CALTRANS ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is responsible for the state highways in addition to other public transportation projects throughout the state of California.
Given the size, population, and transportation needs for California, this means that Caltrans must construct and maintain a vast network of roadways. They are not always successful in that role.
The California Department of Transportation is an executive department within the State of California. Caltrans manages the state highway system and is actively involved with public transportation systems throughout the state and has an annual budget of over $14 Billion!
Design, construction and maintenance failures have caused and/or contributed to serious motor vehicle, truck, bus and motorcycle accidents over the years such as in one of our most recent cases settled against Caltrans for $5.2 million in 2014. Please see link below. (https://www.fiumara.com/santa-rosa/case-results).
There are many issues that can lead to Caltrans accidents including:
- Lack of guardrails of other support.
- Improper shoulders.
- Dangerous curves.
- Objects falling off Caltrans trucks and heavy equipment.
- Defective road construction.
- Improper lack of signage or signaling.
- Lack of/defective traffic signals/railroad crossing signals.
- Lack of proper drainage causing flooding.
- Proper warning for construction sites.
- Lack of proper maintenance of culverts/drains causing flooding, again, one of the major contributors to the above mentioned accident and one of the largest settlements against Caltrans that we successfully settled for $.5.2 million.
Pursuing a claim against Caltrans for a bus, motorcycle, or car accident presents certain challenges that only a highly skilled and knowledgeable team of attorneys can surmount. First and foremost, there are shortened statutes of limitation for which we can file claims for our injured clients! Governmental immunity and the shortened six-month torts claim statute is often a barrier but not when we handle the case hence liability was established and Caltrans paid out over $5 million dollars to one of our clients in 2014.
Second, showing how Caltrans is primarily responsible for the bus, motorcycle or car accident oftentimes requires an in-depth investigation that requires skilled experts to gather evidence of the actual conditions at the time of the accident that specifically caused the accident.
Third, it is important for our team of experts to establish what Caltrans could have done to mitigate or to prevent the accident from occurring in the first place. For example, the installation of warning signs of flooding were never installed on the segment of the highway where our client was seriously injured by a hydroplaning vehicle that caused him serious leg and lower body injuries.
We Have More Than Forty Years of Combined Legal Experience and Skill at What We Do
At the Law Offices of Michael A. Fiumara, we are highly skilled at conducting the necessary investigations and inquires to hold Caltrans accountable for accidents caused by their failure in regard to the construction, maintenance, and/or improvement to our rapidly deteriorating infrastructure. Our extensive personal injury experience allows us to focus upon all the evidence that will ultimately become most helpful to build the winning case for our clients. Oftentimes given the complexity of the nature of the events or lack thereof, we are not afraid or shy away from employing cutting edge outside experts when necessary to help build the most convincing case for the jury. If we cannot successfully negotiate a fair and full settlement, we are not afraid to march into the courtroom with a full head of steam on your behalf.
Victims of Caltrans accidents trust the Law Offices of Michael A. Fiumara to represent them in their case against a large, bureaucratic governmental entity in an ethical, compassionate yet aggressive manner. Our goals are the same as those of our clients. We are motivated by getting the most favorable compensation that you deserve. Our attorneys and staff including our experts are always available to travel to your home, workplace or treatment facility to answer any and all questions pertaining to your case.
Contact the Santa Rosa Caltrans Accident Attorneys at the Law Offices of Michael A. Fiumara
If your accident was caused by Caltrans negligence or failure to affirmatively do or construct a safety feature of any kind, the Law Offices of Michael A. Fiumara will fight for you.
To schedule a free and confidential initial consultation please feel free to contact us at our conveniently located offices in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County at (707) 571-8600 or in Palm Springs, Marin County you may contact us at (760) 832-6118 or contact us online. The call is free and we will be happy to help you throughout this ordeal. “The right attorney makes all the difference.”
