How to File an Accident Claim against Delano, California

Located 30 miles northwest of Bakersfield, Delano is Kern County’s second largest city, with a population of 51,428 as of 2020. Delano is mainly an agricultural community, and it’s best known as a grower of table grapes. The city also has two California state prisons – Kern Valley State Prison and North Kern State Prison.

While the city’s origins go back to the railroad boom in the mid-1800s, Delano’s economy nowadays is largely based on farm employers, like Columbine Vineyards, Munger Farms, and Wonderful Citrus. The community also has a municipal airport and bus services provided by the Delano Area Rapid Transit (DART). Clearly, there is a lot going on throughout the city of Delano on a daily basis, and keeping order within the borders is up to the city government.

Unfortunately, Delano city departments and workers may exercise poor judgment or fail to take care of responsibilities like maintaining the parks, fixing the roads, and taking measures to minimize injuries to others. These are examples of negligence, which is the basis of a lawsuit against the city of Delano. If you were harmed from an incident that was caused by an entity of the Delano city government, our lawyers can help you file a claim and recover the damages you deserve by law. For a free consultation with a government claims accident attorney, contact us today.

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How to File an Accident Injury Claim with the City of Delano

In order to file a City of Delano accident claim, you must obtain the City of Delano Claim Form, which you can download here or by contacting the city government at 661-721-3303. There is very little on the form to indicate what you should do with your claim once you’ve answered all the questions. As a general rule, city compensation claims are filed with the City Clerk, though some cities have you submit the forms to another office, like the City Attorney. This is why you should contact the city and verify the exact procedures for how to file your claim, which you can normally do in person or by mail.

Your accident claim will be reviewed by the Risk Management Authority, and in 45 days, you will receive notification in writing. Either your claim is accepted by the city, meaning they are willing pay you, or the city will reject your demand for compensation. Receiving a denial notice isn’t great news, but you still have the choice to file a lawsuit through the court system. However, you’ll need to act fast, as the deadline to sue the government is 6 months from the date of your claim being rejected.

In some cases, the city may not get back to you by the legally required deadline of 45 days after your claim is received by the Risk Management Authority. If this is the outcome you experience, you are allowed 2 years from the day of your accident to file a lawsuit against the city.

What is the Deadline to Submit a City of Delano Claim?

If a City of Delano department or someone working for the city is liable for your accident, you must file the appropriate paperwork within 6 months of whenever you were injured. This is the deadline for all government compensation claims according to the California Tort Claims Act. If you miss the statutory deadline of 6 months, your right to monetary damages will be invalidated. Sadly, waiting too long or not knowing the time limit to sue the City of Delano is why many people go without the funds they desperately need after a serious accident.

Please don’t delay in reaching out to us and initiating a claim for compensation against the City of Delano. Our attorneys have many years of experience with damage claims against public entities throughout California, so you can count on us to file your paperwork in a timely manner. In addition, we will secure the necessary evidence, make a sound argument to show why the city is liable, and fight to recover every penny you deserve.

Can I File a Lawsuit against a Public School in Delano, CA?

Yes, you can sue for injuries that you incurred on the property of a public school in the city of Delano. Students in the city are served by two school districts – the Delano Union School District and the Delano Joint Union High School District. Schools that are part of these districts include:

• Delano High School
• La Vina Middle School
• Morningside Elementary School
• Nueva Vista Language Academy
• Pioneer School
• Princeton Street Elementary School
• Terrace Elementary School
• Albany Park Elementary School
• Almond Tree Middle School
• Cecil Avenue Middle School
• Fremont Elementary School
• San Joaquin High School
• Del Vista Math and Science Academy
• Harvest Elementary School
• Pond Elementary School
• Wonderful College Prep Academy

Claims against a City of Delano school district must be filed on separate forms, as school districts have their own process for making restitution to victims of the district’s negligence. However, the deadline to submit a claim is the same as if you were suing the City of Delano – 6 months from the date of injury / property damage.

Our law firm has a dedicated team of lawyers with decades of experience in lawsuits against public school districts. We are happy to help in any way we can, as we know the pitfalls that victims can fall into when they are seeking justice from a public school system. To get started on a Delano Union School District or Delano Joint Union High School District claim for damages, please give us a call.

What if I had an Accident at Delano Municipal Airport?

Delano Municipal Airport is owned and operated by the city of Delano, so this is the entity you would sue if you got hurt from dangerous conditions at the airport. You can also file a claim if you were assaulted at the airport from lack of security or intentional misconduct by an airport employee.

Just like any other incident claim with the city of Delano, it’s in your best interest to consult an experienced attorney. The legal experts here at Normandie Law Firm can help you locate the necessary evidence and build a strong case for monetary damages. Contact us immediately if you or your loved one had one of the following accidents at Delano Municipal Airport:

• Slip and fall
• Trip and fall
• Wheelchair accidents
• Injured in elevators or on escalators
• Car accidents from black ice or unsafe conditions in the parking lot
• Assault and battery
• Sexual assault
• Elevator / escalator accidents
• Accidents in airport bathrooms due to leaking pipes, broken toilets, dirty floors, etc.

How Much is the Average Value of a City of Delano Injury Case?

If you qualify for an injury claim against the city of Delano, the range of payments you will receive can start at a few thousand dollars and go all the way up $1,000,000 and above. Those with severe injuries that cause disability and other serious consequences may end up with settlements that exceed $3,000,000.

How much you are entitled to from a City of Delano accident case depends on multiple factors, including:

• How badly you are injured
• How those injuries impact your professional and personal life
• The total sum of current and future monetary losses
• Total amount of non-economic damages, like pain and suffering
• The act of carelessness or reckless disregard that caused you bodily harm

To discuss the value of your case with one of our attorneys, call us right away and schedule a free case evaluation.

Reaching a Settlement – How Long Does it Take?

The majority of accident claims against the government take around 12 to 24 months to settle. This is due to the legal requirements of seeking monetary damages from a public entity and the need to file a lawsuit if you are denied payment from an accident claim. In addition, city governments are working off of tax dollars, and their goal is to reduce their liability and pay you as little as possible or avoid paying you altogether. Our goal, on the other hand, is to fight for your interests and make sure you receive a fair amount compensation based on the harm you’ve suffered.

Negotiating a settlement with the city of Delano may happen in just a few months, but chances are, it will take at least 1 year to reach an agreement on how much you are owed. If we are unable to settle on a fair amount after many months, going to trial may be the only option. In that case, it’s possible that getting paid from a city of Delano damages claim can take over 3 years, but it’s worth noting that only a small fraction of cases require intervention from the court.

Call Us to Receive Free Legal Services

Having an experienced lawyer on your side is the key to a successful outcome if you are owed compensation from the city of Delano. That’s why we believe in free legal services for all accident victims, which we provide through the Zero Fee Guarantee. This is a policy where we cover the costs of representing you and ask to be reimbursed at the end of your case by the city of Delano. Since we only get paid as a part of your settlement award, we don’t make a penny if we fail to win your case.

The personal injury lawyers of Normandie are here to advise you of your rights and legal options, so contact our office to schedule a free case review.

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