How to File an Accident Claim against Pismo Beach California

The city of Pismo Beach is located in San Luis Obispo County, within California’s Central Coast area. It’s also a part of the Five Cities area, along with the cities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Halcyon, Fair Oaks, and Nipomo. The city once drew huge crowds for its abundance of clams, which explains the city’s nickname, “Clam Capital of the World.” Nowadays, Pismo Beach is largely a residential community of families and middle-class households.

Things are usually calm and orderly in this town by the sea, but dangerous conditions can sometimes cause accidents with serious consequences. When these incidents are the result of negligence by city entities, victims may have grounds to sue the city of Pismo Beach.

Were you injured in a city-owned building while you were at Pismo Beach, California? Did conditions at a city beach, park, or another outdoor property cause you to have an accident? Were you harmed due to careless actions by a city of Pismo Beach employee? We can help you obtain monetary compensation from a lawsuit against the city, but please bear in mind that government entity claims have very tight deadlines. Call Normandie Law Firm immediately to discuss your case with a Pismo Beach accident claims injury lawyer.

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How to File a City Claim against Pismo Beach, CA

Compensation claims for accidents caused by the city of Pismo Beach must be filed with the City Clerk’s Risk Management Division. You can download the Liability Claim Form from the city’s website and submit it in person at the City Clerk’s Office, which is located at City Hall, 760 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, CA 93449. You can also mail the form to this address or send it by email to:

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You must file a claim with the city within 6 months from the date of injury and/or property damage. Once it’s received by the office, they have 45 days to accept or deny your claim for compensation. During this time, you may be contacted by Carl Warren & Company, a third party claims administrator for the city of Pismo Beach. You will be asked for additional documentation and information that’s needed to evaluate your claim, so it’s extremely important that you comply with these demands as soon as possible.

Speaking of additional documentation, this is the most common reason why accident victims end up with denied claims. Here at Normandie, we know the importance of building a solid case with diagrams, witness statements, medical bills, expert testimony, and other pieces of evidence. We also understand how vital it is to submit this information within the 6-month deadline. We can also communicate with the city’s insurance claims administrator and ensure that any additional information is sent over as fast as possible.

What are my Rights if the City Denies My Claim?

As stated in the previous section, the Risk Management Division has 45 days to review your claim and issue an approval or denial notice. In the event your claim is denied, you have 6 months from the date of notice to proceed with a lawsuit against the city of Pismo Beach. Though most people do receive a response, there are times when there is no written notice from the city within 45 days of receiving an accident claim. This is known as a denial by default, and it will allow you 2 years from the time of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Do I Have to Get a Lawyer if I want to Sue the City of Pismo Beach?

There is no legal requirement that says you have to have legal representation for a Pismo Beach injury claim. However, it will be challenging to navigate the legal process on your own, and the City Clerk’s office can only help you with procedural information. Thus, if you have any questions regarding the laws or legal actions that are available to you, it’s best to consult a lawyer that’s experienced in claims against government agencies in California.

To schedule a free case evaluation with the legal experts of Normandie, contact our office as soon as possible.

Accidents Due to Negligence by the City of Pismo Beach

Negligence, or the failure to exercise reasonable care, is the basis of any injury claim against a private or public entity. Generally, there are two examples of negligence by a city government that can cause harm to others: 1) a city agency failed to take care of a dangerous condition on their property; 2) an employee of the city engaged in reckless or careless conduct, which caused someone to be injured. Either form of negligence can lead to the following accidents:

• Slip and fall / trip and fall in public buildings
• Car accidents with city vehicles
• Injured on city sidewalks
• Falling object injuries
• Assault and battery  
• Sexual assault   
• Accidents at public schools

What is the Average Case Value of a Pismo Beach Accident Claim?

The value of a government agency injury claim is based on many issues that are unique to the accident and the injuries suffered by the victim. It’s impossible to come up with a singular dollar amount that can be described as an average case value. Some claimants will receive around $15,000 or less, and that will be a fair amount of compensation based on their monetary losses. Others may receive $100,000 or more if they have serious injuries and/or damage to their property. For the most severe cases of injury, including death, a fair settlement is likely to exceed $1,000,000.

Timeline to Settle a Compensation Claim against Pismo Beach

We know how important it is to receive payment on an injury claim as soon as possible. With personal injury cases, our goal is to reach a settlement within 6 months with the defendant’s insurance company. However, the process of obtaining compensation is quite different with a government agency, and as a result, these cases often take longer than the average lawsuit. We normally set aside around 1 to 2 years for these cases, though you may certainly reach a settlement faster than that. However, many claims involving multiple or serious damage progress to a lawsuit, and that can add considerable time to the process of recovering your payment from a city of Pismo Beach accident claim.

Contact us for a Free Second Opinion

Our law firm is happy to offer you a free second opinion if you already filed a compensation claim with the city of Pismo Beach. Sometimes, people are unsure about the laws or their legal options and need advice from a seasoned accident injury attorney. Other claimants come to us out of dissatisfaction with the current law firm that’s in charge of their case. As we don’t charge for a second opinion, there’s no risk to you in taking some time to speak with an attorney at our office. Give us a call as soon as you can to schedule a free second opinion.

Speak to a Lawyer with Experience in Lawsuits against the Government

Aggressive legal representation is the key to getting results when you’ve been injured by someone else’s negligence. But lawsuits against city agencies are much more complicated than the average personal injury case. Here at Normandie, our attorneys have decades of experience with city and county agency claims in the state of California. We understand the nuances that are involved with these cases, and how to get you maximum compensation for your monetary losses.

As for the cost of hiring us, you pay absolutely nothing under the Zero Fee Guarantee. This is a contingency fee agreement, where we receive a portion of your settlement at the end of your case. This is the only way we get paid, meaning that if we don’t win your case, you owe us absolutely nothing.

For a free consultation on your rights and legal options, contact our law firm and ask to speak with an experienced government agency lawsuit attorney.

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