Accidents Involving Government Vehicles in Tennessee

Your Rights, Remedies, and Legal Path Forward

When a government vehicle causes a crash, the experience is no less traumatic or disruptive than any other auto accident. However, the legal path forward is more complex. At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we help injury victims across Tennessee understand their rights and pursue the compensation they are entitled to under the law. Claims involving local, state, or federal vehicles involve different procedures, shorter deadlines, and specific rules, but our experienced attorneys are here to guide you through every stage.

With offices in Brentwood, Nashville, and Murfreesboro, we serve clients throughout Nashville, Davidson County, and the surrounding region. If you or a loved one has been hurt by a vehicle operated by a government employee or agency, we are ready to help you hold the responsible parties accountable.

What Are Government Vehicle Accidents?

A government vehicle accident occurs when a crash involves a vehicle owned, operated, or maintained by a public agency. These agencies can include the federal government, the State of Tennessee, a county government, or a local municipality. These vehicles range widely and may include police cruisers, sheriff’s department SUVs, fire trucks, ambulances, public school buses, city transit vehicles, garbage trucks, street sweepers, postal vehicles, military transports, and utility trucks serving electricity, gas, or water systems.

Because these vehicles operate throughout Tennessee’s roadways and often perform essential functions, they are involved in accidents across a variety of settings. When a government vehicle causes a crash, victims may face different legal standards than they would in a typical car accident case. Understanding these differences is crucial to securing fair compensation.

Where and How These Crashes Happen

Accidents involving government-operated vehicles occur on interstates, rural roads, residential streets, and even in parking lots. Police vehicles involved in high-speed chases can collide with bystanders or uninvolved motorists. Fire trucks and ambulances may cause injury while responding to emergencies. Maintenance vehicles may back into parked cars, or postal trucks may strike pedestrians while delivering mail. School bus crashes can occur during improper loading or unloading procedures. Transit buses may run red lights or fail to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Utility service vehicles and construction trucks may cause crashes while parked improperly or while entering roadways without warning.

Many of these accidents occur in congested areas, with limited visibility, or under time pressure. Although emergency response laws in Tennessee offer certain protections to government drivers, these laws do not excuse reckless or negligent conduct.

The Legal Difference: Sovereign Immunity and Its Exceptions

In traditional legal doctrine, the concept of sovereign immunity shielded governments from lawsuits. Essentially, a person could not sue the government without its express consent. However, Tennessee and federal law now allow certain types of claims to proceed, including those involving vehicle crashes.

The Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act (TGTLA)

Claims involving cities, counties, and other local governmental agencies are governed by the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, outlined in Tennessee Code Annotated sections 29-20-101 and following. Under TGTLA section 29-20-202, a local government may be held liable when a government employee negligently operates a vehicle in the scope of their employment and causes injury or death.

However, this statute imposes several key limitations. First, punitive damages are not allowed. Second, the law imposes damage caps of three hundred thousand dollars per person and seven hundred thousand dollars per occurrence.  Third, the cases are usually tried to a judge, not a jury (although jury trials may occur if other, non-government parties were also involved in the wreck.)

It is also important to note that cases involving state employees must instead be filed with the Tennessee Claims Commission, which follows different rules. Claims against the state government for negligent driving by its employees are limited to $300,000 per person, $1,000,000 per accident. 

Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)

When a federal government employee causes an accident, the claim may fall under the Federal Tort Claims Act, found at 28 United States Code sections 1346 and 2671 through 2680. This statute allows individuals to seek damages from the United States for negligence caused by federal employees acting within the scope of their duties.

FTCA claims are subject to a unique set of rules. An administrative claim must be filed within two years of the accident using Standard Form 95. The government then has six months to respond before a lawsuit may be filed. The lawsuit itself must be filed in federal district court. The FTCA does not permit punitive damages, and only the United States government can be named as a defendant—not individual employees. Claims involving independent contractors are not eligible under this act.

Failing to follow any of the strict FTCA requirements may result in your claim being dismissed, regardless of how severe your injuries may be.

Emergency Vehicle Operations and Limited Immunity

Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-108 provides certain protections for drivers of emergency vehicles, such as police cruisers, ambulances, and fire trucks. These drivers may be exempt from specific traffic laws while responding to emergencies. However, this exemption is not absolute. It only applies if the driver uses appropriate audible and visual signals and exercises due regard for the safety of others.

If a government driver fails to activate lights or sirens, or behaves recklessly, they may lose immunity. In the case of Hughes v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville (Tennessee Court of Appeals, 2012), a police officer ran a red light without using his siren and struck another vehicle. The court ruled that the officer was not protected by the emergency vehicle exception, illustrating that government entities can still be held liable even during official emergency operations when safety procedures are ignored.

How Our Firm Builds Strong Government Vehicle Claims

At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we understand how overwhelming it can be to face a government agency in a legal dispute. We take a proactive, detailed approach to developing every case. Our process begins with a rapid investigation and preservation of evidence. This includes securing video footage from dash cams, body cameras, or nearby surveillance systems. We obtain crash reports, analyze internal agency documents using public records laws, and interview witnesses and government personnel.

We also collect and organize medical records, treatment plans, expert medical reports, and documentation of income loss or disability. Our legal team navigates the procedural requirements imposed by the TGTLA and FTCA, including notice letters, administrative filings, and venue issues. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial, giving us strong leverage in negotiations and the confidence to move forward if litigation becomes necessary.

Types of Compensation Available

If you are injured in a government vehicle accident, you may be entitled to recover a wide range of damages. These may include compensation for medical bills, hospital stays, surgeries, prescriptions, and ongoing treatment. You may also be eligible for damages related to lost income and diminished future earning capacity.

Additional compensation may be awarded for pain and suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement, emotional distress, and property damage. In the tragic event of a wrongful death, family members may recover damages for loss of companionship and funeral expenses. While damage caps may limit total recovery in some government cases, our legal team works diligently to secure every dollar available under the law.

What to Do After the Accident

If you are involved in an accident with a government vehicle, take immediate steps to protect your health and legal rights. Call law enforcement and request that a report be filed. Seek medical attention promptly, even if your injuries appear minor. Photograph the vehicles, skid marks, traffic signals, and your injuries. Obtain names, titles, and badge numbers of government employees involved in the crash, as well as contact information for any witnesses.

Avoid making statements about fault or signing any documents presented by the government agency or its insurer without first consulting an attorney. Government entities often try to resolve claims quickly, sometimes before the injured person fully understands the extent of their injuries or the scope of their rights.

Statute of Limitations and Notice Requirements

Time is a critical factor in cases involving government vehicles. For claims involving local or under the TGTLA, the State of Tennessee under the Board of Claims Act, the statute of limitations is generally one year from the date of the injury. For federal claims under the FTCA, an administrative claim must be filed within two years, and a lawsuit must follow within six months after denial or inaction.

Missing one of these deadlines—whether due to delay, confusion, or lack of awareness—can permanently bar you from recovering compensation. Working with a knowledgeable attorney ensures that your case is filed correctly and on time.

Areas We Serve

Our attorneys represent clients throughout Middle Tennessee. From our offices in Brentwood, Nashville, and Murfreesboro, we serve Davidson County, including the communities of Nashville, Bellevue, Antioch, and Hermitage. In Williamson County, we assist clients in Brentwood, Franklin, and Nolensville. In Rutherford County, we represent individuals in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, and La Vergne. We also regularly handle cases in Sumner, Wilson, Maury, and Cheatham counties.

We understand the procedures specific to local courts and have experience dealing with a wide range of municipal, county, and federal agencies. This regional knowledge allows us to efficiently advance your case and advocate effectively on your behalf.

Contact Us Today

Government vehicle accidents present unique legal challenges that demand a law firm with deep knowledge, attention to detail, and proven courtroom experience. At The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., we are committed to protecting your rights and guiding you through every step of your legal journey. Whether your case involves a city-owned bus, a sheriff’s deputy cruiser, or a federal postal truck, we are here to help.

Call us today at 615-742-4880 or submit your case through our secure online form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. There are no legal fees unless we win compensation for you. Let us stand with you, advocate for you, and fight for the justice you deserve.