By Michael Shemtoub, trial attorney, Beverly Law. Updated November 2026.
Will the City pay my claim?
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What the City of Los Angeles pays out
These are the City’s own numbers or reporting on them. Each comes from a different source and covers a different period, so they don’t add up to each other.
| Figure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| City liability payouts, fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025) | About $286.3 million, a record | ABC7, July 12, 2025, citing Controller Kenneth Mejia |
| General Fund liability claims, same year | A record $287 million, $199 million (228%) over budget | Controller Mejia letter, Jan. 30, 2026 |
| Police share of that year’s liability claims | $152 million | Controller Mejia letter, Jan. 30, 2026 |
| Street Services and Transportation shares | $44 million and $20 million | Controller Mejia letter, Jan. 30, 2026 |
| Sidewalk injuries over five fiscal years | 1,700+ claims, 1,020 lawsuits, more than $35 million in settlements ($12 million in FY 2020) | City Controller, Nov. 17, 2021 |
| Pothole claims, 2003 to 2012 | 627 of about 6,600 claims paid; just over $352,000 total, against more than $5 million sought | NBC LA I-Team, Oct. 7, 2013 |
ABC7 reported that the largest FY2025 payouts included $10.5 million over a falling light and $7.5 million over a dog attack at a City shelter (ABC7). The City Attorney says that “with some exceptions, the City is self-insured,” which means these payments come from City funds (City Attorney).
Potholes and sidewalks: why many claims are not paid
The pothole numbers are low because many pothole claims are small car-damage claims, and because the City must have known about the hole long enough to fix it before it can be liable. NBC LA reported in 2013 that the City Attorney “often rejects claims for damage from potholes its known about for months or years” (NBC LA). Sidewalk injuries cost the City more in total: the Controller counted more than $35 million in sidewalk settlements over five fiscal years (City Controller).
Other agencies show similar patterns. NBC LA reported that LA Metro paid 714 of 1,721 bus claims in 2022 (41%) and 452 of 1,981 in 2023 through December 1 (23%, a partial year) (NBC LA). A rejected claim is not the end of the case. It opens the door to a lawsuit, which is where many serious injury claims are resolved. See claim denied.
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Who approves a settlement with the City
The City Charter splits settlement authority by amount, and the Administrative Code sets the dollar limits (Charter § 273; LAAC § 5.173):
| Amount | Who approves |
|---|---|
| Up to $50,000 | City Attorney, subject to the Mayor’s approval (which the Mayor may delegate to the City Attorney) |
| $50,001 to $100,000 (lawsuits and judgments) | City Attorney with Claims Board approval. The Claims Board is the Mayor, the Council President and the City Attorney, or their designees |
| Above that | City Council, subject to the Mayor’s veto, which two-thirds of the Council can override |
One caution: the code treats pre-lawsuit claims and lawsuits a little differently. Council approval is required for claim settlements over $50,000 and for lawsuits and judgments over $100,000 (LAAC § 5.173(c)). Council settlements are public. For example, in April 2026 a Council motion recommended a $250,000 settlement in a case where a street sign fell on a person in North Hollywood (CF 26-0400).
Larger settlements take longer because they go through these steps. When the City pays, the claimant signs a release and the City Controller issues the payment (City Attorney). The City can offer to pay in up to 10 annual installments only if you agree in writing (Gov. Code § 912.6).
What damages you can recover from the City
Economic damages: medical bills already paid or owed, future medical care, lost wages and lost earning capacity, and property damage such as car repairs. Keep every bill and pay stub.
Non-economic damages: pain, suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. These are often the largest part of a serious injury claim. Our FAQs explain general and special damages and how pain and suffering is calculated.
No punitive damages. A public entity is not liable for damages meant to punish (Gov. Code § 818).
Uninsured drivers. In car crash cases, an uninsured vehicle owner, a driver without proof of financial responsibility, or a driver convicted of DUI for that crash generally cannot recover non-economic damages (Civ. Code § 3333.4, Proposition 213). They can still recover economic losses.
The dollar amount on the claim. State law says that if the claim is over $10,000, no dollar amount should be included; the claim should say whether it would be a limited civil case (Gov. Code § 910(f)). The City’s form asks for a total amount. Talk to a lawyer before you put a number on it.
How a claim against the City is valued
An adjuster or a jury looks at the same things in a City case as in any injury case: how badly you were hurt, how long treatment lasted, whether the injury is permanent, what work you lost, and how clearly the evidence shows the City was at fault. In a road or sidewalk case, that means proof the City knew about the hazard or created it (Gov. Code § 835). Weak proof of notice lowers the value of even a serious injury. Our FAQ on how lawyers calculate settlement value goes through the steps.
We can’t promise any amount, and no one honestly can at the claim stage. Before you accept anything, read should I accept the first settlement offer.
Related pages
- Claim against the City of Los Angeles
- What happens after you file
- Claim denied: what now
- Check your claim status
- Sidewalk trip and fall claims
- Pothole damage claims
- City vehicle accident claims
- Dangerous condition of public property
- General and special damages
- How lawyers calculate settlement value
- Los Angeles accident lawyer
Common questions
How much does the City of Los Angeles pay in claims each year?
About $286.3 million in liability payouts in fiscal year 2025, a record, according to ABC7’s July 12, 2025 report citing Controller Kenneth Mejia. The Controller’s January 30, 2026 letter put General Fund liability claims that year at a record $287 million, with $152 million from police-related claims.
Does the City of Los Angeles pay pothole claims?
Sometimes, but most are not paid. NBC LA reported in 2013 that the City paid 627 of about 6,600 pothole claims filed from 2003 to 2012, totaling just over $352,000. The City generally must have known about the pothole in time to fix it before it is liable.
Who approves a settlement with the City of Los Angeles?
Under LAAC 5.173 and Charter 273, the City Attorney can settle up to $50,000 with the Mayor’s approval, the Claims Board approves lawsuit settlements from $50,001 to $100,000, and settlements of pre-lawsuit claims over $50,000 or lawsuits over $100,000 go to the City Council, subject to the Mayor’s veto.
Can I get punitive damages from the City?
No. Government Code 818 bars punitive damages against a public entity. You can recover economic damages, such as medical bills and lost wages, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.
What is my claim against the City worth?
It depends on your medical bills, lost income, how long the injury lasts, and how strong the proof of the City’s fault is. No honest lawyer can promise a number at the claim stage. Uninsured drivers generally lose pain-and-suffering damages in car crash cases under Civil Code 3333.4.
Should I put a dollar amount on my claim?
Government Code 910(f) says a claim over $10,000 should not include a dollar amount and should state whether it would be a limited civil case. The City’s form asks for a total. Talk with a lawyer before filling in that line.
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Sources
- ABC7, LA sets new record with $286M in liability payouts (July 12, 2025)
- LA City Controller, transmittal letter for FY2025 ACFR (Jan. 30, 2026)
- LA City Controller, Repairing L.A.’s Broken Sidewalk Strategy (Nov. 17, 2021)
- NBC LA, City Dodges Pothole Payouts (Oct. 7, 2013)
- NBC LA, Metro bus claims (Jan. 24, 2024)
- Los Angeles City Charter § 273
- Los Angeles Administrative Code § 5.173
- City Council motion CF 26-0400 (Apr. 2026)
- Los Angeles City Attorney, Claims
- Cal. Gov. Code § 818
- Cal. Gov. Code § 835
- Cal. Gov. Code § 910
- Cal. Gov. Code § 912.6
- Cal. Civ. Code § 3333.4
Important: This page is general information, not legal or medical advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: November 6, 2026.