Unfortunately, New York manhole accidents are all too common. On October 30th, 2021, an MTA bus was lifted off its wheels due to a loose manhole cover in Queens. The driver lost control and slammed into a parked car, injuring 9 people on the bus. This is only one recent example of how New Yorkers are at constant risk of being injured by a manhole cover.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a manhole cover accident, contact our experienced lawyers today!
Between 2008 and 2018, there were more than 45,000 emergency manhole incidents in New York City, including nearly 4,000 FDNY! dispatches for manhole explosions.
Unfortunately, manholes remain a potential risk for all New Yorkers.
If you were injured in the MTA bus incident, a manhole explosion, or any other New York manhole accident, contact a trustworthy NY manhole accident lawyer today for a free consultation.
Manhole accidents can cause a wide variety of life-altering injuries.
Since construction crews may spend hours every day working near manholes, they are at the highest risk of occupational injury by a manhole cover. While you may receive workers’ compensation if you were injured by a manhole while doing your job, you may also be able to hold the transit company or utility authority liable for having an unsafe premise.
Manhole covers can get hot enough to cause first, second, or even third-degree burns on a person’s feet and legs or a pet’s paws. Even if the manhole cover itself is not hot enough to be a problem, steam coming from holes in the cover can cause burn injuries, including infections, nerve damage, scars, skin damage, disfigurement, and other serious lifelong medical issues.
Misplaced, wobbly, or missing manhole covers can cause people to slip or trip and fall— especially in the winter, when the manhole cover may be obscured by snow. As in the recent MTA bus example, manhole covers can also cause vehicle or bicycle accidents and injuries.
Some parts of the NYC electrical grid are extremely old and in desperate need of maintenance or replacement. When these old wires are damaged by road salt, gnawing rats, or anything else, an electrical short can cause an explosion strong enough to send a 300-pound manhole cover flying into vehicles or pedestrians.
Injured by a manhole? Contact Goidel & Siegel today for a free consultation.
Since manhole covers are owned and maintained by the government, filing a claim is a bit different than it is if you are injured by a person or business. You must first file an administrative claim - usually by submitting Claim Form SF95 - with the federal agency accountable for your injury within 2 years of the date of the accident. You are required to sign Form SF95 using wet ink - you cannot use an electronic signature.
After you file the proper paperwork, the agency has 6 months to respond to your filing. The federal agency may choose to “allow” your claim and pay you the required damages. However, if they deny your claim or choose not to pay all the damages you demanded, you have 6 months from the date the decision was mailed to you to file a lawsuit.
For the best chance at a favorable outcome, you should speak to a reputable New York personal injury lawyer such as the experts at Goidel & Siegel as soon as possible.
Contact Our NY Manhole Accident Lawyers Today
If you have been injured in any type of accident involving a manhole in New York, contact the experienced injury lawyers at Goidel & Siegel for a free consultation. We may be able to get you compensation for your injuries, pain, and suffering that resulted from a manhole cover accident in New York.
Contact us today by clicking here or calling 212-840-3737
56 W. 45th Street 3rd Floor New York, NY 10036
