Accidents Involving Public Entities

People are sometimes injured by employees of various public entities (such as county hospitals, various transportation authorities, police departments, schools, etc.). They may also suffer injuries as a result of accidents such as a slip and fall while on public property. In such cases, if the injuries were caused by the negligence of the public entity’s employees or by the presence of a dangerous condition on public property, the injured person may bring a claim against the public entity, requesting compensation for the resulting medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other types of harm.

In California, a person pursuing a personal injury claim against a public entity must generally submit a claim to that entity within six months of the accident that caused the injury. Some exceptions may apply, and a party may petition to be allowed to present a late claim, but requests for the extension of the six-month window are not automatically granted. In fact, California courts have held that a person injured in such circumstances must make a diligent effort to retain a lawyer during the six months following the accident. The failure to take action for more than six months in regard to a possible claim may be viewed by courts as “inexcusable neglect” by the injured party, and often ends the possibility of getting compensation from the public entity.

Therefore, if you or someone you love was injured while on public property or by the actions of a public entity employee, it is essential that you promptly contact an experienced California personal injury attorney. An attorney who is experienced in handling accidents that involve public entities can immediately begin to investigate your claim and collect evidence that may otherwise be lost, while also ensuring that your claims will not be lost by the failure to meet the time limits imposed by California law.

Based in Los Altos, California, the experienced attorneys at Ziff & Cohn have represented injured Californians in a variety of cases involving claims against public entities. Our initial consultation is free, and we handle all personal injury cases on a contingency basis: you pay no legal fees unless you receive a monetary recovery.

If you are considering filing a claim related to an accident involving public entities, please contact us today by calling our Los Altos office at (650) 329-0851, emailing Harvey L. Ziff, or filling out and submitting our “Contact Us” form.