Tracy is the second most populous city in the county of San Joaquin, with a population of 93,000 as of 2020. The city is best known for its wineries, railroads, historical architecture, and farmlands. Due to its relative safety and family-friendly atmosphere, Tracy is considered a great place to live or visit. However, keeping the city in good working order is up to various agencies that are established by the city government. When these entities or their employees are negligent in their duty of care, there may be an accident that results in serious injuries.
Many people have some level of familiarity with how to sue an individual or private business. But what do you do if you’ve been injured by a city vehicle? Who do you go after if you slip and fall due to a hazard on a city-owned property? Situations like these will require you to file an accident claim against the city of Tracy. However, the process of filing a claim and obtaining the full value of your losses can be very complicated, so please take a moment to reach out to us here at Normandie Law Firm. We look forward to advising you and fighting for the settlement you’re entitled to.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$1.1 Million
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$525,000
$734,851
Do I have the Right to Sue the City?
Your right to sue the city of Tracy is defined by the California Tort Claims Act, or CTCA. Essentially, this law governs the process of seeking compensation from government entities at the state, county, and city levels. Eligible claims include accidents that are caused by city employees and independent contractors hired by the city.
Before you can pursue a lawsuit against the city government, you’ll need to submit a “Claim Form,” which can be found on the city of Tracy website at https://www.cityoftracy.org/. Keep in mind that you only have 6 months to file your claim, starting from the date you were injured. This deadline is strictly enforced by the CTCA, so if you don’t submit your claim on time, you will be barred from seeking monetary compensation.
What you need to do next depends on the city’s response to your claim, which we will go over in the next section.
How to File an Accident Claim against the City of Tracy
Downloading the claims form online is the most convenient option, but you can also pick it up in person from the City Clerk’s Office at 333 Civic Center Plaza, Tracy, CA 95376. Be sure to read the instructions thoroughly and be as detailed as possible in your answers. In fact, it’s a good idea to use separate sheets to answer important questions, like “What specific Injuries, Damages or Losses did Claimant receive?”
The completed documents must be dropped off or mailed to the City Clerk’s Office within 6 months of your accident date. To ensure that the forms are received by the office, we recommend using priority mail or certified mail, which will provide you with confirmation of delivery. You may also want to call the City Clerk’s Office ahead of time to ensure that you’ve included all the required information.
Once your claim is received, you will need to wait 45 days for a response. The city may accept your claim and offer a settlement amount, or they will send you a notice of denial. If your claim is denied, you have 6 months from the rejection date to sue the city through the court system. What happens, though, if you don’t get a response at all within 45 days? In that case, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit against the city.
Can I File the Claim by Myself, or Do I Need to Get an Attorney?
An attorney is not required to file a city of Tracy injury claim, but legal representation is the best way to ensure a successful outcome. Making a sound legal argument for the harm you’ve suffered and translating that into a dollar value can be very complicated. In addition, most people are unaware of the damages they’re entitled to, which may go beyond the cost of medical treatments and damage to your property. Depending on your injuries, you may be entitled to pain and suffering and wages you’ve lost due to your recovery needs.
As you can see, it’s well worth it to explore the full range of legal options that are available to you. An accident injury lawyer at our office will be happy to assist you during a free case evaluation.
Accidents Caused by City of Tracy Agencies and Employees
Being responsible for an accident can mean different things in the legal sense. Another party can be negligent through reckless actions, like driving under the influence. Or, they may have failed to resolve a dangerous condition on their property (premises liability). A government entity can also be vicariously liable for the actions of their employees, for example, if one of their workers causes someone to be injured. Negligence by the city of Tracy can lead to a variety of accidents, including:
- Slip and fall / trip and fall accidents
- Broken sidewalk injuries
- Hurt by falling objects
- Accidents caused by city vehicles
- Injuries in public schools
- Assault and battery
- Sexual assault
Average Case Value of an Accident Claim against the Government
No two accidents are alike, and neither is the amount of damages that each victim is entitled to. That’s why there’s frankly no way to state an average case value for a lawsuit against a city government. On the lower end, cases may be worth around $15,000 to $35,000. But cases with extensive injuries are worth far more – perhaps in the $500,000 to over $1 million range. The key is to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer, who can determine a settlement value that’s based on your own circumstances.
How long do these Claims take to Settle?
There’s no set amount of time to achieve a settlement in these cases, though we always strive to bring closure to our clients within 6 to 8 months. Depending on the complications that are involved, the process can take just 30 days to over one year. Generally, the higher the case value, the longer it will take to recover the payment you deserve. But this rule is not absolute, and there are many other elements that may add to your case timeline, which we can discuss with you during a free consultation at our office.
Schedule a Second Opinion Consultation
If you have an active injury claim against the city of Tracy, please consider a free second opinion with the lawyers of Normandie. This is a free, no-obligation meeting, where you can have your case reviewed by one of our legal experts. That way, you have the assurance of knowing that your case is on the right path, or if there are any red flags that can hurt your chances of recovery. We can also help if you’re dissatisfied with your law firm and want to learn about the process of switching your lawyer. Please give us a call to schedule a second opinion consultation, where you can find out about the legal options that are available to you.
The Zero Fee Guarantee
Suing a government entity can be an uphill battle when you don’t have extensive knowledge of the laws and the legal system. That’s why it’s in your best interest to retain a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible. Our law firm has many years of experience in compensation claims against city and county governments throughout California. We know what it takes to secure the highest possible settlement in these cases, no matter what type of accident you’ve suffered.
We know that this is a difficult time in your life in many ways. Our goal is to take away those worries as much as possible, which is why we offer a Zero Fee Guarantee. There is nothing for you to pay when you hire us, since we put up all the costs of litigating your case. Once we recover your settlement, we get paid for our expenses by the city of Tracy. That means we don’t make a penny unless we win your case – guaranteed.
The lawyers of Normandie are ready to speak with you and fight for the justice you deserve. Contact our law firm and schedule a time to speak with one of our attorneys.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
How to File an Accident Claim against the City of Manteca
How to File an Accident Claim against the City of Tulare, CA
How to File an Accident Claim against the City of Visalia
