San Luis Obispo is the county seat of San Luis Obispo County, located on the Central Coast of California. The city enjoys a mild, Mediterranean climate most of the year, along with many historical landmarks, including vineyards, theaters, and commercial buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The city is also known as the home of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
The city has a reputation as a friendly and inviting place with a steadily growing population. But accidents can happen in the most ideal communities, and San Luis Obispo is no exception to this rule. Some cases of injury within the city are caused by entities like the police and fire department or Parks and Recreation. If negligence by a city of San Luis Obispo agency or employee caused you to have an accident, legal remedies may be available to you. Our lawyers can help you explore the option of filing an accident claim or lawsuit against the city of San Luis Obispo. Contact Normandie Law Firm to learn about your rights during a free consultation.
Holding a City Government Responsible for an Accident
Under the California Tort Claims Act (CTCA), city, county, and state governments have immunity from certain legal actions involving injuries to another party. However, that doesn’t mean you are prohibited from suing the city of San Luis Obispo altogether. In cases where it’s clear that the victim was harmed by negligence of misconduct, it is possible to seek monetary compensation from the city. Possible compensation claims against the city of San Luis Obispo include:
- Slip and fall or trip and fall accidents (in city buildings, sidewalks, parking lots, etc.)
- Falling object accidents on city property
- Car or pedestrian accidents with city vehicles (police, fire department, EMS)
- Bus and train accidents (public transportation)
- Incidents at public school buildings / campus
- Assault and battery, including sexual assault by a San Luis Obispo city employee
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$1.1 Million
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$525,000
$734,851
How to File a City Claim against San Luis Obispo
Many people have some familiarity with filing incidents reports at a store if they’ve been injured on the premises. Normally, you would file the report with the manager on duty and wait to be contacted by the store’s insurance company. But how do you file an accident claim if you were injured due to negligence by the city of San Luis Obispo?
With this type of accident, you will need to file a claim with the City Clerk’s Office, which is located at 990 Palm St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. You can pick up the claim form in person or download it from the city’s website. Once you’ve filled out the forms, you may drop it off or mail it to the City Clerk’s Office. You can also contact the office at (805) 781-7114 if you have any questions or concerns.
Please be aware that you only have 6 months from the accident date to submit your claim. If you fail to meet this deadline, you will lose the right to monetary compensation from a lawsuit against the city. Working with a lawyer experienced in suing government agencies is the best way to ensure that your claim is filed on time. Here at Normandie Law Firm, we have many years of experience with accident claims against all major cities in California. We can help you build a strong case, with evidence and documentation to support your right to compensation.
What can I Expect after Submitting a City of San Luis Obispo City Claim?
Once you submit your claim, you must give the agency 45 days to send you a response in writing. This time period begins on the day you drop off the forms, or from the date of delivery if you mailed in the application. Either way, you should receive an approval or denial notice in writing from the City Clerk’s Office. If the claim is denied, you still have the option of filing a lawsuit with the civil court within 6 months of the rejection date.
Now, let’s talk about what happens if 45 days have gone by and you still have not heard back from the city of San Luis Obispo. In this scenario, your claim is rejected by default under California law, and you can proceed with a personal injury lawsuit. Your statute of limitations to sue the city is 2 years from the day you were injured.
Lawsuits against government entities are incredibly complicated, and it’s in your best interest to seek guidance from a personal injury attorney. We are happy to help, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you need advice on an accident claim against the city of San Luis Obispo.
How Much can I Receive from a Government Compensation Claim?
Compensation from a city accident claim is based on the total of economic and non-economic damages you are entitled to. This includes medical costs, any damage to your property, and wages lost from your job. Based on your injuries, you may also have the right to non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. You will not find this on the claim form, which only has a line where you are asked to list the total amount you are seeking. However, you are asked to justify the amount you are asking for, along with supporting evidence.
This is where a lot of injury victims run into problems, as evidence can be quite difficult for the average person to obtain on their own. That’s why you should consult a government accident claims attorney as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer also has methods for calculating a fair amount of compensation, which may be anywhere from $15,000 to $2,000,000 or more, based on settlements we typically recover on behalf of our clients.
Estimated Time to Settle a Government Agency Lawsuit
Lawsuits against the government involve additional procedures compared to a personal injury claim against private individuals and companies. As a result, these cases typically take longer to resolve – probably one to two years based on a variety of factors. Not all claims take this long; some cases are settled within a few months if the applicable agency makes a fair settlement offer.
Your injuries and associated health issues will play a big role, as they will determine the amount of compensation you deserve. But there are many other elements that will impact the amount of time to settle a city government claim. If you would like to discuss these issues with us during a free consultation, please give us a call.
Free Second Opinion
Second opinions are offered by many professionals, including personal injury lawyers. At our law firm, this is a free service to anyone with a pending accident case, whether you’ve just filed a claim or you’re in the middle of a lawsuit. It’s always a good idea to get a second opinion before making an important decision on your case. You may also have conflicts with your current lawyer and want to know about the process of finding a new lawyer. Our legal team is here for you, no matter the issue, so contact us today and schedule a free second opinion.
Zero Fee Guarantee for all Accident Victims
Our law firm operates under the premise that all accident victims deserve free legal services. That’s why all clients receive the Zero Fee Guarantee, starting from the initial consultation. Essentially, you pay nothing upfront, as we will cover all the costs related to your lawsuit. Then, we will ask for payment from the city of San Luis Obispo, which we only receive by winning your case.
The Zero Fee Guarantee is there for you whether you are just starting a compensation claim, or you have an active case that you would like to continue with one of our attorneys. All you have to do is contact our office and schedule a time to discuss your rights and legal options.
We look forward to assisting you on the road to recovery. Call us anytime if you need advice on a San Luis Obispo city accident injury claim.
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