Manholes are essentially needed to run and maintain our underground systems – hence why they litter our pavements and roads. Many people try to avoid walking over manholes and utility covers for reasons of superstition; that, however, is not the reason why I avoid them. I avoid them as I see the numerous claims that come into The Injury Lawyers for personal injury arising from them!
If you have been injured due to a defective manhole or utility cover, and it was through no fault of your own, then you may have a claim for personal injury. There can be many reasons why you have an accident as described above – a couple of which I have gone on to detail:
- Falling down an uncovered manhole – if this has happened to you then you may have a strong claim for personal injury. If a manhole is left uncovered, there should be adequate warning signs as well as the area being cordoned off satisfactorily.
- Tripping or stumbling over / on an unsecured manhole cover – if you walk over a manhole cover and it collapses, tilts with your weight, or is already raised due to it being defective or unsecured, which causes you to have an accident and subsequent injuries, you may have a claim for compensation.
There may be many different companies that are potentially responsible for the cover; these can include the local council, water boards, and electricity or gas companies. Whoever it may be, they all have a duty to protect you as far as is reasonably possible from harm. This means that they should have a system of inspections in place to identify any hazards, plus they should act upon any complaints made about defects and rectify them as a matter of urgency.
If you have had an accident involving a manhole or utility cover, there a few actions which you can take to strengthen your claim:
- Report the defect to the Local Authority – they should then log the complaint, and either rectify the problem, or inform the relevant company whose responsibility it is to rectify it.
- Take photographic evidence of the defect – this should be done as soon as possible before any repairs are made.
- Check for witnesses to your accident – if any are present, you should obtain their details.
- Seek medical assistance for your injuries.
- Seek the advice of a specialist personal injury lawyer directly – this should be done as soon as possible whilst the events are fresh in your mind.
If you have any questions regarding your potential claim then feel free to give us a call.
