Known for its gorgeous beachfront properties and celebrity residents, Malibu is one of the most desired locations to live in on the West Coast. The city is also frequented by tourists from around the world, who are intrigued by the beautiful scenery and culture that is associated with the Malibu way of life.
In spite of all the positives, not everything is perfect in the city that comes from the Chumash word “Humaliwo,” which means “where the surf sounds loudly.” Negligence by city officials can lead to all sorts of accidents that harm innocent people. This can happen in city buildings and outdoor areas, like one of the many parks and beaches along the coast. Careless conduct by city employees, like police officers and firefighters, can cause people to be injured by vehicles, firearms, and dangerous equipment. Alternatively, you may have extensive damage to your property that resulted from reckless or negligent acts by city contractors.
The city of Malibu can be sued for not taking reasonable care to protect others from injury or property loss. Below are some of the accident claims that can be filed against the city of Malibu if you or your family member got hurt in an accident:
- Trip and fall over pavement, broken sidewalks, etc.
- Slip and fall in government buildings
- Injured from an accident on the beach
- Sexual assault or assault and battery claim
- Accidents in city parks
- Injuries caused by negligent workers employed by the city
This article will provide you with an overview of the process to sue a city government for monetary compensation. However, we want to remind you that this is a complicated process with many twists and turns, and it’s in your best interest to work with an attorney who is experienced with lawsuits against the government. For a free consultation on your accident injury case, please contact our office.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$22 Million
$2.25 Million
$1.5 Million
$1.1 Million
$734,851
$2.3 Million
How to File an Accident Claim against the City of Malibu
If the city of Malibu is liable for an incident that caused you injuries and/or damage to your property, you must start the legal process by filing a Claim against the City of Malibu. Once you have completed the form and attached the necessary documents, you can drop off or mail them to the address that’s listed on the “Instructions” page.
While the form is just one page (minus the instructions), there are questions here that will be challenging for the average person to answer. For example, you will need to show how the city is legally liable for the damage you suffered. The answer may seem obvious to you, but it’s very common for the city to send back a rejection notice because the claimant was unable to provide a legal basis for why the city is responsible for an accident.
These and other issues can make the process overwhelming if you are attempting to sue the City of Malibu for negligence. A city government lawsuit attorney at our office is available to guide you every step of the way, so please reach out to us at your earliest convenience.
Schools in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
Students, parents, staff members and visitors can be injured at one of many schools in the Malibu School District, officially known as the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. The requirements for suing a public school are very complicated, and you will need to make sure that you follow the procedures that are specific to each district.
Our attorneys are here to help, so contact us immediately if you were injured in one of the following schools:
- Edison Language Academy Elementary School – 2402 Virginia Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404
- Franklin Elementary School – 2400 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
- Grant Elementary School – 2368 Pearl St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
- John Adams Middle School – 2425 16th St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Lincoln Middle School – 1501 California Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
- Malibu Elementary School – 6955 Fernhill Dr, Malibu, CA 90265
- Malibu High School – 30215 Morning View Dr, Malibu, CA 90265
- Malibu Middle School – 30215 Morning View Dr, Malibu, CA 90265
- McKinley Elementary School – 2401 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
- Olympic High School – 1900 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Project Based Learning (Samohi) – 1900 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Roosevelt Elementary School – 801 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
- Santa Monica Alternative School House – 721 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Santa Monica High School (Samohi) – 601 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Webster Elementary School – 3602 Winter Canyon Rd, Malibu, CA 90265
- Will Rogers Learning Community – 2401 14th St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Child Development Services (Preschool) – 2828 Fourth St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Adult Education Center – 2510 Lincoln Blvd. Room 203, Santa Monica, CA 90405
You Only have 6 MONTHS to File a City of Malibu Accident Claim!
Lawsuits against public entities must be initiated by a compensation claim, which you will need to file within 6 months of whenever you sustained an injury or loss of / damage to your property. This is a statutory deadline established under the CTCA, so there are no exceptions for those who miss the deadline of 6 months.
This is a very limited timeframe when you consider that you are normally given 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit in California. But this is one of many protections that the government has when it comes to a lawsuit, which is why many people lose the chance to obtain compensation for the harm they’ve suffered. Don’t miss out on the damages you are entitled to; contact our law firm and talk to a lawyer who can help you sue the city of Malibu.
How Long will it Take the City to Respond to my Claim?
Starting from the date of receiving your claim, the City of Malibu has 45 days to either accept your demand for payment or send you a rejection notice. Both of these will be sent in writing, though there are some instances where the city will not get back to you at all. So, the big question is, what happens if your claim is denied, or there is no answer from the city after 45 days have gone by?
If your claim was rejected by a written notice, you have the option of filing a lawsuit within 6 months with help from a personal injury attorney. If, on the other hand, you did not receive anything from the city in 45 days, you can proceed with a lawsuit within 2 years from the date of your accident.
Average Settlement Value for a Lawsuit against the City of Malibu
Lawsuit values for injuries caused by a government entity can settle for as low as $10,000, or exceed $2,000,000 based on the degree of injury, negligence by the defendant, and many other factors. We would have to say that injury is the most important element, as it will dictate your current and future losses, like medical bills and lost wages. Injuries are also used to determine the degree of pain and suffering, which can add $100,000 or more to any lawsuit.
But there are other factors that must be examined in order to determine just how much you are owed as a victim of negligence and/or misconduct. With that in mind, please speak with one of our legal experts to figure out how much you can receive from a City of Malibu accident claim.
How Many Months or Years will It Take to Settle my Case?
Claims that are filed against city or county governments often take 12 to 24 months to settle. Occasionally, we have cases where a settlement is agreed upon by both sides in just a few months, but this is exceptionally fast when it comes to legal actions that involve public entities. We expect to set aside at least 1 year to work on these cases due to the complex legal issues and procedures that are required by the California Tort Claims Act. However, we are confident in our ability to reach a settlement, meaning that your case will not be tried in court, which is what many people are worried about. If a trial is necessary, it can take more than 3 years to secure payment from a lawsuit against the City of Malibu. But we want to assure you that over 95% of all personal injury lawsuits are resolved through back and forth negotiations between attorneys.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
Hiring a lawyer to represent you is essential when you are seeking justice for bodily harm and property damage due to the actions of a negligent individual or entity. But most people are unable to pay the costs associated with quality representation from a personal injury attorney.
Our law firm takes the financial burden off your shoulders with the Zero Fee Guarantee. Since we are a contingency fee law firm, legal fees are included in the settlement you receive from the City of Malibu. This is the only way we get paid, which is our promise to you under the Zero Fee Guarantee, so there’s nothing for you to pay if we don’t win your case.
We look forward to advising you of your rights and legal options, so call us today for a free case evaluation.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
How to File an Accident Injury Claim against the City of Anaheim Hills
How to File an Accident Injury Claim against the City of Fallbrook, CA
How to File an Injury Claim against the City of Palm Springs
