San Diego Open Manhole Injury Attorney

San Diego is scenic, with many outdoor spaces to explore on foot. The city parks, beaches, and shopping areas are very pedestrian friendly as parking and vehicle traffic can make walking a faster and less stressful means of transportation for many guests and the 1.4 million residents in the city and over 3.2 million living in San Diego County. But even when you are walking around the community’s many neighborhoods, you can find yourself mired in a crowd of people so dense that you can barely see the sidewalk below your feet.

This mass of humanity will move along sidewalks and cross streets in a swarm-like group. But most are happy to be enjoying the mild climate, abundant sunlight, and easy exercise. But all of these benefits fall from your thoughts when you suffer a frightening and harmful incident because of an open manhole. These large openings are intended to be covered by a massive and heavy metal disc that fits into the opening to a sewer, vault, or other access tunnel that runs beneath the San Diego streets and landscape. Being roughly three feet across, this opening is large enough for most people to fall into and possibly even disappear underground. In contrast, others are smaller and will only allow the pedestrian to fall partway into the tunnel.

What remains consistent is that the victims of these incidents often suffer severe injuries from the fall, getting stuck in the opening, and even being trampled by other foot traffic. If this unfortunate and scary incident has recently caused you injuries and emotional trauma, please know that the skilled legal team at Kenmore Law Group is here to help. Our staff of San Diego open manhole injury attorneys is just a call away. In addition, the office staff is always ready to take your call, answer general questions, and assist with booking your free consultation with a skilled attorney to discuss the details of your case further.

Once you explain the case and your attorney gathers all the vital information, they will provide a complete evaluation of the legal merit of the case and your ability to seek compensation via a lawsuit. With this crucial information, you will be well-prepared and confident in making life-altering choices about your future. This lawsuit could easily be the factor that allows you to overcome your injuries and losses caused by the incident without facing years of debt and hardships because of someone else’s negligence. But rest assured, you are never required to sue anyone or hire Kenmore Law Group, even if you decide to pursue legal action. We are only providing this information to ensure all personal injury victims understand their rights and how the legal system is designed to protect them and their future financial stability from debt due to someone else’s poor choices. But please contact our staff today as there is a time limit for you to take action to secure any compensation owed to you.

What Causes Open Manhole Injury Incidents?
When you walk around San Diego, it would be unsafe to try to navigate the city with your eyes glued to the ground and looking at every manhole you pass. These access points are rarely used, and when they are open, there should be signs and barricades to warn pedestrians, bikers, and drivers of the potential hazard. In addition, once the work in the underground space is completed, the workers should immediately replace the manhole cover to ensure the safety of everyone in the area.

Sadly, not every worker is diligent and replaces the covers as they should. This is typically the reason for an open manhole injury in San Diego, as the covers are heavy and require the use of a tool to remove them. So, it is very rare that a manhole cover is removed by anyone but a work team. Unfortunately, the fast pace of work crews trying to limit the disruption of traffic in a street or sidewalk often rush to complete the process and can occasionally fail to replace the cover, creating a significant safety hazard.
Common Injuries Sustained In An Open Manhole Injury Incident
As you might imagine, falling into an opening in the ground can cause severe injuries. In cases where the fall is only part of the way below ground, the sudden stop when you become stuck in the manhole can be painful and cause significant harm. In cases that result in a fall all the way into the tunnel or vault, the victim can face life-altering or even life-threatening injuries that can include:

• Partial or complete amputations
• Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
• Damage to internal organs and internal bleeding
• Broken or shattered bones
• Compound fractures
• Joint dislocations and destruction of the soft connective tissue of the joints
• Soft tissue damage and the destruction of nerves
• Back, neck, and spinal cord damage
• Compression or crushing injuries
• Injuries to the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or delicate facial skin
• Head injuries that include damage ranging from a severe concussion or skull fracture to a brain bleed or other traumatic brain injuries

It is critical to understand that regardless of the visual severity of any harm caused by a fall into an open manhole, it is critical you seek a complete medical evaluation. Many injuries could be concealed by the shock of the incident, and you will not discover the pain and extent of the injuries until later. At that point, the treatment options could be more limited, or the injuries could have worsened and will require a more lengthy recovery period. Once you have seen a medical professional and received the care needed, please contact Kenmore Law Group to discuss the facts of the case and your ability to seek compensation for the losses and expenses incurred because of the open manhole incident.
Who Could Be To Blame For My Injuries?
When thinking about who is to blame and who could be held accountable for the harm you suffered, the list might appear short. You think that it should be easy to figure out who was accessing the manhole where you fell. But there are often more workers and options for liability than you might expect. In many areas of the city, crews are working on components that require manhole access almost on a daily basis, which means the list of possible responsible parties includes:

• Employees of the City of San Diego who work on the streets, utilities, and infrastructure in the area and might access underground tunnels or vaults
• Staff employed by a local utility company
• Contractors working for the city, a local property owner, or a company in the area with components installed in the vault or tunnel
• Companies hire to maintain the underground spaces, test them for safety, and ensure they are accessible

If this sounds very complicated and confusing, you are correct. It can be an arduous task to determine whom to hold accountable after an open manhole injury incident. However, all you need to do is contact Kenmore Law Group and hire our expert staff to complete this chore on your behalf. Our staff brings decades of experience and expertise to this job and will work diligently to get you the answers and resolutions you need.
How Much Is My Open Manhole Injury Lawsuit Worth?
Personal injury victims need to understand that each lawsuit compensation amount is based on the actual losses and expenses incurred by the victim. You will work closely with your Kenmore Law Group San Diego open manhole injury attorney to compile all documentation to verify the allowable expenses you suffered. The items typically used in this process include but are not always limited to:

• All current and projected medical expenses related to the care and rehabilitation of the injuries sustained in the San Diego open manhole injury incident
• Your lost income if the harm you suffered prevented you from returning to your regular job until you were fully recovered
• The replacement cost of any personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the open manhole injury incident
• All legal costs associated with preparing, filing, and litigating your San Diego open manhole injury incident

How Long Do I Have To Take Legal Action?
In most cases, a personal injury victim is given two years from the date of an injury incident to file their claim with the court. This time limit is strictly enforced, and the victim will lose the right to seek compensation for that incident once the time limit has passed. It is also critical to know that there are limited exceptions that would provide added time to file a claim after the original time limit has expired. In addition, victims should understand that in cases involving a government agency or entity, such as the City of San Diego being the responsible party, the time limit to file a lawsuit is decreased to only six months from the date of the incident. Please reach out to Kenmore Law Group today to discuss the time remaining to file a claim and the possible resolution it could offer.
No Added Stress Or Upfront Legal Fees At Kenmore Law Group
When you hire Kenmore Law Group to handle your San Diego open manhole injury lawsuit, you never need to worry about how to afford legal fees and other expenses. Our payment policy is straightforward. We only get paid for our work after the case is completed, and our client has the compensation needed to cover their legal costs and other expenses. In addition, if your Kenmore Law Group San Diego open manhole injury attorney fails to win your case and deliver the compensation you need to cover your expenses, you owe the firm nothing for its time and investment. Please do not hesitate to contact Kenmore Law Group today to learn more.