Woman Rescued after Falling into Manhole at Site of Former Mall in San Bernardino – Manhole Fall Attorneys

The San Bernardino County Fire Department rescued a woman who fell 15 to 20 feet into a manhole at the former site of the Carousel Mall. The rescue took place on Wednesday morning (November 20, 2024). Firefighters were dispatched to the area at around 11am after a passerby heard screams for help coming from the manhole and reported it. The firefighters discovered an adult woman trapped in the manhole; the woman said she fell in the night before.

A technical rescue team of 20 personnel responded to the scene and were able to lift the woman out of the manhole; the rescue took about 1.5 hours. The woman was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries. According to officials, the woman possible suffered injuries to her lower extremities.

The location of the incident was once home to the Carousel Mall, which was closed in 2017. The mall was demolished last year (in 2023) because it was attracting criminal activity and had been a scene of many incidents, including fires, electrocution, and shootings. The area is fenced off to the public, so it is unclear how the women got into the site. Officials were unable to confirm if the woman was homeless.

Crews at the scene of the incident secured the manhole. No further details have been released.

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Abandoned Buildings in San Bernardino Attract Homeless Seeking Shelter

The city of San Bernardino is known for having many abandoned buildings. Many of these buildings attract homeless people seeking shelter from weather conditions. In addition, because abandoned buildings or demolition sites are not busy, homeless individuals know that they will not be bothered by anyone or asked to move. Because of this, even when these areas are fenced off, individuals will trespass.

Uncovered Manholes Leading to Falls

When manholes are not properly covered, the manhole cover is broken or misplaced, etc., anyone walking by – especially in the darkness of the night – can fall into the manhole. As in the case above, the victim fell 15 to 20 feet. Such falls can result in a number of injuries, which could include broken legs, broken feet, broken toes, broken arms, back injuries, neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, head injuries, and more.

Liability for Falls into Manholes

In general, liability for falls is based on premise liability law. Under premise liability law, property owners have the duty to keep their properties free of any hazards or dangerous conditions that could ultimately lead to incidents. In general, this duty of care applies to guests with implicit or explicit permission to be on the property.

When there are incidents on properties that are closed down and not open to the public (like private property that is fenced off and has clear no trespassing signs), things get more complicated. Liability will be based on the specific circumstances. For instance, property owners have a limited duty of care towards trespassers. That is, property owners must refrain from willfully causing harm (like creating hazards intentionally to hurt the known trespasser); however, property owners are not obligated to ensure the safety of trespassers. Many people assume that trespassers cannot sue for the injuries that they suffered due to hazards on a premises, but the truth is that even those who were not rightfully on a property may have grounds to file a claim.

Liability based on Attractive Nuisance Doctrine

Under the Attractive Nuisance Doctrine, property owners could face liability if their property had features likely to attract trespassers and the property owner took insufficient measures to prevent access to the property. For homeless individuals, an “attractive nuisance” may include an area with potential shelter, a source of water, a source of electricity, etc. For property owners to face liability under the Attractive Nuisance Doctrine, the property (and the hazard) should have been easily accessible – either with open access points or through poorly secured areas. Examples of attractive nuisances could include abandoned buildings, construction sites, unsecured utility boxes, unsecured water sources, and more.

I was Injured. Who Can I Sue?

If you were injured at the former site of the Carousel Mall in San Bernardino, you could file a lawsuit against the City of San Bernardino. The 43-acre site is owned by the city; therefore, the city could be held liable for any incidents and injuries that occur on the premises. For more information about your right to file a lawsuit against the City of San Bernardino for a manhole-related incident, contact us today.

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What Compensation is Available for Recovery?

Manhole fall incidents could result in the recover of some of the following types of compensation:

Medical costs
Lost income
Pain and suffering
Property damage
Punitive damages
Legal costs

Here at our law firm, our team is fully committed to fighting for the rights of victims and getting them the maximum recovery available, Whether our team has to negotiate a settlement or take your claim to trial to reach a verdict, you can be certain that our experts will do everything possible to secure the payout that you are owed.

Contact the Downtown L.A. Law Group Today

If you suffered injuries in the manhole incident listed above or in a similar incident, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Our team here at the Downtown L.A. Law Group has decades of experience and are ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to begin or continue your claim. We offer free case evaluations, which include free consultations and free second opinions. That is, whether you are looking to begin or continue your manhole accident claim, our team can help you. To schedule a free case review, contact us today.

Zero-Fee Guarantee: you will never have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. In addition, our team works on contingency, meaning that you will not be required to pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful. If you do not win, you will simply not be responsible for paying anything.

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