A motor vehicle collision has sparked a legal battle in San Francisco, with serious allegations of negligence. On June 12, 2024, Santos Tomas Villafania Pech filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco against the City and County of San Francisco, the State of California, and Carlos Javier Jimenez.
The incident at the heart of this case occurred on December 15, 2023. According to the complaint, Villafania Pech was riding his bicycle eastbound on Golden Gate Avenue when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Carlos Javier Jimenez. The lawsuit alleges that Jimenez made an unsafe right turn on a red light onto Golden Gate Avenue from Van Ness Avenue, resulting in a collision that caused severe injuries to Villafania Pech. The plaintiff claims that Jimenez was operating a vehicle owned and managed by the City and County of San Francisco at the time of the accident.
Villafania Pech's legal team argues that both the city and state failed in their duty to ensure safe operation and maintenance of their vehicles. "Defendants negligently, recklessly, and carelessly managed, maintained, drove, operated, controlled, entrusted, and supervised the operation of the subject vehicle," states the complaint. The plaintiff also alleges that Jimenez was acting within the scope of his employment duties at the time of the accident.
The lawsuit outlines multiple allegations against all defendants involved. It accuses them of negligence under Government Code Section 820(a), which holds public entities liable for injuries caused by their employees' actions or omissions. Furthermore, it claims that both city and state authorities failed to respond adequately to initial claims submitted by Villafania Pech earlier this year.
In terms of relief sought from the court, Villafania Pech is asking for general damages for physical pain and suffering as well as special damages covering medical expenses and loss of earnings. Additionally, he seeks prejudgment interest and reimbursement for legal costs incurred during this litigation process.
Representing Villafania Pech are attorneys Alan A. Ahdoot and Christopher B. Adamson from Adamson Ahdoot LLP. The case has been assigned Case No.: CGC-24-615325 in front of Judge [Name not provided].