To file a claim against the City of
Sunnyvale, please complete a
claim form as required under Government Code Sections 905 and 915. Please be sure to fill out the form completely, as an incomplete or incorrect form may delay the processing of your claim.
The original completed claim form must be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk by mail or in person.
Please do not submit claim forms to the Risk Management Division.
Claims must be filed within six months following the incident. Please allow 45 days for the Risk Management Division to process and investigate your claim.
City of
Sunnyvale Claims Process
- A letter of acknowledgment with your claim number will be sent to you notifying you that your claim has been received. This letter will contain your claim number which should be used when asking about your claim and its status.
- The City will conduct an investigation. When possible, the City strives to complete the investigation within 45 days of receiving the claim. Including a complete list of the names, addresses, and contact information for all witnesses to the incident will assist with the prompt review of the claim.
- You are required to provide written justification of the amount of your claim:
-Property damage claims: require an estimate of repair costs and photographs of the alleged damage.
-Personal injury claims: require complete copies of all bills from treating physicians and proof of any other expenses claimed as a result of the incident. If you are claiming a wage loss, you need to provide supporting documentation of work days and wages lost.
The City may request additional information concerning your claim. Please be advised that any request for additional factual information by the Risk Management Division or the City Attorney’s Office is neither an admission of responsibility or liability nor a commitment to make any payment on the claim. All information submitted will be evaluated along with the results of the City’s investigation.
Possible Outcomes of Claims Review Process
- If the City concludes it has responsibility and all required information has been submitted, it may offer to settle your claim.
- Formal Denial – If a claimant receives a formal denial letter, the City has determined that it is not responsible nor at fault and will not pay any money in response to the claim. If your claim is denied and you wish to file a lawsuit against the City, you must do so within 6 months from the date the denial letter is placed in the mail.
- The City may also postpone decision on your claim until medical treatment has been completed and bills and/or appropriate wage loss forms and payroll records are submitted. If you do not receive a formal denial of your claim, you have 2 years from the date of the incident to resolve your claim or file a lawsuit.
You may seek the advice of a private attorney at any time during the investigation and evaluation of your claim. The City Attorney, however, can not advise you on your claim.
If you have any questions about this process, you may contact the
Risk Management Division or call (408) 730-7490.