If you are a resident of Los Angeles, you are likely family with LADWP – or the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. You have probably seen LADWP vehicles on the road multiple times. You might have even seen some vehicles on the side of roads after being involved in accidents. After all, any vehicle can be involved in an accident – even company vehicles.
You likely never expected to be in an accident with a LADWP truck. Since the Department of Water and Power is a government entity, you might be confused about your rights after the accident. Can you sue the company for the harm resulting from the incident? Do you file a government claim? What do you do?
If you are interested in learning more about your right to sue after an accident with a LADWP vehicle, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm as soon as possible. The experts at Normandie Law Firm are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to reach a successful claim outcome. Our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of injury claims, including claims against government entities. If you would like to learn more about your right to sue for an incident involving a water and power vehicle, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm today.
Some of the Causes of Auto Incidents
Unfortunately, vehicular accidents are very common. Anytime that drivers are on the road, they could potentially be involved in incidents – even if they are trying to be safe. Unfortunately, the negligent actions of other drivers on the road could lead to incidents that could significantly harm innocent parties. Although every accident is different, some of the common causes of accidents can include the following:
- Driving unsafe vehicles (vehicles with mechanical issues or not cleared to drive)
- Driving while drowsy, sleepy, or fatigued (leading to falling asleep behind the wheel)
- Driving without experience or a license (inexperienced and unlicensed drivers are more likely to cause an accident)
- Driving recklessly (failing to follow traffic rules, ignoring traffic signals, speeding, tailgating, etc.)
- Driving under the influence (including alcohol, drugs, and even prescription medication)
- Driving distracted
Regardless of the cause of the incident, and whether or not it included a company vehicle, the accident likely resulted in some sort of injuries.
Were You Injured?
All auto accidents, including those involving LADWP vehicles, can result in injuries. Some examples of the injuries that affected parties could suffer include the following:
- Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Hip and pelvic injuries
- Fractures
- Muscle, nerve, and ligament injuries
- Burns (including second-degree, third-degree, etc.)
- Severed limbs
- Lacerations
- Road rash (or road burn)
- Sprains and strains
- Scrapes and bruises
Did you or a member of your family suffer any of the injuries listed above? If you were injured in an accident with LADWP, you should explore the legal options available. You might have grounds to pursue a claim with the help of a specialist in accident claims against government entities.
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Can I Sue?
Do you have the right to sue for the harm resulting from the incident with the LADWP vehicle? Who do I sue? In a normal car accident – that is, an accident involving only personal vehicles – affected parties could sue the driver that caused the accident. This is because all drivers have a duty to exercise care while behind the wheel and drive safely to prevent incidents. However, when you are involved in an accident with someone who is driving a company vehicle, the company could be liable because of vicarious liability (which means that liability is transferred from the employee to the employer). That is, you could sue LADWP for a car accident with one of their company vehicles. However, because LADWP is a government entity, you must proceed differently. Do I file a government claim? Yes, you can sue; but, you must first file a government claim with the assistance of an experienced lawyer.
If you are interested in learning more about filing a government claim against LADWP after an incident and your right to sue, in general, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm immediately. Our accident lawyers specializing in LADWP vehicle incidents are ready to guide you every step of the way.
Your Right to Recover Compensation
Without a doubt, if your injury claim against LADWP is successful, you could be entitled to receive monetary compensation for the harm that you suffered. What could you recover? Although every claim is different, you could be entitled to receive compensation for some of the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
- Legal expenses
Could I recover these types of compensation? How much is my case worth? The specific type of compensation that you could receive and the value of your claim are based on the details surrounding your lawsuit. What is the average case value of similar cases? Although you can review past cases to better understand the potential value of your claim, doing so is can be misleading as your case value is based on many specific factors unique to your case. Therefore, the best thing that you could do is discuss your claim with a lawyer – a lawyer with experience in LADWP cases will help you better understand the potential value of your case.
Important Steps to Follow
After being involved in a vehicle incident with LADWP, there are a number of things that you should do to prepare to pursue a claim. Consider some of the recommendations listed below:
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- Seek medical assistance for your injuries
- Photograph your injuries (before and after treatment, if possible)
- Photograph all property damage to your vehicle
- Photograph the entire scene of the crash
- Collect the insurance information of all parties involved
- File an accident report with both the local authorities and the company involved (always request a copy of the report)
- Speak to all witnesses and collect their contact information
- Collect any video footage that captured the crash
- Collect all medical records, records of property damage, and records of lost wages
- Seek the guidance of an experienced lawyer as soon as possible
The Statute of Limitations
As mentioned above, you will have to file a government claim for the accident that you suffered involving LADWP. This is because LADWP is a government entity. You must act quickly, as there are strict deadlines for government claims. In California, government claims (those involving personal injury, such as a car accident claim) must be filed within six months from the date of injury. After the claim has been filed, the LADWP will have a total of 45 days to respond. If LADWP responds and denies the claim, claimants will have six months to file a claim in court. However, if LADWP does not respond whatsoever, claimants will have two years to file their claims in court. Of course, exceptions can apply. To ensure that you have a through understanding of the total length of time that you have to file your claim against LADWP for your accident with one of their vehicles, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our experts immediately.
Contact Normandie Law Firm Today
Are you in need of an LADWP accident lawyer after being involved in a car accident with one of their vehicles? If so, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experienced auto accident lawyers at Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible. At Normandie Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with the guidance that you need to reach a successful claim outcome. At our firm, we offer free legal services – including free consultations and free 2nd opinions. During these free legal services, our experts in LADWP accidents will answer your questions, address your concerns, and provide you with all the information that you need to successful pursue your lawsuit against the government agency. IF you are interested in benefiting from our free legal services, contact our firm today.
We offer a Zero-Fee guarantee, meaning that our clients will not be required to pay any upfront fees for our legal services. Additionally, our firm is based on contingency; therefore, our clients will not be required to pay anything until after reaching a positive claim outcome. That is, if you do not win, you will not be required to pay anything.
Are you ready to discuss your claim with our LADWP vehicle accident experts? If so, contact us today.
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