San Francisco Public Property Injury Lawyers
When someone is hurt on public property because of an act of negligence, the government may be liable for the damages suffered. The attorneys of the Dolan Law Firm have handled dozens of these cases against the owners of dangerous and defective roadways, sidewalks and public places, both private owners such as shopping centers as well public owners and government entities such as Cal Trans, the County of Sonoma, The County of Lake, Marin County, San Francisco County, The City of Sacramento, The Golden Gate Bridge and Transit District, The City of Santa Barbara, etc.
People often suffer serious injuries in slips and falls on dangerous roadways and sidewalks. Such accidents often involve:
- Pedestrian injuries
- Slippery or uneven sidewalks, cobblestones, or pavement;
- Potholes
- Road resurfacing hazards
- Steeply sloping driveways
- Slippery floor surfaces or floor coverings
- Oil, grease, water, liquids, or food on the floor
- Uneven stairs or inadequate stair rails
- Tree roots, cords, or wires on the ground
- Blocked store aisles
- Falling objects
- Bridge construction hazards, including falling debris
- Unsafe balconies or railings
- Poor lighting
The public roadways are owned and maintained either by Cal Trans (The California Department of Transportation) or a county or local government. Some roads, sidewalks and public places are owned by one entity and maintained by another. Lawsuits against such formidable opponents are very expensive and complex, and should be handled only by attorneys with significant experience in the field, such as those of the Dolan Law Firm.
Million-Dollar Verdicts and Settlements in Cases of San Francisco Public Property Injury
The lawyers of the Dolan Law Firm have recovered millions of dollars for its clients as a result of dangerous and defective roadways, sidewalks and public places. In once case, head trial attorney Christopher Dolan won a $1,650,000 settlement for a motorcyclist seriously injured because of a roadway defect. (Visit our verdicts and settlements page to read about other cases handled by Chris Dolan and his team of lawyers.)
The Law in Dangerous Roadways Cases
The government has immunity for defects in design of a roadway if the design has been approved by a government body, unless it can be shown that the conditions and usage of the roadway have rendered the original design immunity invalid. This immunity can also be overcome if you can show that the roadway design or condition presented a trap for the unwary motorist who believed, based on the signage, conditions, etc., that the roadway was safe, when it wasn’t.
The Government has immunity against claims that it should have placed a traffic sign or signal (failure to sign claims) at a particular intersection or warning of a particular roadway feature. This means that they are not negligent for a mere failure to place a sign or signal at a particular place. This immunity may be overcome if it can be shown that the layout, usage, and available information provided to the motorist created a trap for an unsuspecting driver using the roadway with due care.
Contact Our Lawyers Soon
A person injured as a result of a dangerous condition of public property such as a defect in a public roadway must take immediate action. According to the statutes of limitations, they must file a claim within six months of their injury or they may lose their right to recover damages.
You should take photographs of the dangerous condition as soon as possible after the accident or collision. The conditions often change, or are repaired, and the evidence may be lost. Be careful when photographing roadway conditions that you do not place yourself in traffic or harm’s way. Always have a lookout to help you and only work from a position of safety. The attorneys at the Dolan Law Firm will go out and photograph the scene for you. Contact our lawyers for a free case evaluation.
From our offices in San Francisco, our public property injury lawyers represent clients throughout the California Bay Area, including Oakland, San Jose, Alameda, Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Hayward, Richmond, Marin, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Fremont, Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Marin County, Contra Costa County, and San Mateo County.
The Dolan Law Firm
1438 Market Street
San Francisco, California 94102
Phone: 415.421.2800
Toll Free: 888.424.5352
Fax: 415.421.2830
Email
San Francisco Public Property Injury Lawyers
