Man Injured in Sinkhole Sues City of Chicago

 Posted on July 10, 2013 in Personal Injury

On April 18^th, a torrential rainstorm hit the city of Chicago hard.  Flooding throughout the city and suburbs created massive delays and even some accidents.  Governor Quinn was forced to declare a state of emergency due to the conditions of the roads.  But the scariest thing that occurred was when the ground collapsed in the 9600 block of South Houston.

Early on that Thursday morning, Mirko Krivokuca was driving in his silver pickup on his way to work.  He barely made it a block before a giant sinkhole swallowed up his vehicle and one other car.  Less than an hour later a third car flipped upside down as the sinkhole became as wide as the street.  Mirko was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

After the event, local Alderman John Pope said that the rainy weather precipitated the collapse but the real culprit was the infrastructure under the street.  Water Department Commissioner Thomas Power echoed his statement.  Under the street, “a nearly hundred-year-old water main broke…it breached an old sewer as well, at both locations, washed out the street, washed out all the soil. And the pavement couldn't even handle its own weight anymore, let alone the three cars sitting on top of it."

On July 2^nd, Mirko filed a personal injury lawsuit against the city of Chicago.  The complaint he filed in court said that the city was negligent for not maintaining south Houston street.  It also states that Mirko hit a pothole in the street which then opened up to the 40 foot wide hole.  He wants $100,000 in damages because of the injuries he sustained in the accident as well as court costs.

Safety is a top priority for any city.  If you have been injured because of the negligence of a third party, know that you can seek compensation for your injuries.  Contact a skilled personal injury lawyer in DuPage County today.

image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono / freedigitalphotos.net