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What Can I Do If I Injure Myself On An Opened Manhole Cover in Mesquite, TX?

On city sidewalks and streets across Texas, you find manholes embedded in areas where people move around on a daily basis. Most people don’t consider these underground access points until tripping or falling over one. In some instances, the cover is mostly dislodged or completely opened, allowing enough room for a person to fall through the hole. If negligent actions led to an individual being seriously harmed, there is likely cause for a personal injury claim.

If you have been injured in a manhole cover accident in Mesquite, TX, it is essential to speak with an attorney immediately. These can be contentious legal matters when establishing who is responsible. Fielding Law is the firm to call because our lawyers have the experience and resources to take your case on and hold liable parties accountable.

What Should I Do If I’m Injured in a Manhole Accident?

An important first step after an accident involving injury is to consult with a lawyer. With a manhole accident, you need objective counsel on the strength of your case. Some injury claims might be resolved quickly or may not be worth pursuing, given the amount of damages you could recover.

A severe injury is another story. More than likely, an event that leads to serious harm will meet the criteria for a personal injury claim where liability rests with a negligent party. Having a thorough evaluation of your case gives you the information you need about the merit of a claim.

How Do I Find Out Who Is Responsible?

It can take significant investigation into a maintenance hole accident case to find out who is ultimately liable for your injury. There could be numerous agencies and entities within a city that are responsible for manholes in different areas. There are circumstances where owners contract with others to maintain utility access points. Establishing direct negligence by a responsible party to bring a rightful claim is critical.

What Is Premises Liability?

In some situations, premises liability may come into play if an owner has a manhole cover on their property and is responsible for its displacement or misplacement. Under this type of liability, an owner may have to pay damages that were caused by their negligence. City utility holes can be located on private property. However, only city personnel are permitted to remove a cover. An attorney will assess the potential reasons your accident occurred to determine liability.

Is Determining Liability Essential to My Personal Injury Claim?

One of the most essential matters an attorney handles is liability. In Texas, personal injury damages are decided using the modified comparative fault system. This means damages are awarded based on each party’s assigned percentage of fault in an accident. Texas also has a 51% rule, whereby a plaintiff must be less than 51% responsible for their injuries to seek a recovery.

Personal injury accidents are rarely simple when it comes to liability. Your attorney must be skilled at negotiating the assignment of fault. No insurance company, defendant or legal team for the other side willingly accepts responsibility without disputing claims first.

What Are Types of Manhole Accidents?

In Mesquite, TX, the Sewer Division oversees 5,611 wastewater manholes throughout the city. Manholes can also provide entry to underground water, gas, and steam pipelines, power lines and phone cables. These access areas are not always under the ownership of government entities, as some belong to private utility providers. These are incidents that take place when individuals unexpectedly encounter an open cover:

Some injuries result when a pedestrian passes near an open access and steam rises from the manhole, or an explosion sends the cover flying injuring people walking or those driving vehicles nearby.

What Are Common Causes of These Accidents in Mesquite, TX?

Manholes are an important part of the infrastructure in cities, providing access to workers to manage utility systems and for use in construction projects. Issues arise when adequate preventive measures are not taken to keep people from getting hurt. Safety failures can occur for these reasons:

  • The manhole is open because the cover is not secured or is left open.
  • Safety signage is not clearly visible or not posted on an open access.
  • An open manhole has no barrier or an inadequate barrier to protect passersby.

Most manhole accidents happen due to negligence in managing the access point in keeping with designated safety regulations.

What Injuries Result From Manhole Accidents?

The injuries you incur from an uncovered utility hole in Mesquite, TX, could devastate your life. If you have experienced any of these injuries, you need to speak with a lawyer:

The serious injuries you suffer can cause lifelong medical issues, such as permanent disability, disfigurement and cognitive impairment. You may require plastic surgery, rehabilitative therapy and ongoing personal care. It is not uncommon to have post-traumatic stress disorder, including flashbacks and triggers related to the shocking event.

After a catastrophic injury, employment may no longer be an option. It is crucial that you have legal help as you move forward. An attorney protects your rights and fights for the compensation you deserve.

What Damages Can I Recover?

You can seek both economic and non-economic damages from injuries in a manhole accident. People recover for medical expenses, lost wages, reduced future earnings, disabling or disfiguring injuries and long-term medical problems.

Pain and suffering are grim issues that result from severe injuries. The physical pain and mental anguish may overwhelm you, making it difficult to engage with life as you once did. An attorney walks you through the personal injury claims process. While compensatory damages don’t solve all the concerns an injury creates, getting a fair recovery can provide the necessary resources for critical support and care.

Why Do I Need a Manhole Accident Lawyer?

An attorney can provide answers about what to do after an injury happens to you. You need legal guidance and personal support. You will need time to heal, and it’s difficult to do so when you are constantly stressed about what comes next.

At Fielding Law, our clients come first. As personal injury attorneys, we help lift that burden by managing all the aspects of your case. If you have questions, you can speak directly with your attorney.

Hire a Mesquite, TX, Attorney To Represent You in a Manhole Accident Case

A manhole cover accident can lead to debilitating injuries that change the course of your life. There is no time to waste in getting legal help when you meet with serious injury. Entities or businesses that own or oversee utility access points have legal responsibilities to maintain the sites and protect the public. We make liable parties account for negligent actions when their failures affect your quality of life and add a question mark to your future well-being.

Fielding Law is ready to talk with you about your claim. There is peace of mind in knowing someone is on your side and knows what to do. Getting to help accident victims is the reason we handle personal injury cases and why we offer direct access to our attorneys. There are no fees unless you win. Contact us to get started.