How to File an Accident Claim against the City of Turlock

Were you involved in an accident that was caused by an entity that’s owned or operated by the city of Turlock? Did an employee or independent contractor employed by the city cause you to sustain bodily injuries and/or damage to your property? For example, maybe you’ve had an accident with a Turlock fire department truck, or your child was injured at a public school due to unsafe conditions that the administration failed to take care of.

When people think of suing someone for an accident, what often comes to mind is lawsuits against an individual or business, like a homeowner or shopping center. However, careless or reckless conduct can sometimes be blamed on a city, county, or state agency. In that case, you will need to sue the government, which is quite different than the process to sue a private individual or company. If you believe that the city of Turlock is responsible for your injuries, please keep reading to learn how you can recover compensation through an accident claim.

Normandie Law Firm has attorneys with decades of experience in compensation claims against public entities throughout California. We are more than ready to fight for your rights and ensure that you receive every penny of the settlement you deserve. If you’re in need of skilled and aggressive representation, contact our office to speak with an experienced accident injury attorney.

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Understanding the California Tort Claims Act

The California Tort Claims Act is a law that dictates the process of suing the government, which includes city, county, and state offices, as well as their employees. Under the CTCA, the victim must file a “notice of claim” within 6 months of being injured from an accident. If you do not file your claim within this time, you will lose the right to seek monetary compensation, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The law also covers the options that are available to you in the event that your claim is rejected. We will cover this topic in a later section, but for now, let’s talk about the type of accidents that the city of Turlock is responsible for.

What Kind of Accidents are Covered under the California Tort Claims Act?

In order to sue a city government, you must establish an act of negligence by an agency or someone acting on their behalf (an employee, for example). This can mean one of two things: 1) your accident was caused by a dangerous condition that the city knew about or should have known about; 2) you were injured due to careless or reckless conduct by a city employee. These acts of negligence can lead to a variety of accidents, including:

• Slip and fall
• Trip and fall
• Car accidents
• Public transportation accidents (buses, trains, etc.)
• Public school accidents
• Assault and battery
• Sexual assault

How to File an Accident Claim

To file an accident claim against the city of Turlock, you will need to obtain a “Claim Form,” which can be downloaded from the city’s website at cityofturlock.org. Once you’ve filled out the form with all the relevant information, you’ll need to drop it off in person or mail it to the applicable agency. If you’re mailing the forms, consider using a certified mail service so that you have proof of delivery.

The claims process sounds simple in theory, but it’s actually quite tricky to include the right information for these cases. These agencies are very good at finding loopholes or weaknesses in your claim that will allow them to escape responsibility for your accident. An experienced attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence and draft a solid argument to support your right to compensation.

What Happens after I Submit my Claim?

Once you submit your claim, the city has 45 days to send you a response. If your claim is approved, you will be paid the requested amount, which will bring your case to an end. Alternatively, you will be offered a settlement, which you should discuss with an attorney to verify that it’s in your best interest.

What happens, though, if your claim is rejected within 45 days? Or, what if 45 days have gone by and there’s still no answer from the agency? In either case, you have the option to sue the city by filing a petition with the court. For more information on this topic, please scroll down to the section titled, “Statute of Limitations for City of Turlock Injury Claims.”

Could You Use a Second Opinion?

Have you considered speaking with another attorney about your existing accident claim? This is known as a second opinion, and it’s a free service here at Normandie Law Firm. Many claimants have questions or concerns about their claim, including dissatisfaction with the lawyer that’s currently representing them. No matter what you’re going through, you can trust our legal experts to provide you with an honest assessment of your legal options. As there is no cost to you for meeting with us, we hope you’ll take the chance of calling us to schedule a free second opinion.

Average Value of an Accident Case against the City of Turlock

When we calculate a client’s settlement value, we look at many variables, including their medical expenses, their lost income, the level of pain and suffering, as well as the accident’s effect on their mental health. As you can imagine, such losses are different for each claimant, and thus, it’s impossible to say what these cases are worth on average. Settlements recovered by our attorneys generally fall within the range of $25,000 to several million dollars. To get a better sense of what you can ask for in a lawsuit against the city of Turlock, please take some time to speak with an attorney at our law firm.

Length of Time to Settle a Lawsuit against the Government

Our goal with any personal injury claim is to settle the case and recover the client’s payment in 6 months or less. Due to the complications involving cases against the government, negotiating a fair amount of damages can take longer than expected, especially if you have severe injuries and/or extensive property damage. These cases typically progress to a lawsuit, as it’s unlikely that the city will make you a fair settlement offer. At that point, resolving your case can take 1 or more years, depending on whether we will need to take your case to trial.

Statute of Limitations for City of Turlock Injury Claims

As we previously mentioned, the legal process for these cases begins with a notice of claim, which has to be filed within 6 months of your accident date. However, this is different than the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit, which depends on how the government agency responds to your claim. If the city of Turlock rejects your claim in writing within 45 days, you must petition the court for a lawsuit within 6 months of the rejection date. What happens if it’s been 45 days and there is no response to your claim? In that case, you have 2 years from your accident date to sue the city of Turlock.

Free Legal Services under the Zero Fee Guarantee

Based on what you’ve read so far, you can see that the legal process is very complicated when a government entity is involved. Though you are not required to hire an attorney, there’s no denying that legal representation is the key to succeeding in these claims and obtaining the damages you are owed. However, many accident victims are struggling to make ends meet and paying for an attorney is not within their means.

It’s unacceptable to us that accident victims are forced to choose between paying their bills and finding someone to fight for their rights. That’s why we offer a Zero Fee Guarantee to ensure that you won’t be responsible for any of our expenses. You pay nothing upfront if you decide that we are the right firm to represent you. Our bills are paid by the city of Turlock at the same time you receive compensation, which means the only way we get paid is by winning your case.

We look forward to meeting you and fighting for the justice you deserve. Contact Normandie Law Firm and schedule a free case review at your earliest convenience.