How to File a Lawsuit against the City of Needles, CA

Needles is a city located in the Mojave Desert region of San Bernardino County. The city is right along the border with Arizona and Nevada, which means there is considerable traffic in and out of Needles, even though it only has a population of 4,959 as of the 2020 census.

The town was named after a group of pinnacles in the Mojave Mountains that was referred to as “the Needles.” Because of its location, it served as a landmark to migrants during the Great Depression of the 1930s to let them know that they had arrived in California. Today, Needles is largely managed by the County of San Bernardino, but the city government still plays a vital role in the welfare of residents and visitors.

Hopefully, the departments that make up the City Office are diligent in their duty of care to the public. When they are not, innocent people can suffer from an unexpected accident, such as:

• Slip and fall or trip and fall on government property
• Injured by a falling object or structural collapse (collapsing roof, for example)
• Injuries to pedestrians caused by reckless driving
• Car crashes with city vehicles
• Assault and battery
• Sexual assault

Victims of neglect by the city of Needles have the right to demand compensation through an accident injury claim. With skilled legal representation, you can obtain payment for medical treatments, current and future lost wages, pain and suffering, and other applicable damages. To discuss these options with a lawyer that’s experienced in city government lawsuits, schedule a free case evaluation by contacting our office.

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How to File an Injury Claim with the City of Needles, California

To file a liability claim against the city of Needles, start by contacting the City offices at (760) 326-2113 and asking to speak with the department that handles claims for damages caused by the city. This is usually the City Clerk’s office, but it may be another department, like City Management. You can also make an inquiry by using the online form on the city’s website.

No matter how you contact the city, please do it right away, since you have a time limit of 6 months from the accident date to file a claim. This is the statute of limitations for government claims in California, so there is no exception to the rule. Simply put, if you are past the 6-month deadline, you will not be able to sue the city for compensation.

Please know that our lawyers are here for you every step of the way. We know how stressful it can be to deal with paperwork and the legal system when you are recovering from an accident. Our legal team can handle the claims process and ensure that all the required information is filed within the deadline for a city of Needles incident claim.

What are my Rights if the City Refuses to Pay for my Damages?

No one likes to hear bad news, but unfortunately, it may very well be the case that your claim is rejected by the city government. Please know that this is a fairly common occurrence, and you are not at the end of the road when it comes to your legal options. Starting from the date your claim is rejected by the city (date on the denial notice), you are given 6 months under California law to file a civil lawsuit. This is a short amount of time to prepare and submit the necessary information required by the courts, so make sure to work with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Another problem you may run into is what to do if the city doesn’t notify you of their decision within 45 days. Under the law, failure by the government to respond to you in writing by the statutory deadline means you have 2 years of the accident date to file a lawsuit against the city of Needles.

How Much will I Receive from Suing the City of Needles?

Ultimately, how much you are due from a city government negligence claim can range from $5,000 to over $2,000,000 based on various details, like the extent of your injuries and the impact they will have on many areas of your life. The city’s negligence is a big factor as well, as excessively careless or reckless conduct constitutes gross negligence, and this can enhance the value of a claim for monetary damages. However, coming up with a case value involves talking to each claimant on a one on one basis, which is why we would like to offer you a free consultation. Simply give us a call and schedule a time to speak with a government claims lawsuit attorney.

How Long Do City of Needles Accident Claims Take to Settle?

We generally reserve anywhere from 12 to 24 months to settle a claim against the city of Needles, CA. This doesn’t mean that your claim can’t be settled faster; some cases are resolved within the first few months. Then again, we also have lawsuits that go to trial, and those cases take 3 or more years. As a general rule, the city is looking to reach a settlement without going to trial, so over 95% of these claims are settled through negotiations between attorneys. Having said that, the number of offers that go back and forth will vary from one case to another. You must also account for the fact that the city is dealing with many claims at the same time, and it can take over a month to hear back from them. This is why the entire process of reaching a settlement can take over a year for injury claims with the city of Needles.

No Cost Legal Services

We have a policy here at Normandie Law Firm known as the Zero Fee Guarantee. This is our way of providing free legal services to those who are victims of someone else’s negligence. As long as you are eligible for a City of Needles injury claim, we cover the costs of representing you and ask for the city government to reimburse us. Our payment is contingent on winning your case, so if you don’t receive payment from a City of Needles compensation claim, neither do we.

Reach out to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to schedule a free case review with one of our attorneys. We look forward to fighting for you and the compensation you deserve.

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