The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) faces numerous high-profile legal verdicts and appeals over roadway negligence, dangerous public property conditions, and major infrastructure disputes. Caltrans rejects the majority of all property damage and personal injury claims submitted. In California, a public entity is responsible for injuries or damages that are caused by road defects if Caltrans had "actual or constructive notice" of a hazard and Caltrans failed to fix the known hazard within a reasonable timeframe.
Several recent major injury and wrongful death verdicts have resulted in California including a $28 million crosswalk injury verdict against Caltrans on behalf of a minor who was severely injured in a dangerous crosswalk accident. In another significant recent result, $23.5 million was awarded in a dangerous roadway verdict where a jury determined that State Route 78 constituted a dangerous public condition. In another case, a $19.25 million wrong death verdict was secured in Santa Cruz County when a child was struck and killed while walking on a dangerously narrow shoulder on Highway 9. In another recent case, a $16.4 million verdict resulting from a fallen tree in San Diego County where a jury awarded a motorcyclist rendered a paraplegic after a tree branch broke and crushed the person on State Route 79.
Lawsuit filed against Caltrans over tragic accident on El Camino Real - SR82 In Santa Clara.
As reported in the Silicon Valley Voice, our office filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of a Santa Clara University student, alleging “El Camino Real has long been known to be among the deadliest roads in the San Francisco Bay Area for pedestrians.” https://www.svvoice.com/scu-students-family-sues-city-county-and-caltrans-for-wrongful-death/ "The plaintiffs point to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showing the stretch of El Camino Real that runs through Santa Clara County had 58 fatalities from 2002 to 2022, making it the third deadliest in the region." Silicon Valley Voice, August 27, 2025. On May 1, 2026, felony vehicular manslaughter charges were filed against the driver of the November 2024 crash that killed 18-year-old student Kephas Pope with his bicycle on El Camino Real.
Continuing El Camino Real accidents harming pedestrians and bicyclists:
A Santa Clara University female student was struck by a white Mazda on May 19, 2026, while crossing El Camino Real near the Santa Clara University campus. The accident is yet another serious traffic incident on El Camino Real near Santa Clara University. On October 29, 2025,a gray pickup truck flipped with a second car was crushed at The Alameda and El Camino Real.
If you have relevant information or questions, contact for attorney Dana Taschner is [email protected] .
Verdict of $28 million vs Caltrans -- Dangerous Condition of Public Property results in victim struck by car while crossing intersection
A jury in Tulare County Superior Court, California recently determined a verdict of over $28 Million in a personally injury lawsuit against the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and other parties, finding that a roadway intersection was a known dangerous condition of public property. The May 29, 2025 verdict of $28,623,528 relates to the victim being struck by a car while crossing an intersection. Personal Injury, Auto v Pedestrian, Dangerous Condition of Public Property, reported by Daily Journal, June 20, 2025.
Verdict of $37 million vs Caltrans for paralyzed contractor
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has agreed to pay $37 million to a man who was paralyzed while working on a freeway project. In 2011, Kyle Anderson was working on Highway 101 in Eureka, California. He was crouched in a trench when a Caltrans driver crossed onto the shoulder and struck him. This left Anderson quadriplegic, with "locked-in" syndrome - meaning he is conscious but cannot move or communicate. The Humboldt County Superior Court jury decided that Caltrans was entirely responsible for Anderson's injuries. The jury initially decided that Caltrans owed Anderson's family $56.5 million. However, on appeal, a $37 million settlement was decided on the first day of proceedings. Anderson's lifetime medical costs are expected to total $18 million, which involves providing him with high-tech equipment allowing him to communicate with his eyes by looking at images on a computer screen.
$14.2 million settlement against Caltrans for dangerous Highway 33 (Ventura County)
A group of motorcyclists were travelling north on Route 33 in Ojal (a city in Ventura County, California) when another group of riders travelling south passed them hitting one of the motorcyclists head-on, killing him. The other rider had crossed over and curved round the bend too fast because there were no warning signs indicating that he was to experience an unusual hairpin curve and needed to reduce his speed to 30mph. At the Ventura County Superior Court it was established that the State was aware the location of the crash needed critical warning signs and numerous preventable accidents had occurred at this specific location because of its unusual characteristics. The jury agreed that the lack of warning signs was the primary cause of the accident and awarded the family $14.2 million in wrongful death damages. During proceedings, the court also discovered that there was a 2-year backlog in getting accident data into Caltrans' database, which means that Caltrans was not seeing the number of accidents occurring at various locations in real-time. The family of a motorcyclist who died in the head-on collision was awarded $14.2 million in damages. The lawsuit alleged that Caltrans was 90% at fault for failing to post adequate warning signs or speed limit reductions on a dangerous hairpin curve.
$9.1 million verdict against Caltrans for cyclist
An experienced cyclist was cycling home on the designated bicycle lane. He was forced to swerve to avoid a pile of rocks and sand on the pavement and was struck by the side mirror of a passing truck, causing him to lose control and crash. He suffered significant brain damage and was left unable to work. It was found that Caltrans (who owns the highway) had contracted with the city of Los Angeles to sweep the pavement on a monthly basis to keep it free from debris. The location where the accident occurred was a popular path for bicyclists, and officials are reported to have been aware for years that debris from the hills often creates hazardous conditions on the pathway and highway. City sweepers that testified at the trial admitted that they often swept around rocks and debris near the cliff, rather than remove it. Ultimately, the jury found Caltrans 40% liable, and the city of Los Angeles 60% liable.
Santa Barbara Cyclist Awarded $3.8 Million Against Caltrans
Jury Finds Highway 101 Bridge Is ‘Dangerous' Piece of Public Property.
A Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara County, California) jury unanimously awarded $3.8 million in a negligence lawsuit against Caltrans, owner and operator of Arroyo Quemada Bridge, and the driver...the jury found that the 400-foot bridge ― part of the state's official Pacific Coast Bike Route ― constituted “a dangerous condition of public property,” and that Caltrans had failed to properly warn motorists of this “concealed trap.” While Caltrans has installed a “clutter” of signage around the bridge, the jury also said, none of it notifies drivers that bicyclists may occupy the slow lane.
During the two-week trial, attorneys introduced evidence that the state transportation agency knew the bridge was dangerous as far back as 1999, when representatives of its District 5 office in San Luis Obispo met with Santa Barbara County officials to discuss possible safety improvements. Another sit-down took place in 2011, but Caltrans never followed through on its plan for a new cantilevered bike lane along the bridge that would separate cyclists from motorists. A key witness...a former county transportation planner...testified Caltrans was well aware of the issues at the time and promised to address them with the new lane but, for reasons unclear, never started construction. (Santa Barbara Independent)
$35 Million Verdict - Dangerous Redondo Beach intersection
Dangerous Redondo Beach intersection gets new striping in aftermath of $35 million verdict
More than 100 accidents have occurred at the Redondo Beach (a city in Los Angeles County, California) crossing in the past decade. One accident caused a 3-year-old boy skull fractures and brain bleeding. Another motorcycle passenger resulted in a lost leg. Another caused serious injury to a former UCLA football player. Caltrans was ordered to pay millions to the former UCLA offensive lineman who lost part of his left leg below the knee in a motorcycle crash, with a jury finding Caltrans negligent. Weeks after a former UCLA football player was awarded millions in the negligence lawsuit against Caltrans, the problematic Redondo Beach intersection where the injury occurred was striped with new lines to improve safety. (Daily Breeze)
Major California roadway safety updates
- Expanded "Slow Down, Move Over" Law (AB 390): Drivers are now required to move over or slow down for any stationary vehicle on the side of the road with hazard lights, cones, or flares activated, not just emergency or maintenance vehicles.
- School Zone Speed Limits (AB 382): School zone speed limits are reduced to 20 mph (down from 25 mph) to enhance pedestrian safety.
- Speed Safety Cameras (AB 645/AB 289): A pilot program is introducing automated speed enforcement cameras in high-risk areas, including parts of Oakland, to reduce speed-related crashes.
- Speed Limit Reductions (AB 1014): Caltrans is authorized to reduce speed limits on state highways by 5 mph, with a focus on areas with high incident rates.
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License Plate Visibility (AB 1085/AB 2111): Strengthened penalties for obstructing license plates to ensure traffic safety cameras can operate effectively.
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Infrastructure and Safety Initiatives
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Data-Driven Safety Projects: California is investing over $191 million in safety improvements on State Route 91 and other high-priority areas, including improved lighting, high-visibility crosswalks, and redesigned intersections.
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"The Pivot" Strategy (2020-2024 SHSP): A, strategic plan focusing on four pillars: integrating equity, implementing a Safe System Approach, doubling down on what works, and accelerating technology.
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Working Together: Caltrans is updating its Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD) by January 2026 to align with national standards for improved signage and traffic control.
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Road Safety Action Plan 2023-24: A dedicated, two-year plan to implement targeted safety measures on the state highway system.
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Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety: Increased focus on high-visibility crosswalks and pedestrian safety zones, as pedestrian fatalities in 2023 were roughly 3 per day.
- DUI and Reckless Driving: Tightened penalties for vehicular manslaughter and expanded Ignition Interlock Device (IID) requirements (AB 366/AB 1087).
- Electric Bicycle Safety (SB 1271/SB 586): New safety standards for lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and regulations for off-highway electric motorcycles.
