Is there any action that can be taken regarding a lose manhole cover?
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Is there any action that can be taken regarding a lose manhole cover?
I work for FedEx and I just dropped off some packages to a house. As I was
returning to my truck, I was walking on the sidewalk wheeling my dolly. I
stepped on a manhole on a sewer drain. However, the lid wasn’t closed all of the way and my left leg fell in and I scrapped my inner left leg on the inside of the manhole. The lid then flipped up and smacked me on the left side of my thigh and I have scrapes and a bruise on my thigh from the lid hitting my thigh and I have scrapes on my inner leg, which I’m sure will bruise up tomorrow. I was pretty much left limping to finish the rest of the day with sharp pains in my left leg. Is there anything that can be done?
Asked on June 15, 2018 under Personal Injury, Missouri
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
There is nothing to do.
1) First, scrapes and bruises are NEVER worth legal action. You can only recover your actual medical costs, lost wages from the injury, and for a *significant* injury leading to significant and long lasting (many weeks at least, as a practical matter) life impairment, some amount for "pain and suffering." Without major impairment or large medical costs or being kept from work for weeks, you'll spend more on the lawsuit than you'll get back.
2) The city would only be liable in any event, if you had injuries serious enough to economically support suing over, if you can show that the city *knew* the manhole cover was loose (e.g. someone reported it) but failed to do anything, or that a city employee had carelessly left it loose.
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