There are thousands of sidewalk grates across the City. Some simply lead into the basements and sub-basements of buildings. Others, however, lead directly into the city’s infrastructure and open onto voids dropping 20, 50, even 90 feet below street level into subway and utility tunnels. Every year a number of individuals are injured by sidewalk grate accidents in New York City.
One faulty grate in Long Island City recently failed to keep a man from entering the void beneath, leading to him falling nearly 20 feet. This sidewalk grate accident in New York began when the man dropped his keys down the grate. When he tried to retrieve them, he was seriously injured.
The sidewalk grate accident occurred just outside 24-20 Jackson Avenue near Court Square just before 11 AM. During his initial attempt to retrieve his keys, the man ended up, injured, at the bottom of a 20-foot hole.
A passerby who saw the accident rushed in to assist but could do little more than console the man and try to keep him calm as rescue crews were called in to help. The FDNY responded quickly and were able to pull the man from the hole. Eyewitnesses say the man was conscious and looked “alright” but was bleeding severely. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital and listed in stable condition with injuries to his right leg.
Crews were on scene shortly after the sidewalk grate accident to re-secure the grating to prevent a similar accident from happening.
If you or a loved one has been injured because a raised or uneven sidewalk grate or because a sidewalk grate gave way, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for unpaid medical expenses, past and future lost wages, and pain and suffering for your injuries sustained in the accident. Contact a New York City sidewalk grate accident attorney immediately to discuss what legal options are available to you. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.