Shay Williams Injured In Quincy Manhole Accident
Unsafe Premises - March 27, 2024
Quincy Mother Shay Williams Injured After Falling Into Manhole Before Her 5-Year-Old Son Helped Rescue Her
QUINCY, ILLINOIS (March 27, 2024) – A woman identified as Shay Williams was injured after falling into a manhole while she was doing yard work.
Adams County officials are saying that the incident took place last Thursday. Shay Williams was in her yard with her five-year-old son when she stepped onto the edge of a storm drain.
The lid of the storm drain suddenly flipped causing her to fall in. Her elbows hit the edge of the rim, which prevented her from falling further down.
Her son was able to get help by running across the family’s complex and finding an adult at the office. Shay Williams was eventually extricated from the manhole.
The extent of her injuries remains unknown, but she did speak to reporters with her right arm in a sling.
Liability For Quincy Manhole Accidents
Falls remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and death for adults in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury. Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. Over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture.” There are a number of factors that could contribute to falls.
- Uneven surfaces
- Cluttered walkways
- Slick surfaces
- Inclement weather
Depending on the facts of any case, a property owner could be liable if a person is injured in a fall on their property. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code (740 ILCS 130/1), property owners must maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition with their property, they must take action. A property owner could be liable for failing to properly secure the manhole. There are several other parties that could face liability for a manhole accident.
- Municipal Liability: When a manhole is on public property, the municipal entity responsible for that property could be liable for an accident. Cities must maintain manholes in a reasonably safe condition and could be liable for failing to inspect, maintain, or secure the manhole.
- Utility Companies: Utility companies regularly use manholes and must remove them for various projects. If they failed to put a manhole cover back in place, this could create an open hazard and form the basis of a negligence claim.
- Contractors: Construction companies and other contractors could also be liable for an accident involving a manhole cover. For example, they may have failed to rope off an area with an open manhole or secure a manhole that they worked with.
Falls can be extremely disruptive to a person’s life. Many people are left with fractures that will necessitate that they take extensive time off of work. They may also be left with high medical bills. It is important that accident victims understand that they do have rights. Any person who is injured after falling through a manhole may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.
Investigating Quincy Manhole Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to Shay Williams as she continues to recover. This was a preventable accident that should not have taken place. There needs to be a thorough investigation into whether that company or party left that manhole unsecured.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a manhole accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we may be able to assist you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
