San Francisco Open Manhole Injury Attorney

San Francisco is a world-famous tourist destination that attracts millions of guests each year. They see many landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, and the Painted Ladies. Many are also attracted by the blend of cultural opportunities in the area, which range from authentic dining and shopping to learning about life in other parts of the world. The city is proud to be seen as a melting pot that offers a welcoming place for all to visit and live in the community of roughly 800,000.

With many communities in the city dating back decades, the streets can be narrow and clogged with vehicles, making the preferred mode of travel on foot. The crowded sidewalks can appear to be a swarm of humanity that is flowing as a single mass instead of countless individuals. But this works for the residents, and guests quickly adapt to becoming one with the mass of people completing their daily routine and errands.

However, when someone fails to take the time needed to carefully replace a manhole cover in the busy streets of San Francisco, the day can go horribly wrong for one or more pedestrians. These large metal discs measure three feet or more across and often weigh 25 pounds or more, making them difficult to move. So, it is rarely on accident that a manhole cover becomes dislodged and leaves a gaping hole in the street or sidewalk that can cause serious harm to a pedestrian. Instead, the cause is a simple lack of focus on the tasks at hand or negligence.

If you or a loved one recently suffered harm because of an open manhole in San Francisco, please know that the caring and skilled staff at Normandie Law Firm is ready to help. Our office team can be reached 24/7 to provide the answers and information you need to find peace of mind that you will overcome the hardships caused by your open manhole injuries. In addition, these professionals will assist you in booking your free consultation with a seasoned Normandie Law Firm San Francisco open manhole injury attorney to evaluate your case in more detail.

Once you have shared all the facts and answered the questions of your open manhole injury attorney, they will provide a complete evaluation of the legal merit of the case and your ability to seek compensation via an open manhole injury lawsuit. Then all the choices are up to you. Your legal team will never force you to pursue legal action, and you are not obligated to hire Normandie Law Firm, even if you decide to file a lawsuit. Our only purpose in providing all of this valuable information for free is to ensure that all personal injury victims have the information and resources needed to protect themselves and their future financial stability from costly medical expenses and other bills caused by someone else’s negligence. But please be sure to contact Normandie Law Firm at your earliest opportunity, as there is a time limit to file your claim that could be shorter than you might expect.

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How Is A Manhole In The Street Or Sidewalk Left Open?
Sadly, there is no other explanation for the harm you suffered because of an open manhole than someone who failed to properly close it. It was likely a negligent act by someone who was tasked with working inside the tunnel or vault that is accessed by the manhole. They could have been in a hurry to complete the work to reopen that part of the street that was blocked or clear a barricade from the busy sidewalk. In their rush to get it done quickly, they failed to meet their responsibility of replacing the manhole cover or replacing it correctly.

Under normal conditions, these heavy lids must be pried from the opening in the street or sidewalk using tools and much effort. However, if the lid is placed on the manhole incorrectly, it does not settle into the frame entirely and can be more easily removed or accidentally dislodged. In both cases, the blame for the hazard created by the open manhole falls on the person who failed to properly close the opening and the company that employed them for the task.

Common Injuries Suffered During A San Francisco Open Manhole Incident
Any fall can result in serious injuries. However, most of the time, when a person falls, they can place their hands out to lessen the impact suffered by their body to the torso. In cases of a fall into an open manhole, the victim falls straight down and has no way to lessen that impact. In addition, the tunnel or vault they fall into often includes many hazardous or sharp objects like large metal water values or electrical boxes with sharp corners, causing added injuries that can include:

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

How Is Responsible For My San Francisco Open Manhole Injuries?
You might feel overwhelmed by all the details and intricacies of your injury incident and how the legal system would assign blame for your losses and expenses. Fortunately, the team at Normandie Law Firm is well-prepared to assist you in sorting out this complex legal matter. Our staff brings years of expertise to each open manhole injury case we handle and will work through all the facts and information to determine who is to blame for the pain and hardships you face., which could include:

• The city is a San Francisco employee was working in the vault or tunnel and failed to correctly replace the manhole cover
• An employee of a local utility company could also be to blame if they were working in the area, passing the liability to their company
• It is also possible for a local company to have sent its employees into the vault or tunnel to access equipment, making them liable for the harm you suffered

All you need to know is that Normandie Law Firm will work diligently and never give up until we determine who is wholly or partially liable for the injuries you sustained to ensure you receive the full compensation owed to you due to someone else’s negligence.

What Will My Open Manhole Injury Lawsuit Be Worth?
Compensation for a personal injury lawsuit is not a predetermined amount. Instead, the amount awarded by the court is based on the actual losses and expenses incurred by the injury victim. You will work closely with your Normandie Law Firm San Francisco open manhole injury attorney to compile all the documentation to verify your allowable expenses. The items that are typically used in this process include but are not always limited to:

• All current and projected future medical expenses related to the treatment and rehabilitation of the injuries suffered in the open manhole incident
• The cost of all legal services to prepare, file, and litigate your personal injury lawsuit
• The replacement cost of any personal property that was damaged or destroyed during the San Francisco open manhole injury incident
• Your lost income if the injuries you suffered due to the open manhole prevented you from returning to your regular job until you were fully recovered

In cases that involve severe harm and a lengthy recovery process, it is common for the victim to seek added compensation for their pain and suffering. Because this is not a documented amount, your Normandie Law Firm legal team will provide guidance in requesting a fair and reasonable amount for this aspect of the compensation. They will refer to recently completed cases with similar details to ensure you are requesting the most robust compensation possible for all that you have endured due to your injuries caused by someone else’s negligence.

What Is The Time Limit To File An Open Manhole Injury Lawsuit?
Personal injury victims are typically given two years from the date of the injury incident to file a claim with the court. If the case is not filed in that time, the victim loses the right to ever seek compensation and justice for the losses and expenses caused by that specific incident. In addition, there are very few exceptions that provide added time to make a claim once the time limit has expired. However, in cases where the liable party is a government entity or agency, such as the city, county, or state, the time limit to file a lawsuit is reduced to only six months from the date of the incident. Please reach out to Normandie Law Firm today to discuss the party liable for your injury incident and the time remaining to file your open manhole injury lawsuit.

No Added Stress Or Upfront Legal Expenses
When you hire Normandie Law Firm to handle your San Francisco open manhole injury lawsuit, you never need to worry about how to cover the cost of legal services. Our client-friendly payment policy ensures you only pay the firm after the case is completed, and you have the compensation that includes funds to cover all legal expenses and costs. In addition, if your Normandie Law Firm San Francisco open manhole injury attorney fails to win your case and deliver that much-needed compensation, you owe the firm nothing for its time and investment in preparing the case. Please do not hesitate to contact Normandie Law Firm today to discuss the case and ensure you understand your options and the time provided for you to take action and secure the compensation you deserve.

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