As the most populous city in Kings County, Hanford is known for its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, best exemplified in many of the historical homes throughout the community. The city also has a thriving arts and culture scene with annual events like the Kings District Fair and the Renaissance of Kings Cultural Arts Faire. People also come to Hanford to enjoy auto racing at the Kings Speedway between March and October.
The city government plays a pivotal role in how Hanford is perceived by the public. They also provide essential services that run the gamut from law enforcement to storing vital records. When a city government is well run by professional and ethical people, all is well within the borders of Hanford, CA. But there are many cases of neglect, failure to supervise, and lack of accountability within city departments. This is why residents and visitors to Hanford may be injured in an accident through no fault of their own. Incidents that result from negligence by city workers and departments include:
- Slip and fall / trip and fall accidents
- Injured from dangerous conditions at a city park
- Injuries to pedestrians (by city owned vehicles)
- Accident at the train station (Hanford Station)
- Building collapses
- Assault and battery, like excessive violence by the police department
- Sexual assault
This article is meant to be a resource on the process of filing a City of Hanford accident claim. However, the claims process can be very complicated, so it’s in your best interest to find a personal injury lawyer that’s familiar with suing government entities in California. To schedule a free case review with one of our attorneys, contact our office.
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How to File an Injury Claim against the City of Hanford
Claims for damages with the city government of Hanford, CA must be filed using the city’s claim form, which you can download here. The forms will have the address that you should hand-deliver or mail them to once you answer all the questions with documentation to prove the city’s liability and the damages you are owed.
Your claim will be reviewed by the City Administrator, who will decide whether to approve or deny you request for payment. Once they make their decision, you will be notified by mail, though please be aware that this process will take at least several weeks.
This all sounds simple in theory, but it’s actually quite difficult to establish legal responsibility under the law. In addition, most victim are unaware of the full range of compensation they can receive, especially for serious accidents that causes significant pain and suffering, along with long-term / permanent medical expenses and loss of income.
Our goal is to act as your legal advocate and fight for every penny you are owed from the party that injured you. For skilled and aggressive representation on a city of Hanford accident claim, contact us today.
Filing a Hanford School District Accident Claim
School districts are technically an entity of the government, but they are known as a special purpose entity. That means they exist separately from the local city / municipal government and operate according to their own procedures. As a result, there are separate forms and rules you must follow if you are seeking payment for being injured at a city of Hanford public school.
The legal team of Normandie Law Firm can help you file an incident claim against the Hanford Elementary School District or the Hanford Joint Union High School District. Please reach out to us if you or your child had an accident at any of the schools listed below:
- Hamilton Elementary
- Jefferson Elementary
- Lee Richard Elementary
- Lincoln Elementary’
- Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
- Monroe Elementary
- Roosevelt Elementary
- Simas Elementary
- Washington Elementary
- John F. Kennedy Junior High
- Woodrow Wilson Junior High
- Hanford High School
- Hanford West High School
- Sierra Pacific High School
Deadline for Claims in Hanford, California Must be Filed in 6 Months
It’s essential to keep in mind that liability claims against the government have a 6 month deadline. So, starting from the date of your accident, you have 6 months to compile your evidence, complete the claims form,s and file them with the appropriate city department. Admittedly, this is a rather short deadline, and many victims are overwhelmed by how little time they have when they are trying to recover from an accident. Don’t worry, as our law firm is here to do the heavy lifting in a liability claim against the city of Hanford. Just give us a call and ask to schedule a time to speak with one of our legal experts.
How Long Does it Take to Hear back from the City?
Under the California Tort Claims Act, public entities have 45 days to decide whether they will pay out a claim or reject it on the basis of missing information, lack of evidence, etc. Their decision has to be made in writing, which can come to you as an email or a physical letter through the mail. If you find that the city has denied your compensation request, you can move forward by filing a lawsuit no later than 6 months from the date of your rejection notice.
Now and then, city governments fail to send the written notice by the required deadline. Under the law, you have the right to file a lawsuit in this case, as you have done your part to try and work out a settlement with the city of Hanford. Due to the city’s failure to respond, you can default to the statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit, which is 2 years from the date of injury.
What is the Average Value of a Lawsuit against the City of Hanford, CA?
Settlements from the City of Hanford may be in the range of $5,000 to $2,000,000 based on the number of / severity of injuries and degree of negligence by the city employee or department. Overall, your medical needs play the biggest role in case values, but you may be entitled to other damages, like property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. That’s why it’s important to speak with a lawyer who can verify the payments that can be included in a claim with the city of Hanford. For a free consultation, contact our office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How Much Time will It Take to Settle my Case?
The majority of claims for accidents caused by the government take between 1 and 2 years. Of course, there is always the possibility that your claim will be processed and approved for payment within a few weeks. But as we mentioned before, city governments are good at finding excuses to deny compensation to accident victims. Many of the cases we handle progress to a lawsuit, and how long that takes to settle is anyone’s guess. With the procedures that are involved, it’s not hard to see how these cases take at least 12 months from start to finish. Lawsuits that go to trial will take 3 or more years, but we want to stress that less than 5% of all personal injury cases are tried in court.
Are You Interested in Free Legal Services?
In that case, please contact our office to learn about the Zero Fee Guarantee, a policy where accident victims pay $0 toward the cost of legal fees. If you are eligible for a City of Hanford liability claim, we will provide you with an accident injury lawyer, completely free of charge. Our fees are covered by the city of Hanford on the condition that we win your lawsuit. If not, you walk away without paying us a single cent.
Our lawyers look forward to speaking with you and fighting to recover the highest possible settlement. Contact our office to schedule a free case evaluation.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
How to Flie an Accident Injury Claim with the City of Bellflower, CA
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How to File a Claim against the City of Hesperia, CA
