Proving Notice of a Dangerous Condition

In order to prove a dangerous condition on a city street it is necessary to take a deposition of person most qualified. If you are dealing with the City of Los Angeles it is likely a district manager that has information with regards to that information. Generally, these managers are charged with inspecting their various region or location.

In certain cases they are only required to do a “windshield” inspection of the property. These inspections occur when the manager drives through the area and looks from his or her car to determine if any of the surface streets need an inspection. However, these inspections are often performed improperly and fail to identify real issues.

If the property or area where the fall is located happens to be on a historic or heavily trafficked street then it may require more detailed inspections. Such streets are often referred to as “signature streets”, which require monthly or bi-monthly inspections of the street for issues.

When the street is located near a school a duty is imposed on the city to make sure that street is safe. If the various public entity fails to address the defects that exist they can be subject to liability for the harm suffered. In most cases you will find that the city or county had knowledge of the defect, however because of financial issues and or bureaucratic systems the defects were not fixed.

It is important that you consult with a side walk defect attorney in Los Angeles to better understand the issues surrounding your case. If you have been injured our office would like to hear from you and discuss the matter further. All consultations are completely confidential and free of charge.

Statute of Limitations

Statute of limitations refer to the time you have to file a claim for your damages. When dealing with a city entity in Los Angeles you typically have 6 months from the date of the accident to file a claim for your damages. It is important that both a city and county claim is filed. These forms should be processed by your attorney, if you do not have an attorney make sure you protect the statute by filing these forms.

If you fail to file the necessary forms within 6 months from the date of the accident you will be barred from pursuing a claim for damages. Therefore, it is critical to the success of your case that you file a government claim immediately to protect the statute. Always, send your correspondence via certified mail with receipt and tracking so that you have proof of the correspondence and delivery.

What is My Case Worth

Figuring out case value depends on a few factors, most importantly the degree of your injuries. How bad were you injured as a result of your case? Did you require surgery? What are your medical bills associated with the accident? Generally speaking to determine what your injuries are you need to look at the entire portrait or picture. How has the injury changed your life? It is not merely the injury itself that is important, but the residual components that have equal significance.

If you have been hurt our office would like to speak with you about your case and determine whether you have a viable claim.

Further Reading:

Loss of Pregnancy due to fall accidents

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

Further Information:  If you any further questions, legal or otherwise, feel free to contact our law offices. Our attorneys are available for legal consultations 24-7.

Top Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in the United States: 

It must be understood by the readers of this articles that there can be and are in most instances multiple factors which result in an accident. In others words there can be multiple contributing factors, the most common of which are provided for below, in most accidents involving pedestrians.

1. Failure of a Vehicle to Make a Proper Stop and a Stop Sign or Intersection; rolling stops.

2. Speeding While Driving – also referred to as reckless driving.

3. Drunk Driving –  or driving while under the influence of an intoxicant or narcotic.

4. Inexperience in driving a motor vehicle.

5. Distracted driving accidents.

7. Defective roadway conditions – improper installation of traffic lights.

8. Improper driving in a school area including passing a school bus that has stopped.

9. Making illegal U-turns on a street.

10. Accident caused by pedestrian negligence – including darting into a vehicle, failure to use designated sidewalks or cross walks