Central Valley Caltrans Vehicle Accident Attorney
Living in the Central Valley of California, you are sure to rely heavily on the freeways and expressways of the state. You might also know that there is a part of the state government that is responsible for the care of these roads. But you might not have much more information regarding the California Department of Transportation or Caltrans as it is commonly known. This department was created in the early 1970s and was tasked with the care of not only the freeway and expressway road surfaces but also the signage along the roads related to traffic and safety, as well as safety barriers along the routes. The employees of Caltrans also offer assistance to the public transit service providers in the state but are not wholly responsible for the care of those facilities or their components.
So, when you see a section of freeway or expressway that is closed after an accident for site cleanup services, or if a tree falls and blocks the roadway, the workers busily cleaning up the road and surrounding area are employed by Caltrans. These are also the workers who will arrive at an accident site or the location of roadwork to close lanes of traffic or determine if the roadway is no longer safe for traffic use until there are repairs or a cleanup project is completed. In short, the job of Caltrans is significant to the safety of all drivers and passengers who are traveling on the freeways and expressways of the Central Valley.
As you can certainly see, there is a lot of work that rests on the Caltrans staff and management. They maintain thousands of miles of roads in the state while also performing routine inspections of the road surfaces, safety barriers, and signage across the state. While it would be ideal for these tasks to always be completed to perfection, that is an unreal expectation. Sadly, there are times when an error is made, or work is not completed correctly. In these cases, the harsh reality is that a mistake on the part of Caltrans can result in decreased safety on the roadway, a vehicle accident, and losses and expenses incurred by an otherwise innocent victim of the Central Valley accident caused by Caltrans’ negligence.
If you or a loved one recently suffered a vehicle accident in the Central Valley and feel that Caltrans’s negligence could be to blame for the accident or Caltrans is partially to blame, please know that the dedicated legal team at DTLA Law Group is here to help you resolve this matter swiftly and with as little stress as possible. Our office team can be reached 24/7 to assist you in learning more about your rights as the victim of personal injuries caused by another person or a Caltrans employee’s negligence. In addition, they will answer your general questions and help you in booking your free consultation with a skilled Central Valley Caltrans vehicle accident attorney to further explore your options.
After sharing the facts of the incident with your DTLA Law Group attorney and answering any additional questions they have related to the incident, they will explain the legal merit of the case and your ability to seek compensation from Caltrans for the losses and expenses you suffered. With this vital information, you will be well-prepared to begin making choices about your future and litigation that could help ensure you never face financial struggles because of medical expenses or other losses caused when you were involved in a Central Valley vehicle accident due to Caltrans negligence.
But please also note that you are never going to be required to file a lawsuit against Caltrans, nor are you obligated to hire DTLA Law Group to handle the matter if you choose to take legal action. Our only motivation is to ensure that you and all victims of Central Valley vehicle accidents caused by Caltrans negligence have the resources and legal guidance needed to secure the compensation that is owed to you to overcome the hardships of this difficult time. We only ask that you contact our staff quickly, as the time limit to file a personal injury lawsuit against Caltrans is much shorter than you might expect.
$900,000
$600,000
$1.5 Million
$5.5 Million
$460,000
$1 Million
$750,000
$3 Million
What Does Caltrans Owe Drivers In The Central Valley Area?
As the department tasked with providing maintenance and care for the freeways and expressways in California, Caltrans has a massive responsibility to drivers and passengers of any vehicles using these roads. They are required to provide the inspections and services needed to ensure the safety of users, much like a homeowner is required under premises liability law to maintain the safety of their dwelling and its property. Put in these terms, it is easier for most people to understand what is expected of the staff and management at Caltrans as it relates to the safety of roads.
If there is a massive hole in the road that is part of a Central Valley expressway, and it causes a car to bounce off the roadway and crash, then Caltrans could be responsible for the incident, much like in the case of a slip and fall incident in someone’s home. In addition, if they fail to complete a cleanup after an accident before opening the roadways and a piece of debris causes another vehicle accident, there could be grounds for a Caltrans Central Valley vehicle accident injury lawsuit. When a person or, in this case, entity, Caltrans, fails to meet their legal obligation for care of a space or property, they can be found negligent. In addition, if that negligence causes an injury incident, the person or entity can be liable for the losses and expenses suffered by the injury victim.
Caltrans Vehicle Accidents Can Cause Severe Injuries
When you picture a car accident, the location of the accident can have a huge impact on the level of harm or carnage it causes. A vehicle accident on a residential street where traffic moves at around 25 miles per hour is not likely to cause a loss of life or even extensive injuries to the vehicle occupants. However, when the car crash is on an expressway or freeway, and the cars are moving at 60 miles per hour or more, the results can be devastating injuries that could include one or more of these:
- Partial or complete amputations
- Back, neck, and spinal cord damage
- Severe lacerations and puncture wounds
- Damage to internal organs and internal bleeding
- Facial injuries to the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or the delicate facial skin
- Head injuries that can range from a skull fracture or severe concussion to a brain bleed or other traumatic brain injuries
- Compound fracture
- Broken or shattered bones
- The destruction of soft tissue and nerves
- Joint dislocations and damage to the soft connective tissue of the joint
- Severe contact or electrical burns
- Electrical shocks
These injuries are all potentially serious and will require medical attention and care that can quickly become very costly. Victims of these injuries who were not to blame for the vehicle accident that caused them should never be saddled with a lifetime of debt cause of harm caused by another person’s negligence.
What Is The Average Value Of A Caltrans Central Valley Vehicle Accident Injury Lawsuit?
While you can always calculate the average of a given set of numbers, in the case of a personal injury lawsuit, that average value will have no impact on the potential compensation you could receive if you file a lawsuit against Caltrans. Each personal injury lawsuit is carefully evaluated, and the expenses of the victim are used to determine the compensation they could receive from the court. Working with your DTLA Law Group personal injury attorney, you will gather all the documentation to confirm the allowable expenses you incurred that will apply to your potential compensation. The items most commonly used in the process include but are not always limited to:
- The replacement cost of any personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the Central Valley vehicle accident incident
- The cost of all legal services to prepare, file, and litigate your personal injury lawsuit against Caltrans
- All medical expenses related to the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of the injuries sustained in the Central Valley vehicle accident that was caused by Caltrans negligence, including the cost of any therapy or counseling needed to address the stress and trauma of the incident or the injuries you sustained
- Your lost income if the harm you sustained in the Central Valley vehicle accident prevented you from working at your regular job until you were fully healed and released by your medical care providers to return to the duties of your job
What Is The Time Limit To File A Lawsuit Against Caltrans?
You might be aware of the Statute of Limitations for personal injury cases, which is typically two years from the date of the injury incident. However, in California, the time limit to file a personal injury lawsuit with the court changes when the responsible party is a government entity or agency. In your case against Caltrans, because it is a state entity, you have only six months from the date of the injury incident to move forward with legal action and have your lawsuit filed with the court. If the case is not filed with the court in the allotted time, you lose the right to pursue legal action to secure the compensation and justice you deserve for the incident that was caused by Caltrans’s negligence. In addition, once the Statute of Limitations expires, there are minimal exceptions that will provide the victim with added time to file a lawsuit. Please get in touch with DTLA Law Group today to discuss the time remaining for you to make these crucial choices.
No Added Stress From Out Of Pocket Legal Fees
When you hire the exceptional legal staff at DTLA Law Group, you never need to worry about how you will pay upfront legal fees or expenses. Our firm only gets paid for our work and reimbursed for the expenses we cover on your behalf once the case is resolved and you have the compensation that includes funds to cover your legal costs. In addition, if your DTLA Law Group Central Valley Caltrans vehicle accident attorney fails to win the case and deliver the compensation you need for your fees and expenses, you owe the firm nothing. Please make time soon to contact the office staff at DTLA Law Group to discuss your Caltrans vehicle accident in the Central Valley and the possibility of a lawsuit to help you cover the costs and financial hardship created by this unfortunate incident.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
San Francisco, The Bay Area, And Oakland Caltrans Vehicle Accident Attorney
San Diego Caltrans Vehicle Accident Attorney
Caltrans Vehicle Accident Injury Attorney In Los Angeles
Over $1 BILLION Recovered
for Our Clients
Featured Lawyers
Steven Ross, Esq.
Edward Morgan, Esq.
Amy Gomez
Bonnie Madani, Esq.
Nina Sargsyan, Esq.
Jeffrey Bloeser, Esq.