Located between the San Bernardino Mountains, Mount San Gorgonio, and the San Jacinto Mountains, they city of Beaumont was named in 1887 by Henry C. Sigler, president of the Southern California Investment Company. The name means “beautiful mountain” in French and refers to the view of Mount San Jacinto that is still admired by residents and visitors.
Despite the gorgeous views and milder climate compared to neighboring cities, not everything is picture-perfect in the city of Beaumont. If there are dangerous conditions in city buildings, streets, and parks, someone may be injured in a devastating accident. People can also be harmed in car accidents due to careless or reckless driving by city employees. These are examples of negligence by a city government, but what can you do if you got hurt from an incident that was caused by the City of Beaumont?
In this article, we will talk about your right to sue for monetary damages when a city government is liable for an accident or criminal incident, like assault and battery. For a thorough explanation of your rights and legal options, contact the personal injury lawyers of Normandie at your earliest convenience.
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Accidents Due to Negligence by the City of Beaumont
Government agencies or those that work for them can be sued for causing harm to others due to a failure to exercise reasonable care. For example, the city’s Parks and Rec department may be lax in their duty to maintain trees at a city park. As a result, someone is hit by a falling branch and ends up with serious injuries. Accidents that can serve as grounds for a lawsuit against the city of Beaumont include:
- Slip and fall on city sidewalks and buildings
- Trip and fall incidents
- Car crashes and injuries to pedestrians from city vehicles
- Falling object accidents
- Incidents at public schools
- Assault and battery
- Sexual assault
How to File an Accident Injury Case against the City of Beaumont
Most city websites clearly outline the process for a compensation claim, along with a copy of the form that you can download online. This is not the case for the City of Beaumont, so it’s likely that you will need to call the city Civic Center at 951-769-8520 to ask about the procedures. In most cases, claims for damages are processed by the City Clerk’s Office, although there may be another department, like the Risk Management or City Attorney’s Office that reviews the actual claim.
Keep in mind that the burden of proof is on you to show how the city or one of their employees bears responsibility for what happened to you. But this is very difficult to accomplish without a thorough understanding of California’s laws on personal injury and/or damage to one’s property. To maximize your chances of a successful claim, contact a lawyer who is experienced in accident cases against city governments.
You have 6 Months to Submit a City of Beaumont Compensation Claim
This may come as a surprise for those who are used to deadlines of 2 or more years to sue a negligent party. That’s true in the case of private entities, like a shopping center or homeowner. But the statute of limitations to sue the government is only 6 months. Failing to submit a claim on time will invalidate your right to seek compensation, even if you have rock solid proof that the city is responsible for your injuries.
As the statute of limitations begins from the moment you are injured, please don’t wait to contact a government incident claims attorney at our office.
When will the City Get Back to Me?
Upon receiving your claim forms, the city of Beaumont has 45 days to get back to you with a written notice. This may be an acceptance letter to say that the city will pay for your monetary losses. Alternatively, the city will send you a denial letter with an explanation as to why your claim cannot be accepted or why the city is not liable for your accident.
Don’t despair if your claim is rejected; this is very common. At this point, you can petition the court system for a lawsuit and proceed with a personal injury case. Please note that you must file a lawsuit within 6 months from whenever your claim was rejected (the date of the denial letter). You can also file a lawsuit if the city fails to respond by the deadline of 45 days. Those who do not receive a response from the city within 45 days have 2 years from the day of the accident to file a lawsuit.
Average Case Value for a City of Beaumont Injury Claim
A claim against a city government for bodily harm or property damage can settle for around $10,000 to over $1,000,000 based on the degree of harm that was caused, the monetary losses to the victim, and degree of negligence by the city. For cases of extreme injuries that caused disability and other permanent health issues, the amount of compensation may exceed $2,500,000. Ultimately, how much a city of Beaumont lawsuit is worth is unique to each and every claimant. For an accurate valuation of the damages you are entitled to, contact our law firm.
How Long Does a City of Beaumont Accident Case Take to Settle?
Compensation claims against government entities in California often take 1 to 2 years to resolve. We know that the timeline for a city injury case may be longer than you expected, but unfortunately, the legal process to sue the government is extremely complicated. City compensation claims also have additional procedures that you do not have to follow in other types of lawsuits, and that alone takes up quite a bit of time. It’s always our goal to settle a city of Beaumont claim for damages within 6 months, but we also want to secure a fair amount of compensation based on your harm and suffering. That’s why the process of settling a lawsuit against the City of Beaumont takes around 12 to 24 months on average.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
Going up against the government at any level can be a scary prospect, and frankly, these entities do enjoy a greater degree of protection compared to private individuals and businesses. That’s why legal representation is so important when you are attempting to seek compensation from a city of Beaumont injury claim.
Our law firm provides free legal services to all accident victims under the Zero Fee Guarantee policy. We cover the costs associated with your case and wait until the end of your lawsuit to receive a portion of your settlement. That way, you don’t lose a penny if we don’t win your case, and in the meantime, you won’t have to worry about the cost of paying for an attorney.
A City of Beaumont accident injury lawyer is waiting to speak with you, so contact us for a free case evaluation.
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