Open Manhole Injury Attorney In Los Angeles

As a Los Angeles pedestrian, you will learn that it can be faster and less stressful to traverse many city areas on foot instead of in a personal vehicle. While there are four million people in the city and over three times as many when you count the entire metro area, the vehicle traffic on streets is far worse than the foot traffic. But do not think that the sidewalks will be empty. Foot traffic in LA seems to flow in large groups or crowds that move along sidewalks and through crosswalks in a swarm. Personal space will be limited as you literally go with the flow, at times not even being able to look down and see the concrete or asphalt ribbon you are traversing.

The downside to the clusters of foot traffic is that it can be very easy to miss a safety hazard in the street or sidewalk, such as an open manhole. Sadly, there is a level of expectation from all residents and guests that these openings, which provide access to vaults and tunnels under the city, are well maintained and remain closed when not barricaded to protect pedestrians and bikers from a serious fall into a three-foot or larger opening in the ground. In most cases, the workers using these access points are very careful about properly replacing the large metal discs that keep everyone safe from serious injuries due to a nasty fall. However, it is possible to become a victim of an open Los Angeles manhole if someone is not paying attention or is in a hurry to complete their job. In these instances, someone else’s negligence could result in severe injuries to one or more innocent victims who were only walking along a sidewalk or crossing a street.

If you or a loved one recently sustained injuries due to an open manhole in LA, please know that the dedicated legal staff at Normandie Law Firm is here to help you sort out the challenges and issues created when you became the victim of this painful personal injury incident. Our office staff can be reached 24/7 to help you understand your rights and how to hold the appropriate party accountable for the losses and expenses you incurred because of their actions and negligence. In addition, we hope that you will take advantage of our generous offer for a free consultation with a skilled Normandie Law Firm, an open manhole injury attorney in Los Angeles.

After sharing the facts of the incident and answering any questions while your attorney gathers vital information, they will share with you their expert evaluation of the legal merit of your claim and ability to seek compensation via an open manhole injury lawsuit. With this crucial information, you will be well-prepared to make choices that could significantly impact your future and overcome the hardships of this injury incident without lingering debt.

Please also know that you are never obligated to file a lawsuit or hire Normandie Law Firm, even if you choose to pursue legal action. Our only motivation in providing this helpful information and guidance is to ensure that all personal injury victims understand their rights and how to hold the appropriate party accountable for their negligence and the expenses it created. But please reach out to Normandie Law Firm today as there is a time limit for you to see justice, and it can be much more limited than you might expect.

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Who Is Responsible For An Open Manhole In Los Angeles?
In a busy metro area like LA, you might think that a manhole cover could accidentally be removed from an access tunnel by vehicle traffic or other natural occurrences. However, you must understand that the large metal discs covering these openings are often over three feet across and are very heavy. Workers who require access to the tunnels or vaults below a manhole cover often use special tools to lift these lids, which fit very securely into the openings. Not only is it nearly impossible for the manhole cover to be removed without intent and a lot of effort, it is not likely that it can be removed as a prank or act of children or teens getting into mischief.

The most common reason for an open manhole injury incident in LA is that a worker forgot to replace the cover after completing a job or they were in a hurry and failed to replace it correctly. Properly closing the manhole allows the lid to settle fully into the top of the tunnel lip and be nearly flush with the paved surface of the street or sidewalk. This proper fit makes it very difficult to remove the manhole cover without tools and proper training.

Are Open Manhole Injuries Severe?
When you think about suffering a sudden fall into a pit or hole, you realize that there is little warning and time to prepare yourself and stop the sudden fall and impact at the end of the fall. You are not able to break the fall by putting your hands forward as you are falling straight down. This odd situation means that many of the injuries can be severe and even life-threatening if the victim has preexisting medical conditions or is older and possibly more frail. Sadly, it is also possible for more than one victim to be injured in these incidents as multiple pedestrians could fall into the same open manhole or could trip and fall onto the first victim if they are stuck in the opening because they did not fall all the way underground. Injuries often reported in these incidents include one or more of the following:

• Broken or shattered bones
• Compound fractures
• Dislocated joints and the destruction of the soft connective tissue of the joints
• Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
• Damage to internal organs and internal bleeding
• Back, neck, and spinal cord injuries
• Compression and crushing injuries
• Partial or complete amputations
• Harm to the delicate skin of the face or the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth
• Head injuries that range from a severe concussion or skull fracture to a possibly life-altering brain bleed or other traumatic brain injury

Who Should Be Held Accountable For My Injuries?
In many cases, the open manhole was in the street or a city sidewalk. However, that does not mean the liability for the incident is simple to determine. The responsible party or parties for the negligence resulting in your open manhole injuries could include:

• The city due to a city worker failing to properly reinstall the manhole cover
• A local utility company, if their employer failed to replace the manhole cover
• An employee of a nearby business who was working in the vault or tunnel under the manhole
• A contractor who was hired by the city or a local business to maintain or inspect the tunnel or work on components located in the space under the street or sidewalk

The good news is that you do not need to worry about sorting out the details to determine who is to blame for your injuries. Instead, all you must do is hire Normandie Law Firm, and we will handle every aspect of the process so that you can focus on healing and making a swift recovery.

How Much Is The Average Open Manhole In LA Injury Lawsuit Worth?
All personal injury victims must understand that the compensation awarded for their lawsuit is not predetermined based on the injuries suffered. Instead, the amount awarded will be determined by combining all the victim’s actual expenses from the injuries suffered. Working with your Normandie Law Firm, an open manhole injury attorney in Los Angeles, you will compile all documentation to confirm your allowable expenses. The items used in this process typically include but are not strictly limited to:

• All current and projected future medical expenses for the injuries sustained in the open manhole injury incident
• The replacement cost of any personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the open manhole injury incident
• Your lost income if the harm you sustained prevented you from returning to your regular job until you were fully recovered
• All legal costs related to the preparation, filing, and litigation of your LA open manhole injury lawsuit

How Long Do I Have To Take Legal Action?
As a personal injury victim, you will likely have two years from the date of the injury incident to file your claim with the court. This time limit is strictly enforced, and there are minimal exceptions to receive added time to make a claim once the original time allotted has passed. In most cases, the victim loses the right to seek compensation for the expenses once the time limit has expired. However, if it is determined that the party responsible or partially responsible for the negligence that caused you harm was a government entity or agency such as the city of LA, the county, or the state, the time limit to take action declines to only six months from the incident. Please contact Normandie Law Firm today to discuss the remaining time to seek justice and compensation for your losses.

No Added Stress From Upfront Legal Fees
At Normandie Law Firm, we never charge any upfront legal fees that could prevent you from getting the legal representation needed to secure the compensation that is owed to you. We are dedicated to providing justice for all and never want an inability to afford legal services to prevent victims from getting the monetary help they need and deserve. So, our firm only gets paid after the case is completed, and our client has the compensation that includes funds to cover their legal costs. Finally, if Normandie Law Firm fails to win your case and deliver that much-needed compensation, you owe the firm nothing. Please contact our caring staff today to discuss our valuable services.

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