Walking over manholes and utility covers are a thing of superstition – some people do not mind walking over them, and some try to avoid them at all costs. Myself, I try to avoid walking over them not due to superstition, but also due to the many claims we get in here at The Injury Lawyers on a daily basis that involve manhole and utility covers.
If you have been injured due to a manhole or defective utility cover, and it was through no fault of your own, you may have a claim for personal injury. A couple of examples of common accidents we see here at The Injury Lawyers are as follows:
- Tripping or stumbling over a defective utility cover- if the utility cover is raised, unsecured, tilts with your weight and thus causes you to trip, then you may have a valid claim for personal injury – read more on our slip, trip & fall claims.
- Falling down an uncovered manhole – If a manhole is left uncovered for whatever reason, it should have warning signs surrounding it and should be adequately cordoned off.
If any of the above has happened to you it is advisable to choose an injury lawyer who has a great deal of experience in dealing with claims of this nature. I say this as, firstly, establishing who has the responsibility of the area can be difficult – for example, it could be local council, an electricity company, gas company, or perhaps a water company. Secondly, choosing a specialist personal injury lawyer with expertise in a particular area can make a difference to the amount of compensation you receive, as they will use all of their skill and experience to ensure your settlement is maximised.
After having an accident such as one of those described above, there a few actions which you can take to strengthen any potential personal injury claim you may have:
- Take photographic evidence of the defect – ensure this also includes the areas surrounding the defect as this can evidence a lack of warning signs regarding the hazard.
- Report the matter to the local authority – even if it is not their responsibility, they may still log the complaint or tell you who you need to call.
- Check for witnesses – witnesses can provide valuable support to a claim, so contact details should be obtained if any are present.
- Seek medical assistance for your injuries – this not only allows a medic to assist you with your injuries, but also to place a note in your medical records.
- Seek the advice of a specialist personal injury lawyer directly.
