Elderly Woman Trapped in Sinkhole; Recovering Well
Posted By De Castroverde Law Group on Jun 28, 2010 3:07pm PDT
Last week, an elderly woman from Alamo Nevada was injured when her car sank underground near the intersection of Nellis Desert Inn in Las Vegas.
The accident was caused by a sinkhole, which is a natural depression in the earth caused when underground water dissolves underground rocks. Sinkholes are especially dangerous because they can be difficult to detect, as the surface above them often shows no signs of the trouble below. Sinkholes are usually caused by natural processes, but can also form due to construction and water diversion.
The woman, 75 year old Laurelle Hughes, has been released from the hospital, but is still covered in bruises and has a broken sternum and fractured ribs. Hughes is in good spirits, apparently pleased that many at the hospital thought she was 20 years younger than she is. She reports that, despite her injuries, she feels lucky that she can move, breathe, talk, and think. Though her injuries were serious and she still has a long recovery ahead of her, she will no doubt be helped by her family, which includes 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
It took road construction crews days to fix the damage caused by the massive sinkhole, which was big enough to almost entirely swallow Hughes' car.
If you or someone you love has been injured due to poorly maintained roads, contact a Las Vegas Personal Injury Attorney to learn how you may be able to recover your losses.