Located at the corner of Fifth Street and I Street, Sacramento Valley Station is the second busiest Amtrak station in the Western United States. There are 4 different Amtrak routes operating from this location, with a total of 38 trains in service during the week and 30 trains on weekends. Passengers can also take advantage of connecting Amtrak Thruway buses, the Route 30 bus to Sacramento State University, and
the Sacramento RT Light Rail system.
By all accounts, train stations are noisy and crowded places that are full of travelers and commuters. Countless people are on the platforms at any given time, or in the parking lots, waiting rooms, and bathrooms. With so much going on, it comes as no surprise that accidents are so common at train stations throughout California.
Like any other property, a train station must be cleaned, inspected, and maintained on a frequent basis. This is the responsibility of the owners, who also have a duty to provide adequate security, like bright lighting and security cameras throughout the premises. Without these measures, people at Sacramento Valley Station may be injured from one of these incidents:
- Trip and fall
- Slip and fall
- Robbed or mugged at a train station (assault and battery)
- Sexual assault
- Falling objects
- Accidents in the parking, including pedestrian accidents
Did you or your loved one have an accident at Sacramento Valley Station that caused you bodily harm? You may be eligible for monetary compensation through a lawsuit against the city of Sacramento. Our attorneys are here to answer your questions and help you explore your legal options. For a free case evaluation with a train station accident lawsuit attorney, contact our law firm.
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Can I Sue the Train Station for my Accident?
Yes, you may be eligible for a lawsuit if there was a dangerous condition at Sacramento Valley Station that caused you to be injured. Under the law of premises liability, owners have a duty to maintain their property and ensure that it’s free of hazards. If the property is a public space, like a train station, owners must take security measures to prevent assault and battery, sexual assault, and other criminal incidents.
This is the legal basis for an accident claim against Sacramento Valley Station, which is owned by the city of Sacramento. Thus, you will need to seek compensation from the city government, according to the California Tort Claims Act or CTCA. Claims against the city include incidents that are caused by their employees, like injuries from excessive force by a security guard.
For more information on government liability for an accident injury claim, give us a call to speak with a member of our legal team.
How to File a Claim for being Injured at Sacramento Valley Station
Sacramento Valley Station is owned and operated by the city of Sacramento, so this is the entity you would need to sue if you harmed due to a dangerous condition at the train station. However, you cannot proceed with a lawsuit right away when the negligent party is the government. Instead, you are required to file a compensation claim with the City Clerk. The “City of Sacramento – Claim Form” can be downloaded from their website and returned to the Office of the City Clerk at 915 I St, 5th Floor, New City Hall Bldg, Sacramento, CA 95814.
The deadline for compensation claims with the city of Sacramento is 6 months from the date of the incident, whether you were assaulted at the train station or slipped and fell down on a platform. If you do not submit a claim within 6 months, you will lose the right to seek monetary damages from the city.
Furthermore, you must include extensive evidence to show how the city is responsible for your injuries. You must also calculate the total amount of economic and non-economic damages you are entitled to, along with supporting evidence. This is very difficult for most people to accomplish on their own, and that’s precisely why so many Sacramento Valley Station injury claims are denied by the city.
To maximize your chances of success, contact our office to speak with a train accident injury attorney. Our sole motivation is to represent your interests and secure the funds you deserve as a victim of someone else’s negligence.
My Claim was Denied – What are my Rights?
From the date of receiving your claim, the City Clerk has 45 days to provide you with a response. Either they can choose to accept your demand for compensation, or they can send you a written notice of why they are rejecting your claim.
Please don’t panic if your claim is rejected; this is fairly common. At this point, you will need to file a lawsuit within 6 months with the small claims court or county superior court, depending on the total amount of damages you are seeking. We highly recommend that you work with an experienced government claims lawyer at this point. Lawsuits are complicated matters to begin with, but legal actions against the government are especially complex.
There is a possibility that 45 days will go by, but there is no response from the city of Sacramento. If that happens, you can still proceed with a lawsuit, but your statute of limitations is 2 years from the day you were injured.
Average Value of a Claim for Injuries at Sacramento Valley Station
When people contact us to ask for average case values, the best we can do is offer a range of estimates based on the settlements we typically recover on behalf of our clients. But this is still a very wide range, as payouts for accident claims are based on many different factors. These are unique to the claimant, the details of their accident, and the injuries they are left with.
Cases involving minor injuries may be settled for $25,000 or less; those with serious injuries can end up with $250,000 or more. If there are severe injuries that will cause the victim lifelong harm and suffering, settlements may be in the neighborhood $2,000,000 and above.
If you’re interested in learning the potential value of your lawsuit against the city of Sacramento, please give us a call. Our lawyers will be happy to assist you during a free, private consultation.
How Long Does it Take to Settle a Train Station Accident Claim?
The estimated time period to reach a settlement can be as short as a few weeks, or as long as 2 or more years. It’s impossible to predict where your case will fall within this timeline, as there are many complications that can add to the process of settling a personal injury lawsuit. This includes the amount of time it takes to prepare your claim and wait for an answer from the City Clerk’s Office. If the agency denies your claim, you will need to initiate proceedings with the court system. Due to these procedures, most lawsuits for accidents at Sacramento Valley Station take one or two years to resolve, and maybe longer if your case goes to trial.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
Nothing in the laws requires you to obtain legal representation if you are filing an accident claim against the city of Sacramento. But working with a lawyer is highly recommended, no matter where you are in the legal process. Of course, we want you to be sure that you’re making the right choice, which is why we invite you to meet with us for a free case review. If you have a claim that’s pending with the city of Sacramento, no problem – we are happy to provide you with a free second opinion.
Here at Normandie, we have a policy known as the Zero Fee Guarantee. Our goal is to ensure that clients pay $0 in legal fees, which is why we ask for all expenses to be covered by the party you are suing. That means our payment is issued at the same time you receive your settlement award. And if we don’t recover your settlement, you walk away without spending a penny.
Our attorneys are ready to hear from you and help you determine the best course of action if you were injured at Sacramento Valley Station. Don’t hesitate to contact us and learn about your rights and legal options.
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