Elevators in the United States make 18 billion passenger trips a year, according to ConsumerWatch.com data. The same data shows that escalators in the US make an average of 105 billion passenger trips annually.
Neither number may come as a surprise to most people, considering how many of us use elevators and escalators from day to day. However, think about how much opportunity that many trips leaves for something to go wrong and how unprepared we are to deal with the devastation of an elevator or escalator accident.
What Causes Escalator and Elevator Accidents?
Several factors can lead to an elevator or escalator accident. These factors can include defective equipment, poor maintenance or improperly trained personnel.
Factors that can cause elevator accidents:
- Tripping hazard created by leveling that is unbalanced, leading to an elevator failing to line up with the floor properly;
- Failure to complete inspections, maintenance or repairs;
- Repairs, maintenance or inspections completed by personnel who are unqualified;
- Fall hazards created by defective doors or open shafts;
- Malfunctioning or defective pulley system, leading to an elevator crashing after dropping rapidly;
- Elevator control defect or malfunctioning wiring, leading to electrocution or entrapment.
Factors that can cause escalator accidents:
- Too much space between escalator steps and sides, allowing for accidents related to items such as shoelaces or pant legs becoming entrapped;
- Missing or defective steps, leading to trip, slip and fall accidents;
- Missing or broken teeth on the escalator track, causing entrapment related trip and fall accidents;
- Poorly designed handrail, leading to clothing, hair or limb entrapment related accidents;
- Defective or malfunctioning equipment;
- Incomplete or poorly executed inspections, maintenance or repairs.
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help Me Following an Elevator or Escalator Accident?
While elevator and escalator accidents may happen every day, they don’t happen to you every day. A premises liability attorney, on the other hand, deals with the ramifications of cases involving escalator and elevator accidents on a daily basis for years by the time you call on him or her. Due to that fact, a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who is experienced in property liability law can properly provide expert legal representation and take much of the weight off your shoulders in coping with an elevator or escalator accident, including:
- Understanding the evidence you need to make your case and how to gather it and properly present it in making a personal injury claim. This can include inspection records, contracts between the facility’s owners and the elevator company, load testing reports, maintenance and repair history and any renovation proposals the elevator company provided to the facility;
- Having knowledge of industry practices and regulations, both nationwide and locally, and how to address different rules and laws that may hinder your claim and properly advocate the issues and laws that will lead to you receiving the justice and compensation that the law provides;
- Taking on the burden of facing off against the individual or corporation that hurt you, so that you and your family can concentrate on your health and well being;
- Helping you to deter the person or company that harmed you or a loved one from doing the same to others in the future;
- Enabling you to secure the compensation you are entitled to under the law for hospital expenses, physical therapy and rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost income if your injury prevents you from working or the incident claimed the life of your family’s breadwinner and funeral expenses.
Premises Liability Attorney for Los Angeles Escalator and Elevator Accidents
Glotzer & Leib, LLP was founded on the theory that for justice to prevail everyone needs to have an advocate on their side who they can trust and count on to work tirelessly to ensure their rights are upheld. Premises liability lawyer Josh Glotzer prides himself on being able to provide that kind of service to his clients and his case results show that his pride is not unfounded.
At Glotzer & Leib, LLP, we always put our clients first and dedicate ourselves to obtaining justice for our clients including maximizing the compensation they are entitled to along with providing them with the closure they need. Whether that involves negotiating a settlement or taking a case to trial, we will prosecute their clients’ personal injury case until their clients’ receive the justice they deserve including hold those responsible for our clients’ pain and suffering accountable.
For more information about elevator and escalator accident cases and how our firm can help you, fill out our online contact form or call us directly (747) 241-8288 to set up a free consultation with our personal injury lawyer.