Belleville Attorneys Experienced in Federal Tort Litigation

The Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946 was established to protect citizens against government employees who cause them harm, whether by accident, negligence or carelessness. Just a few examples include:

• Accidents on federally-owned properties – FTCA law can cover damages if you are injured while visiting a federal building. For instance, if your local U.S. Post Office fails to clean up a leak on the floor, and you slip and fall, you should be entitled to compensation. FTCA also protects those on military bases, VA hospitals and other federal facilities.
• Government negligence or omission – A federal employee’s wrongful or negligent actions can lead to injury and death—even from thousands of miles away or years down the road. For example, two families recently received millions in a settlement from the federal government after their loved ones were killed in a recycling plant explosion caused by a live mortar round that was not properly deactivated by the military.
• Medical injuries, malpractice and negligence – Federally-funded medical facilities provide excellent care, especially to residents from at-risk communities, but medical injuries can still happen at any time. If you receive inadequate or even careless treatment at any of these federal institutions, talk to the medical malpractice lawyers at Cueto Law:
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) – Southern Illinois alone has more than 70 FQHCs, or community-based medical centers and hospitals, which receive their funding from the government. Healthcare providers who practice in an FQHC do not carry traditional medical malpractice insurance—any claims must be filed on a federal level. The problem is many patients don’t realize their medical center is, in fact, an FQHC, and by the time they file a lawsuit, they’ve missed the statute of limitations period. For a list of FQHCs, visit gov or contact Cueto Law to determine if your injury falls under the FCTA.
• Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital – If you are injured by a healthcare provider or staff member at a VA hospital, outpatient clinic or rehabilitation facility, you may be eligible to collect damages through the federal government.
• Military Base medical facilities – Due to the Feres Doctrine, active duty personnel are barred from suing the government for injuries they’ve suffered during their service, including from medical malpractice or negligence. However, their family members and non-military personnel are covered by FTCA if they use the base’s medical providers.