We all know that walking and texting is a tough combination -- but a Staten Island teen learned the hard way when she fell into an uncovered sewer manhole while trying to send a message.
Now, the family of Alexa Longueira, 15, intends to sue.
The girl suffered a fright and some scrapes on her arms back after she dropped into the hole on Victory Boulevard.
"It was four or five feet, it was very painful. I kind of crawled out and the DEP guys came running and helped me," Longueria told the Staten Island Advance.. "They were just, like, 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
For its part, the Department of Environmental Protection said its workers had turned away briefly to grab some cones when the incident occurred.
"We regret that this happened and wish the young woman a speedy recovery," DEP spokeswoman Mercedes Padilla said in a statement. She added that crews were flushing a high-pressure sewer line at the time.
Personally, I hate people who wander aimlessly along in public with their eyes fixated on their mobile and can’t help feeling there was an element of rough justice here.
Sure, the fall could have been nasty but you can certainly argue that by Longueria not looking where she was going, contributory negligence is brought into play. So while it appears the girl’s family will at least attempt to bring a personal injury claim against the Dept of Environmental Protection, you just have to wonder just what kind of nasty stuff she fell into.
And what happened to her phone.
I love how you wrote what happened to her phone and the nasty stuff she fell into!!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit when I am texting I have no concentration and no idea what is going on. It's becoming a bad habit now. I never want to fall in a sewer or anything else for that matter.
This girl has no one to blame but herself. She should just own up to the fact that she is stupid!!
I hate text-walkers, too - they're always holding up the sidewalk. But at the same time, someone could have fallen into the hole while walking and looking around.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to add you to my blogroll, too, but I can't seem to figure out how to categorize you. LLM is 2 years instead of 3 right? Maybe I'll start a new category...
Well said, Pooni! :-)
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, my LLM in the UK is just 1 year. I've already done an LLB (which is the equivalent to your JD).... if that helps any in categorizing me?! :-)
Michael,
ReplyDeleteAm I a mean person for laughing?
Like Anon, I hate text-walkers!
Hope you're well. :)
No, you're certainly not a mean person for laughing. I think it's a natural reaction to such stupidity.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm honest, I toned down the content of the post a bit because I though I was being a too harsh - I made some throwaway remark at the end about her family needing to hose her down in the yard before they would permit her entry to the 'family abode' and was generally a touch more rude than I ended up being. I think the tone I struck in what turned out to be the 'rough justice' comment was more along the lines of 'she brought it on herself' and serves her right. Ouch.
So, no, you're definitely not being mean! :-)
What's she going to sue them for?! A minor fright? ;D
ReplyDeleteThat's priceless. It's like the scene from the upcoming Sandra Bullock movie!
ReplyDeleteI like the title of your blawg...great movie.
Silly girl. I also have no time for those people who somehow manage to walk and READ! WHAT ON EARTH?!
ReplyDelete*spits*
LOL
On the same theme: "Texting fountain lady considers lawsuit" http:// overlawyered.com/ 2011/01/texting-fountain-lady-considers-lawsuit/
ReplyDelete