Exposed Manhole Accident Injury

As you walk down the sidewalk in Los Angeles or cross a busy street, the last thing on your mind is falling down a three-plus-foot-wide opening in the pavement. However, that is what is likely to happen if you encounter an exposed manhole. These gaping holes are placed in streets and sidewalks to allow access to the city sewer system and other underground utilities. They can also be found on private property as access for underground vaults that might house water meters, irrigation pumps, or other components of the communications or power for the facility.

Typically, these access channels are covered with a large, very heavy metal disc that is called a manhole cover. They are so large and heavy that removing the cover often requires a specific tool and a great deal of strength. So the cover can’t become dislodged and accidentally expose a hazardous hole. It is far more probable that someone removed the cover and failed to replace it or the cover was stolen. Either way, someone is responsible for creating the hazard that could cause serious injuries to pedestrians or bicyclists if they fail to see the opening before falling into it.

If you or a loved one recently became a victim of an exposed manhole in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, or any other city in California, please know that the expert exposed manhole accident injury lawyers at Kenmore Law Group are here to help you overcome the hardships of this incident. Our office staff can be reached 24/7 to answer your immediate questions and provide an appointment for a free consultation with a  seasoned Kenmore Law Group exposed manhole accident injury lawyer to discuss the facts of your case.

Once our expert has all the details of the incident and the harm you sustained, they can provide you with valuable information regarding the legal merit of the case and your ability to seek compensation via an exposed manhole accident injury lawsuit. With this vital information, you can make a well-informed decision about a lawsuit that could be the best solution to overcoming the expenses and losses caused by the injuries you suffered. But we implore you to reach out to our staff as quickly as possible, as there is a time limit to file your claim with the court for any compensation owed.

How Exposed Manhole Hazards Occur
Sadly, the common cause for an exposed manhole accident injury is someone failing to take the appropriate action or, in legal terms, someone’s negligence. There are limited reasons anyone would open a manhole and completely remove the cover from the opening in the ground. The most common cause is to gain access to the tunnel or vault below the cover. The other is often for maintenance purposes and to ensure the durability and function of the manhole cover, as ones located on the streets need to support significant weight.

Once the person removes the cover and completes their work, the final step in the process is to replace the cover and ensure it is secured in the opening. The purpose of a circular cover and access tunnel is that the cover can never accidentally slip down into the opening and create unsafe conditions as long as both the lid and frame of the opening are in good working order and undamaged. However, when a worker fails to replace the manhole cover, bad things can happen to innocent pedestrians who can fall a few feet to a dozen or more feet into the tunnel or vault and suffer severe harm, which can include:

• Fractures, broken, or shattered bones
• Dislocated joints or destruction of the soft connective tissue of the joints
• Injuries to the neck, back, or spinal cord
• Severe lacerations complicated by injuries to internal organs and internal bleeding
• Damage to the delicate skin of the face, as well as injuries to the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and teeth
• Soft tissue injuries, including possible permanent damage to nerves
• Head injuries that range from skull fractures and concussions to much more significant traumatic brain injuries

If you have fallen because of an exposed manhole, please seek immediate emergency medical care by calling 911. The injuries suffered could have caused severe damage that is masked by the shock of the incident and could become life-threatening without proper care. Once you have gotten the medical care needed for your injuries, please contact Kenmore Law Group to discuss the possibility of a lawsuit to secure compensation for the harm and expenses you will face as you recover from your injuries.

How Could Be Responsible For Your Losses And Expenses?
Sadly, as you lay there in pain and worry about the cost of medical care and the challenges of being unable to work, you might have no idea how you will overcome these monetary hardships. But please know that the skilled team at Kenmore Law Group is just a call away to help you understand how premises liability and duty of care can help you cover the losses and expenses created by an exposed manhole injury incident.

Premises liability is a part of the legal system that was created to protect the safety of guests when visiting public or private properties, The guidelines explain what is expected of property owners and their staff to ensure the safety of guests and maintain the space free of common hazards. Duty of care uses simple terms to define the care legally required when a safety issue is discovered or reported to property owners or staff by a patron or guest.

The staff is obligated to take at least the same level of action to correct the issue as would be provided by the average prudent person in a similar situation. For example, if you see a missing manhole cover in the sidewalk at your home, you would cover the opening and even block off the area to prevent anyone from falling into the hole. If the manhole is part of the city sewer system, you would also notify the city to have the manhole cover replaced as quickly as possible.

This sounds like a common sense approach, and it is likely what most people would do when faced with a similar issue. It is also what is required under a duty of care. If a property owner fails to take this action, they can be deemed negligent in their duty of care. In addition, if it is later determined that the person’s negligence caused or contributed to someone else’s injuries, the property owner could be held responsible for the losses and expenses incurred by the victim due to their exposed manhole accident injuries. Please reach out to Kenmore Law Group at your earliest opportunity if you feel negligence could have been a factor in the harm you sustained when falling into an exposed manhole.

What Is The Possible Value Of An Exposed Manhole Accident Injury Lawsuit?
Victims of personal injuries are always very interested in learning the possible value of a lawsuit to ensure it will cover all their expenses. Many are worried that there are standard compensation amounts that might leave them still facing medical debt due to the severity of their injuries and the costly care they need to make a complete recovery. These victims are often relieved to learn that each case is evaluated independently, and the compensation sought in their lawsuit is determined based on the sum of their actual losses and expenses.

Working closely with your Kenmore Law Group exposed manhole injury attorney, you will compile all the expenses and losses caused by the injuries you suffered when falling due to the exposed manhole. These items will typically include but are not always limited to:

• All current and projected future medical expenses related to the injuries suffered in the exposed manhole fall incident
• The cost of all legal services to prepare, file, and litigate your exposed manhole accident injury lawsuit
• The replacement value of any personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the exposed manhole injury incident
• Your lost income if the injuries suffered in the exposed manhole fall prevented you from working at your regular job until you were fully recovered or if you missed work to attend essential medical care or treatment appointments related to the injuries you suffered

How Long Do I Have To File My Exposed Manhole Injury Lawsuit?
If the property where the exposed manhole injury incident occurred was owned by the city, state, or any government agency, you have only six months to file your case with the court. However, if the property was privately owned, that time extends to two years. The time limit for both cases begins on the date of the injury incident, and there are minimal exceptions that would provide more time to file a claim after the original time limit has passed.

No Upfront Legal Fees Or Added Stress
When you hire Kenmore Law Group, our firm never asks for any upfront payments. Instead, we handle everything from building the case to paying filing fees so you can stop worrying about money and focus on healing. We only get paid for our work and reimbursed for expenses after you have the compensation that includes funds to cover these items. Finally, if Kenmore Law Group fails to win your exposed manhole injury lawsuit, you owe us nothing. Please reach out to our caring staff today to learn more about having our dedicated legal professionals secure the compensation that is owed to you for the harm caused by someone else’s negligence.