A personal injury accident, in general, could be a very traumatic experience. If the incident involves a city agency or office, things instantly get more complicated to deal with. Were you or a member of your family injured in a San Jose personal injury accident? If so, you might have many questions surrounding the topic of how to file an accident claim against the City of San Jose.
Some common personal injury accidents that could involve San Jose city offices or agencies include the following:
- Trip and fall accidents caused by defective sidewalks (including broken or raised sidewalks)
- Tree collapse incidents or fallen branch incidents
- Sexual assault by city employees
- Police shootings
- Pedestrian accidents or car accidents (including being hit by government vehicles, city vehicles, city work trucks, city trucks, city fire department trucks, police cars, etc.)
- Assault and battery by city employees
Regardless of the type of incident suffered, the resulting harm could be devastating. The harm caused by these incidents can have permanent, often times debilitating effects. In some cases, the harm suffered can even be fatal. Therefore, it is important for victims and their families to explore their legal options and sue the city.
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The Process of Suing San Jose and Other Cities in California
To file a personal injury claim against the city of San Jose, victims and their families will need to file a government claim. The first step to filing a government claim is starting an administrative claim, which is basically just a claim that is filed directly with the city agency or city office involved in the incident. The city agency/office will have 45 days to respond to this claim.
If the city agency/office responds within the 45-day period and denies or rejects your claim, you will have only 6 months to pursue a lawsuit in court – it is important to note that the deadline is 6 months from the date of getting the denial/rejection.
If the city agency/office does not respond within the 45-day period, you will have 2 years to pursue a lawsuit in court – this deadline is 2 years from the date of the original incident/injury.
The Need for Legal Assistance
Some people might think that they could save money by trying to file their claims independently and not calling a lawyer. However, trying to handle your government claim independently can sometimes do more harm than good. Generally, having the representation of a lawyer is always recommended. A lawyer can provide you with all the information that you need, explain your rights and legal options, guide you every step of the way, and ensure that you meet all important claim deadlines.
If you are in need of a lawyer for help with your government claim against the city of San Jose after a personal injury accident, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our firm immediately. Our expert accident attorneys at Normandie Law Firm are ready to guide you every step of the way and help you sue San Jose for the compensation that you are owed. Contact us today.
