Manhole Accident Lawyers: Protecting the Injured and Holding Negligent Parties Accountable

When most people think of dangerous situations, they picture car accidents, workplace injuries, or slip-and-fall incidents. But in urban environments, there’s another, often overlooked danger lurking beneath our feet: manholes. 

When manholes are improperly maintained or left unsecured, they can pose a serious threat to public safety. At Morgan & Morgan, we believe that preventable accidents should never be taken lightly, especially when they involve something as avoidable—and as hazardous—as an open or unstable manhole.

Whether you’re a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorist who has been injured due to a manhole-related accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, pain, and suffering. Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help you understand your rights, build a strong case, and pursue justice on your behalf.

If you were injured due to an unsecure manhole, contact us today for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal options.

What Is a Manhole Accident?

A manhole accident occurs when someone is injured due to an open, missing, defective, or unstable manhole cover. These accidents can involve:

• Falling into an open or unmarked manhole
• Tripping or slipping on a dislodged or uneven manhole cover
• Bicycles or scooters flipping due to unaligned manhole grates
• Vehicles being damaged or flipped due to sunken or missing covers
• Steam or chemical burns from faulty underground utility systems
   

These incidents can result in serious injuries, including fractures, head trauma, spinal cord damage, burns, or even death.

Who Is Responsible for Manhole Safety?

Manholes are typically maintained by local governments or utility companies, such as water, sewage, electric, or telecommunication providers. In some cases, responsibility may lie with private contractors working on construction projects or road maintenance.

Entities responsible for manholes have a duty to:

• Ensure covers are in place and secure
• Properly label and barricade open manholes during maintenance
• Regularly inspect infrastructure for wear, damage, or misalignment
• Respond quickly to reports of dangerous or missing manhole covers
   

Failure to do any of the above could result in negligence. If you’re injured due to their oversight, the party responsible for maintaining the manhole may be held liable for your injuries.

Common Causes of Manhole Accidents

Manhole accidents often stem from negligence, oversight, or poor maintenance. Common causes include:

Missing or Unsecured Covers

Whether due to theft, vandalism, or neglect, a missing manhole cover creates a hidden hazard that can easily injure someone walking, running, or riding by.

Poor Maintenance

Covers that are rusted, cracked, or unstable may collapse under the weight of a person or vehicle. Infrastructure issues underground may also cause pressure to build and blow the cover off.

Improperly Marked Work Zones

If a crew is working on a manhole and fails to properly block off the area or post warning signs, a passerby could fall in or be struck by debris.

Weather-Related Issues

Heavy rains, flooding, or freezing temperatures can dislodge covers or hide openings beneath standing water, increasing the risk of accidents.

Construction and Road Work

Sometimes construction crews remove covers and forget to replace or secure them. If temporary solutions (like plywood or cones) are used instead of secure barricades, serious injuries can occur.

Types of Injuries From Manhole Accidents

The nature of a manhole accident can vary widely, but all have the potential for devastating outcomes. Some of the most common injuries include:

• Broken bones and fractures
• Head and traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Lacerations and bruising
• Burns from steam, hot water, or chemicals
• Infections or illnesses from sewage exposure
• Psychological trauma or PTSD
   

Many victims also face long-term consequences such as chronic pain, disability, lost wages, and the inability to perform daily activities.

What to Do After a Manhole Accident

If you or a loved one is involved in a manhole accident, it’s important to take the following steps to protect your health and your legal rights:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Even if injuries seem minor at first, some symptoms may develop over time. A full medical evaluation helps ensure your well-being and creates documentation for your claim.

2. Report the Incident

Report the accident to the local municipality or utility company responsible for the area. If possible, get a written acknowledgment or report number.

3. Document the Scene

Take photos of the manhole, your injuries, and surrounding conditions. Include things like lack of warning signs, weather conditions, and any visible damage or hazards.

4. Gather Witnesses

If anyone saw the accident happen, get their names and contact information. Eyewitnesses can provide powerful testimony later on.

5. Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer at Morgan & Morgan

Before you speak with insurance companies or sign anything, consult with a qualified attorney. An experienced lawyer can help determine liability, estimate damages, and protect you from being taken advantage of.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

Manhole accident cases can be complex, especially when multiple parties share responsibility for maintaining the area. Potentially liable parties may include:

• Municipal or city governments
• Utility companies
• Construction contractors
• Private property owners
• Third-party maintenance vendors
   

Determining liability requires a thorough investigation, including examining maintenance records, video footage, city logs, and incident reports. At Morgan & Morgan, we have the resources and experience to dig deep and uncover who is truly at fault.

What Compensation Could You Receive?

If you were injured in a manhole accident due to someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills (past, present, and future)
• Lost wages and future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement or permanent disability
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Punitive damages (in cases of gross negligence)
   

The exact amount will depend on the severity of your injuries, the circumstances of the accident, and the degree of negligence involved.

Morgan & Morgan Can Help: Real Cases, Real Results.

At Morgan & Morgan, we’ve recovered over $25 billion for our clients. We’ve handled countless personal injury cases involving infrastructure hazards, including manhole-related incidents.

Our size is our strength. As the nation’s largest personal injury law firm with over 1,000 attorneys and law offices in every state, we bring deep resources, cutting-edge technology, and a powerful reputation to every case. But most importantly, we treat our clients with the respect and attention they deserve—because for us, we’ve always fought For the People.

Time Is Limited—Don’t Wait to File Your Claim

Manhole accident cases are subject to statutes of limitations, which are strict deadlines for filing a lawsuit. In many states, you only have a few years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. However, if the liable party is a government entity, you may have even less time—sometimes just 90 days to file a notice of claim.

Waiting too long could mean losing your right to recover any compensation at all.

That’s why it’s important to act quickly. Contacting a Morgan & Morgan manhole accident lawyer as soon as possible ensures your case is filed on time and handled correctly from the start.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a manhole accident, don’t try to handle the legal aftermath on your own. The road to recovery can be physically, emotionally, and financially overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone.

At Morgan & Morgan, we fight For the People—not the powerful. Our attorneys have decades of experience holding negligent parties accountable and helping accident victims recover the compensation they deserve.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We’re available 24/7, and we never charge upfront fees. You only pay if we win.