Service holes, more commonly known as "manholes," allow utility companies to access gas works, electricity lines, water lines, sewage pipes or other utilities to perform inspections, maintenance or repairs. Manholes must be kept level with the rest of the pavement or surface around them. All too often, however, companies do not follow recommended guidelines or fail to replace covers properly, leading to raised surfaces that pedestrians or cyclists may trip over.
Graham Coffey & Co provides specialist personal injury services for individuals who have suffered injury in slip-and-fall accidents caused by manhole or service covers, such as:
- Tripping over raised service covers
- Covers that were not placed or replaced properly
- Slip-and-falls caused by slippery, wet covers
- Injuries caused by hidden manhole covers in parks, grass or fields of play such as football or cricket fields
- Broken bones due to unguarded, open service hole covers
- Injuries to children who may fall into manholes that are unmarked and open
Service cover injury claims can quickly become technical and legally complex. Officially, the start of your trip must have been caused by a surface that was at least one inch higher than the surface around it at the time of the accident. If your accident was quite some time ago, the cover may have been moved or repaired.
This does not mean we cannot help you. If you were injured within the last three years, our Manchester solicitors specialising in manhole cover injuries are highly experienced in the investigation of such slip-and-fall accidents, and we will consult with industry experts when necessary to build as strong a claim as possible.
Visit What's My Claim Worth? and our Slip-and-Fall Accident FAQs to learn more about your rights following a slip-and-fall accident involving a service hole cover.
