Lompoc is a city located on the Central Coast of Santa Barbara County. The name of the city derives from “lumpo’o̥,: which is the name given to the area by the Chumash people, who inhabited the region for thousands of years. The Spaniards who colonized the area during the 1700s gave it the name “Lompoco,” which was eventually changed to Lompoc.
The city is an eclectic mix of historical landmarks, cannabis farms, and wine vineyards, with a thriving music and arts scenes. Aside from its many residents, countless tourists visit the city, especially during the Lompoc Valley Flower Festival. Unfortunately, dangerous conditions on city property can cause injury to anyone that’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. Negligent conduct by police officers and other city workers can also result in people being injured.
If you were injured due to negligence by a city government agency or one of its staff members, you have the right to seek monetary compensation for your monetary losses. We can help you obtain the payment you deserve, so contact us right away to learn about your rights and legal options.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$1.1 Million
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$525,000
$734,851
Types of Injury Claims against the City of Lompoc
Your right to sue the government at the city, county, or state level is defined by the California Tort Claims Act, known as the CTCA for short. Under this legislation, you can sue a government entity for incidents that cause bodily harm (personal injury), property damage, or the death of a spouse, registered domestic partner, or family member.
Negligence, or the failure to exercise reasonable care, is the foundation of a personal injury lawsuit, no matter who you are suing. Essentially, there is a certain code of conduct that we all are obliged to follow in order to keep others from being injured. For instance, you wouldn’t get in a car if you are intoxicated, as you are likely to cause a car accident.
Similarly, a government employee or department also has a duty of care to the public. The Parks and Recreation Department, for example, must maintain the trees and shrubs in order to prevent injury at a park. To keep people safe while they’re out on the road, the Department of Public Works must resolve hazardous conditions, such as potholes and broken or missing signs. Those who work for the city of Lompoc, like police officers and firefighters, must exercise caution when operating city-owned vehicles.
When there is a failure to abide by these principles, victims who are injured or experienced property loss can file a compensation claim against the city. Incidents that the city of Lompoc can be sued for include:
- Hit by a city vehicle (police car, firetruck, etc.)
- Slip and fall or trip and fall
- Broken / loose sidewalk injuries
- Assault and battery / sexual assault
- Injuries on buses and other modes of public transportation
- Injuries caused by falling objects
- Accidents in school buildings or property owned by a school
How to File a City of Lompoc Compensation Claim
To seek compensation from the city of Lompoc, you will need to file a claim form and mail it to: City Clerk, City of Lompoc, 100 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc, CA 93436. We suggest that you use a priority mailing service, so that you can be sure of its arrival to the City Clerk’s office.
While it’s not a requirement, it’s in your best interest to ask for help from a lawyer who is experienced in lawsuits against government agencies. Though the form itself is just a couple of pages, there are complicated legal concepts that you will need to prove, like how the city is liable for your injuries and monetary losses. You must also have supporting documentation as evidence of the losses you have suffered, which can be difficult when you are making a case for non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.
Due to these and other challenges, many people’s claims are rejected by the city of Lompoc for unclear or missing information, or lack of evidence.
The personal injury lawyers of Normandie will build a solid case on your behalf and ensure that you receive every penny you deserve from a City of Lompoc accident injury claim.
Deadline to File a Compensation Claim against the City of Lompoc
A claim for damages against a public entity must be filed within 6 months, starting from the incident date. This is a legal requirement of the CTCA, so if you miss the 6-month deadline, you will permanently lose the right to sue the city for monetary compensation.
This is a very tight deadline, especially when you consider the fact that the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit is normally 2 years. Unfortunately, government entities have more protection when it comes to litigation, which is why you only have 6 months to submit a claim. That’s why you must act immediately to initiate the legal process if your accident is the result of careless or reckless conduct by the city of Lompoc, California.
Our law firm is here for you 24/7, so contact us anytime if you need help with suing the city of Lompoc for injuries or damage to your property.
How Long Does it Take the City to Respond?
We mentioned before that it would be wise to use a certified or priority mail service to send in your forms. This is important, as you will need to know the exact date of delivery. From this point on, the city has 45 days to send you a written response, whether it’s an acceptance (the city agrees to pay you) or a rejection of your claim. If you receive a rejection notice from the city claim administrator, you have 6 months from the date of rejection to file a lawsuit with the court system.
Most people will receive a notice of some sort within 45 days. In the event you do not hear back from the city within this time period, you can assume that your claim is rejected by default. That means you have 2 years from the date of injury / property damage to file a personal injury lawsuit against the city of Lompoc.
Average Settlement for a City of Lompoc Accident Claim
The value of a city government accident claim can range from $10,000 to $2,000,000 and above, so there’s really no such thing as an average case value for one of these lawsuits. The amount you will end up with depends on many factors, like how badly you’ve been injured, the monetary losses resulting from the accident, and the specific act of negligence / misconduct by the liable entity. Figuring out how much you can receive from a City of Lompoc compensation claim is a complicated subject that you should discuss with an experienced attorney. Our legal team is available to speak with you 24/7, so contact us if you would like to know the value of your lawsuit against the city of Lompoc.
How Long will It Take to Settle my Case?
A city government compensation claim usually takes 1 to 2 years from start to finish. We do have cases that are settled within 6 months, and lawsuits that go to trial and require 3 or more years of work. But over 90% of cases do not go to trial, so we will most likely reach a settlement with the City of Lompoc. But there are additional steps that you have to take when you are suing a public entity, and this is why most of these cases take at least 12 months before payment is issued to the victim. To give you a more specific explanation for how long it will take to reach a settlement, there are many details we must learn about your case. For a free consultation with a City of Lompoc accident attorney, call us today.
Free Legal Services from the Lawyers of Normandie
That’s right – you can receive free legal services here at Normandie Law Firm, where all victims are protected by the Zero Fee Guarantee. You pay $0 to hire us for a lawsuit, since we bill the city of Lompoc for the costs associated with your case. The city will include our fees in your settlement award, so winning your case is the only way we get paid.
It all starts with a free case evaluation, which you can schedule by contacting our office.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
How to File an Accident Claim against the City of Moreno Valley
How to File an Accident Claim against the City of Eastvale, CA
How to File an Accident Injury Claim against the City of Anaheim Hills
