The government is responsible for keeping parks, roads, sidewalks, and public buildings in safe condition. If the government agency responsible for keeping a public space safe fails and you’re injured by the dangerous conditions, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. However, the process is very different for government agencies compared to private property owners.
At the Law Office of Reuben J. Donig, we have decades of experience helping clients take action against negligent government agency maintenance. We assist clients with meeting the tight deadlines and strict evidentiary requirements involved in this process. Learn more about how we can help you by getting in touch today.
Injuries in California State, County and City Parks
California citizens enjoy visiting parks, and it is not unreasonable for hikers, bicyclists, skaters, and families with children to expect a safe and enjoyable experience at any park. Injury can be caused by uneven stairs or stairs without a handrail, defective playground equipment, or a broken section of pavement. To ensure the public’s safety, community swimming pools should be correctly fenced and gated, with warning signs if no lifeguards are available.
Injuries in Public Buildings
Something as simple as a wet floor or dangerous set of stairs can result in a slip-and-fall accident that could have serious consequences such as a permanent back or hip injury, or even a traumatic brain injury. Negligent security can make sexual assault much more likely, resulting in a lifetime of psychological trauma. Unnecessary, foreseeable injuries in public areas entitle victims to a premises liability claim to receive compensation for their pain and suffering.
Defective Roads and Sidewalks
Victims may make a claim against the state, county or city agency responsible for their injuries. This includes defective roadway conditions (such as a poorly maintained bike path or sidewalk) that cause a car accident, a missing manhole cover that causes a trip-and-fall accident, and a broken sidewalk that causes a broken bone. Missing guardrails, dangerous intersections and other problems may also cause serious injury.
What Street Defects Are the City or State Responsible For?
Just as a private property owner is responsible for maintaining the safety of their property, a city, county or state highway department is equally responsible for maintaining reasonably safe conditions. Measures must be taken to prevent foreseeable pedestrian, bicycle and traffic accidents.
Recreational trails, bike paths, streets and highways are all considered public property. Negligence of such may include the following issues:
- §Potholes, cave-ins and ponding (unwanted water pooling on flat surfaces)
- §Intersections lacking street lights or traffic signals despite a history of collisions
- §Missing road signs and poorly marked intersections and crosswalks
- §Debris from asphalt resurfacing, broken pavement or missing manhole covers
- §Poorly maintained, defective, poorly designed or missing guardrails
If you would like to speak with our lawyer about a serious injury or wrongful death claim resulting from a street or highway defect, we encourage you to reach out to our San Mateo office today.
