Our client was riding his motorcycle when a U.S. Postal Service delivery vehicle made a sudden left turn without signaling. To avoid a collision, he was forced to lay the bike down, and suffered a traumatic brain injury that changed his life. Years of headaches, cognitive difficulties, and lost earning capacity followed.
After hard-fought federal litigation in the Southern District of New York, including an interlocutory appeal to the Second Circuit, six expert depositions, and preparation for a bench trial, we secured a $502,500 recovery for our client under the Federal Tort Claims Act. That federal law allows individuals to seek compensation when they are injured by the negligence of federal employees acting within the scope of their duties, but the process is far different from an ordinary personal injury case.
Suing the United States is not like an ordinary car crash case. There is no jury, strict procedural requirements and filing deadlines apply, and an army of experienced Assistant U.S. Attorneys vigorously defend these claims.
This result reflects the persistence, preparation, and advocacy required to hold the federal government accountable when one of its employees causes serious injuries.
