are preparing to fight. We prepare every claim as though it will be tried, and clients can reach us for a free, confidential consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so no attorney fee is owed unless we recover money for you.
Founding partner Troy Hunter spent 16 years in insurance defense litigation, mostly as a partner at Floyd, Pflueger & Ringer, and also serves as a dispute mediator. Attorney David D. Mordekhov spent two decades at the Seattle defense firm Gardner Trabolsi & Mordekhov trying wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and product liability cases. Both are rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. David has been selected to the Super Lawyers list and teaches trial and deposition skills as faculty at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. Our attorneys have argued at every level of the Washington court system, from district court to the Washington Supreme Court, and the firm is a member of the Washington State Association for Justice. Associate attorneys Warren Barreiro and Hannah Shergold complete the team, and case managers return calls and texts promptly. David is fluent in Russian and Warren speaks Spanish.
Results relevant to public-entity work include a mid-six-figure settlement for an elderly woman struck by a transit bus in a downtown Seattle crosswalk, and more than $1 million for parents whose newborn died after a hospital failed to adequately test for Group B Strep, a case that also led the hospital to change its procedures. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome. Clients describe us as responsive, honest, and clear about where their case stands.
Government Injury Claims We Take in King County
- Dangerous Road and Intersection Design: Crashes caused by missing signage, poor signal timing, faded markings, overgrown vegetation blocking sight lines, or road defects like potholes and washouts can support a claim against the county or city responsible for maintaining that road. Corridors across the Eastside and south King County see these claims, and the first question is always who owns and maintains the specific stretch of pavement.
- Transit and Bus Collisions: Pedestrians struck in crosswalks, passengers hurt in sudden stops, and drivers hit by public transit vehicles may have claims against the agency operating the bus, which has its own presentment procedures.
- Government Vehicle Crashes: Police cruisers, public works trucks, maintenance vehicles, and school district vehicles are driven by public employees, and the entity that employs the driver can be responsible for negligent driving.
- Unsafe Public Property: Cracked sidewalks, broken stairs, poorly lit parking lots, defective playground equipment, and hazards in public buildings and parks can injure visitors, and the entity in control of the property may be answerable.
- Public Hospital and Clinic Negligence: Publicly operated medical facilities can be defendants in malpractice cases, and those claims layer the government claim procedures on top of the medical malpractice timing rules.
- School District and Recreation Injuries: Injuries on school grounds, during school-sponsored activities, or at public recreation facilities can involve both negligent supervision and unsafe premises.
- Wrongful Death Involving Public Entities: When a government vehicle, road condition, or public facility contributes to a death, the personal representative may bring the claim for the statutory beneficiaries, subject to the same presentment steps.
The Presentment Process and the Deadlines That Control Your Case
This is where a King County government liability attorney earns the most value early on. For claims against a local government entity, such as a county, city, or school district, Washington requires that the claim be presented to the entity’s designated agent within the same time limit that applies to the underlying injury case, which is generally three years for personal injury. Claims against the state and its officers, employees, or volunteers go to the state’s office of risk management instead. In both situations, the lawsuit cannot be filed until 60 calendar days after presentment, and the limitations clock is paused during that waiting period.
The details of how you present the claim matter. Claims presented to local governments generally must be on the standard tort claim form kept by the state’s office of risk management, with limited exceptions. A claim is treated as presented when it is delivered in person or received by regular, registered, or certified mail with return receipt requested. Email and fax are generally not accepted ways to present a claim to a local entity, and sending one by email and assuming you are covered is among the most damaging mistakes we see. We confirm the correct agent, the correct form, and the correct delivery method, and we keep proof of delivery.
A second timing rule trips people up as well. Under Washington’s commencement rules, a lawsuit counts as started by filing or by service, but the other step must follow within 90 days. If it does not, the case is treated as not commenced for purposes of stopping the limitations clock. With a government defendant, where the presentment waiting period already compresses the calendar, there is little room for that kind of slip.
Different case types carry different clocks. Medical malpractice claims have a three-year limitation period, a one-year discovery rule, and an eight-year outer limit, and a foreign body left in a patient triggers one year from actual knowledge of it. Wrongful death claims run three years from the date of death. Construction-related claims have a six-year outer limit tied to substantial completion. Tolling can apply for minors, for people who are incompetent or disabled such that they cannot understand the proceedings, and in a few other situations, but we do not recommend building a plan around tolling. The safest course is to present the claim well inside the base deadline.
What to Do After an Injury Involving a Public Entity
Start with medical care, then with documentation. Get examined promptly, follow the treatment plan, and keep every record. Photograph the hazard before it is repaired, because public entities often fix a defect quickly once an injury is reported, and the condition you were hurt by may not exist a week later. Note exact locations, such as the cross streets, the stretch of road, the building entrance, or the bus route and vehicle number. If you were hurt in a crash, request the police report from the responding agency, and collect names and contact details for any witnesses.
Be careful about what you say to anyone representing the government. A risk management representative or adjuster may call within days and ask for a recorded statement. You are generally not required to give one, and answers given casually can be used to shift blame to you. Washington follows comparative fault, which means your recovery is reduced by your share of responsibility rather than eliminated, but adjusters push that percentage as high as they can. Talk to a lawyer before you give a statement.
Where the case ends up depends on the amount at stake and the facts. King County Superior Court is the general jurisdiction trial court and hears most serious injury lawsuits, sitting in Seattle and at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. Claims valued under the district court’s civil limit can be filed in King County District Court, which is organized into East, South, and West divisions, with East Division locations serving Bellevue, Issaquah, and Redmond. Cases involving federal defendants or federal law questions can land in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle, and appeals from King County go to Division I of the Washington Court of Appeals, which sits in Seattle. We choose the forum deliberately, and we prepare the case from the start for the possibility of trial.
Proving Government Negligence and Valuing the Claim
A government liability case still comes down to the familiar elements: a duty, a breach, causation, and damages. What changes is the evidence. We look for maintenance logs, prior complaints and incident reports, inspection records, internal policies, signal and traffic engineering files, and public records request returns showing whether the entity knew about a hazard and failed to fix it. Notice is often the center of the case. A dangerous condition that the entity created or knew about, or should have discovered through reasonable inspection, is far stronger than one that appeared minutes before the injury.
Damages in these cases can include past and future medical care, lost wages and earning capacity, and pain and suffering. For serious injuries, including brain injuries that may not show clearly on a scan, we build medical and vocational evidence to show how the injury affects a person’s work and daily life over years. In wrongful death cases, the personal representative brings the claim for the spouse, state registered domestic partner, and children, or for parents or siblings when there are none of those survivors. We handle those cases with patience, so families can focus on one another.
Questions About Claims Against King County and Other Public Entities
How long do I have to bring a claim against a government agency in Washington?
The underlying time limit for most injury claims is three years. The key difference is that the claim must first be presented to the right government office within that period, and you must wait 60 calendar days after presentment before filing suit. The limitations period is paused during that waiting period. Because mistakes in presentment can sink a case, it is best to act long before the three years run.
Where do I send a claim against the county or a city?
A claim against a local government goes to that entity’s designated agent, and the entity identifies who that is. Claims against the state go to the state’s office of risk management. We confirm the correct recipient for each defendant and send the claim in a manner that creates proof of delivery.
Can I email the claim form?
For most local government claims, email and fax are not recognized methods of presentment. In-person delivery, or mail received by regular, registered, or certified mail with return receipt requested, is how a claim is treated as presented. Do not assume an emailed form counts.
Do I have to use a specific form?
Yes, in most cases. Claims for damages against local governments must be presented on the standard tort claim form maintained by the state’s office of risk management, with limited exceptions. An incomplete or incorrect form can create problems later, so we review it carefully before it goes out.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Washington’s comparative fault rule reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault but does not bar recovery. If a jury found you partly responsible, you could still recover the remainder of your damages. Government adjusters often overstate an injured person’s share, so having a lawyer look at the facts early helps.
Does the 60-day waiting period mean my case is on hold?
It means you cannot file suit during that window, but work continues. We use that time to preserve evidence, gather records, pursue public records, and open settlement discussions where it makes sense. Because the limitations clock is paused during the waiting period, the wait does not cost you time, but it does mean the claim must be presented properly at the start.
What if a government employee was driving and caused the crash?
The entity that employs the driver can be responsible for the driver’s negligence while working. The claim goes through the presentment process described above, and the investigation looks at the driver’s conduct, the entity’s training and policies, and any available vehicle data.
Is it worth hiring a lawyer for a smaller government claim?
Often yes, because the procedural requirements are the same regardless of the dollar amount, and a defective claim can forfeit the case entirely. We offer a free, confidential consultation, and we take cases on contingency, so you owe no attorney fee unless we recover money for you. Small claims court has strict limits and generally does not allow attorneys to appear without the judge’s permission, so it is a poor fit for injuries involving ongoing treatment.
My medical bills are piling up while the claim is pending. Who pays?
Washington auto insurers must offer personal injury protection coverage, and it is included unless rejected in writing. It can pay medical expenses and some lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, including when the other driver was a public employee. Your health insurance may also cover treatment, and we work to coordinate these sources while the claim moves forward.
Can a county be liable for a dangerous road even if another driver caused the crash?
Possibly. Fault can be shared. If a road defect or design problem contributed to the crash alongside another driver’s negligence, more than one party may be responsible. Each defendant’s share of fault is evaluated, and your recovery depends on how fault is allocated.
How long does a claim against a public entity take?
It varies with the injuries and the facts. The mandatory 60-day waiting period adds time at the start, and cases involving serious or lasting injuries take longer because the full medical picture needs to be clear before a claim can be fairly valued. We prepare each case as though it will go to trial, which tends to produce better settlement discussions.
Serving Government Liability Clients Across King County
We represent injured people throughout King County. From Seattle and its surrounding neighborhoods, we serve clients through the Eastside communities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish, and Issaquah, and south into Kent and Renton. We also help clients elsewhere in King County and across the greater Seattle area and the Puget Sound region, including those hurt on the I-90, I-405, and I-5 corridors and on local roads maintained by the county and its cities. If your injuries make travel difficult, we will meet you at your home or the hospital.
Talk to a King County Government Liability Attorney Today
The sooner a claim against a public entity is evaluated, the more options you keep. Call or text Injury Law Group NW to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a King County government liability attorney. We will listen to what happened, tell you who the right defendant is and what has to be filed and when, and handle the procedure while you focus on getting better. We give hope. We get results.
