Texting teen falls into open manhole

[terry78]

There was one of those grates on the sidewalk downtown Chicago that was basically missing the grate on one street. People were avoiding it but I could see somebody talking or just walking fast and dropping down that ****.

 

[CConn]

Well, this article really teaches us that we shouldn't leave effing manhole covers open.

No one is expecting to walk into a hole in the ground, and thusly, even if you're not talking or texting on a phone, you still probably wouldn't see it.

But yes, let's blame technology and teenagers instead.

 

[terry78]

I think it's easy to laugh because it's a teenage girl but it could easily be some dude messing with his iphone, playing a video game, watching something on his device, whatever. When you're in a big city, and you walk the same way all the time, you don't even look at the walk, you just walk.

 

[SpideyInATree]

I have lived in the city of Pittsburgh my whole life. I always watch where I am going no matter how much I walk a certain route. Does not matter how old you are or what gender you are or what you have to distract yourself with. If you are not paying attention you leave yourself wide open for something bad to happen.

 

[CConn]

Does that mean I can start leaving my bear traps out in the street again?

 

[SpideyInATree]

If that is what floats your boat.

 

[The Battousai]

The fact is, this was a manhole. Manholes are usually in the street, and are not in places where people are designated to walk. If this describes the manhole the girl fell in, then she doesn't have much of a case (especially considering her injuries were minimal) - she would be at fault.

However, if this manhole was in a place where people are desinated to walk, then the city is at fault.


Either way, this girl should look where she's going.

 

[CConn]

If that is what floats your boat.

Then I will be sued shirtless.

Much like the DEP in this case.

 

[CConn]

The fact is, this was a manhole. Manholes are usually in the street, and are not in places where people are designated to walk. If this describes the manhole the girl fell in, then she doesn't have much of a case (especially considering her injuries were minimal) - she would be at fault.

However, if this manhole was in a place where people are desinated to walk, then the city is at fault.


Either way, this girl should look where she's going.

It's the earth.

It's meant for people to walk on.

Seriously, even if it was in the middle of the street, she'll win her lawsuit easy if there was no barrier or signing alerting her to the danger. That's exactly why the DEP are supposed to put that kind of thing up in the first place; to protect against lawsuits. And people. Whichever's more important.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Then I will be sued shirtless.

Much like the DEP in this case.

Then you will be sued shirtless.

And of course they will probably be sued and lose. They didn't mark off the open manhole cover. Though she should watch where she is going next time. Lessons learned all around.

 

[Timstuff]

If I were the city, I'd counter-sue her for entering a manhole without permission.

 

[The Battousai]

It's the earth.

It's meant for people to walk on.

Quite the assumption you're making, there.

Seriously, even if it was in the middle of the street, she'll win her lawsuit easy if there was no barrier or signing alerting her to the danger. That's exactly why the DEP are supposed to put that kind of thing up in the first place; to protect against lawsuits. And people. Whichever's more important.

While the city is still partially at fault for not alerting to the open manhole, city streets still have laws. Jaywalking, for one. If she was walking in the middle of a road away from any crosswalks, etc.

 

[terry78]

If I were the city, I'd counter-sue her for entering a manhole without permission.

And who knew she was into that kind of thing? Teens these days.

 

[knowsbleed]

Regardless of the fact that she was stupid for texting and walking without looking where she was going, she has a decent case if she does choose to sue. Last I heard, it wasn't illegal to text while walking.

Mainly, the sewage workers created a safety hazard without closing off the area to prevent accidents. They say they were getting ready to cone it off... but that's what anybody who was about to get in trouble would say. Though it's not a very long fall... under a bad situation a person can still get killed or seriously injured from a drop down a manhole.

They'll get money.

 

[Timstuff]

She was a klutz for walking while texting. It's not like she was blind or something.

 

[Dave McFly]

"lol just won case".

 

[Metal Spidey]

I just found out about this and made a thread but then I saw this thread. Anyway I agree that it's probably the city's fault if they had not put up any cones or covered the manhole up but we she still should've been paying attention. I remember there was a manhole next to a convince store in my old neighborhood that stayed uncovered for a long time. In fact I wonder if they ever covered it.

 

[Metamorpho1977]

It's clear she was walking where she wasn't supposed too. It's called a "man"hole. If it were a girlhole, then it would be ok for her to walk into it.

 

[Immortalfire]

It's clear she was walking where she wasn't supposed too. It's called a "man"hole. If it were a girlhole, then it would be ok for her to walk into it.

 

[Sawyer]

It's clear she was walking where she wasn't supposed too. It's called a "man"hole. If it were a girlhole, then it would be ok for her to walk into it.

Win.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Regardless of the fact that she was stupid for texting and walking without looking where she was going, she has a decent case if she does choose to sue. Last I heard, it wasn't illegal to text while walking.

Mainly, the sewage workers created a safety hazard without closing off the area to prevent accidents. They say they were getting ready to cone it off... but that's what anybody who was about to get in trouble would say. Though it's not a very long fall... under a bad situation a person can still get killed or seriously injured from a drop down a manhole.

They'll get money.

It's not illegal to text a walk but if you were sending text messages and walked into a moving car you wouldn't sue the driver would you?

 

[knowsbleed]

It's not illegal to text a walk but if you were sending text messages and walked into a moving car you wouldn't sue the driver would you?

Different situation... and in truth, they probably would be able to sue the driver in your scenario as pedestrians almost always have the right of way in any situation.

Those workers created an unsafe situation, a child could have fallen in there as easily as a stupid teenager.

 

[The Guard]

Perhaps it would a little something...like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbjG5ZjxBiM

 

[bullets]

ouch .



i thought it would be kind of hard to completely fall down a manhole though

 

[CBGB]

Regardless of the manhole, she still was texting in traffic. It's a hazard to drivers, and not to mention herself. She'll probably get the money, but the money won't help the fact that she's stupid.