Dos and Don’ts: Avoiding Common Mistakes When Handling California Tort Claims Act Cases (The Verdict, Summer 2025)

Shaana Rahman recently had an article published in The Verdict (Summer 2025 edition) of the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers’ Association.

The topic? avoiding common mistakes when handling California Tort Claims Act cases.

Cases against public entities follow a distinct set of rules. Although there is nothing mystical about pursuing cases against a public entity, if you don’t regularly handle these types of cases you need to understand the potential traps for the unwary or, at least, know when to reach out to someone for help.

California Supreme Court Delivers Landmark Victory for Bicyclists in Whitehead v. City of Oakland

California Supreme Court Delivers Landmark Victory for Bicyclists in Whitehead v. City of Oakland Case No. S284303

Ruling Strengthens Legal Protections and Reinforces Cities’ Responsibility to Maintain Safe Roads

Oakland, Calif., May 2, 2025 — In a powerful affirmation of bicyclists’ rights, the California Supreme Court has ruled in Whitehead v. City of Oakland (case S284303) that public entities cannot rely on liability waivers to avoid responsibility for dangerous road conditions.

E-Bike Speed and Dangers for Minors

ebike by bridge image

At Rahman Law, we want to support the use of bicycles and advocate fiercely for pedestrian and cyclist safety. Better regulations are a part of that safety. e-Bikes are new and therefore lack a solid foundation of safety regulations just yet. Unfortunately, this places minors at risk for fatal injuries due to reaching speeds that shouldn’t be accessible to them on an e-bike because while laws differ widely in different states, counties, and cities regarding e-bikes, what doesn’t differ is the universal law that speed kills.

Vision Zero 2.0 in San Francisco

san francisco pedestrians at crosswalk

San Francisco was the second city in the United States to adopt a Vision Zero resolution back in 2014. The pledge was to reach zero severe and fatal traffic accidents within 10 years. Walk San Francisco, a non-profit we love supporting, advocated heavily to bring about Vision Zero in San Francisco.

What You Need To Know About California’s New Daylighting Law

At the end of 2023, California Governor Gavin Newson signed into law SB 413, making it illegal in California to park within 20 feet of the approach of any marked or unmarked crosswalk, whether or not there is a red curb painted or a sign. 

The “Big Wiggle”: Changing the Way We Prioritize Pedestrian-Friendly Streets May Be the Cure for San Francisco

Recently, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Pilot Proposal Contributors, through its SFNext project, posited an interesting idea to revitalize downtown San Francisco.  (“Could this idea for pedestrian-friendly streets bring new life to downtown S.F.?”, San Francisco Chronicle, 11-13-23; https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/pedestrian-streets-downtown-18457711.php) The post (and some pre) pandemic issues plaguing San Francisco from Civic Center Plaza to the Financial District have been much talked about, making local headlines on what seems like a daily basis. 

Is Riding a Bike on the Sidewalk Safe or Even Legal?

In California, someone riding a bicycle may move out of the bicycle lane when “reasonably necessary” to avoid hazardous conditions, even if they are moving slower than traffic (Cal. Veh. Code § 21208).  When vehicle traffic is heavy and few pedestrians are in sight, it might be tempting to ride on the sidewalk to avoid road hazards, but as personal injury attorneys here in California, we want to share a few thoughts about riding a bike on the sidewalk. 

Pitfalls of Rideshare Service Apps

When it comes to rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft the benefits to using them as a passenger may seem pretty obvious: a ride home when you’re too tired to drive; a lift to get you closer to your destination when a parking lot is full; a shuttle between a train station or airport and a hotel when you’re traveling… Unfortunately, these idealized use cases tend to blind many riders to the pitfalls and risks behind using a rideshare service.