Illinois Government Vehicle Crashes & Public Entity Claims

• Identify the governmental entity, vehicle ownership, employee status and scope of employment.
• For local public entities and employees, 745 ILCS 10/8-101 generally requires the civil action to be commenced within one year after the injury or accrual, subject to statutory exceptions.
• For State defendants, analyze Court of Claims jurisdiction and the applicable statutory filing period.
• Preserve government vehicle, dispatch, video, maintenance and agency records immediately.

Primary Illinois Sources

• 745 ILCS 10 — Local Governmental Tort Immunity Act
• Illinois Court of Claims

Current-law review: September 16, 2026. Government claims are entity-specific and deadline-sensitive; confirm immunity, jurisdiction and filing requirements immediately.