# What if a city or other public agency is involved? Canonical: https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/guides/government-claim-deadline/ Reviewed by Andrew (Andy) R. Gillin; publisher reported approval on 2026-11-04. Original review date was not supplied. ## Short answer Claims against a public agency often need a formal notice within six months. This is called a government claim. A later lawsuit has its own time limit. ## Hypothetical example A city truck hits a person on a bike. The person may need to file a claim with the city before they can sue. ## How the rule works Government Code § 911.2 generally sets a six-month presentment period for personal injury claims. Section 945.6 governs lawsuit timing and can depend on how notice of rejection was given. ## What can change the answer A police report or phone call may not count as a claim. Late claims are allowed in some cases, but the rules are strict. The deadline to sue can depend on the rejection notice. ## A useful next step Find the right public agency. Ask where to send the claim and when it is due. Do this promptly. ## Court decisions behind this answer ### State of California v. Superior Court (Bodde) (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1234, slip op., p. 1. Before suing a public agency, a person may need to send it a formal claim. The court required the lawsuit to address that step or a valid excuse. Limit: This does not list every deadline. It does not excuse a late claim. Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/2004/s114171.html ## Sources - [Government Code § 911.2 — Presenting a government claim](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=911.2.) - [Government Code § 945.6 — Time to sue a public entity](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=945.6.) - [State of California v. Superior Court (Bodde) (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1234](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/2004/s114171.html) General information, not legal advice.