ELEVATOR ACCIDENT

Most of us take the safety and convenience of elevators for granted. The likelihood of being injured in an elevator, in fact, is much smaller than that of being injured while using stairs. But not only do elevator injuries still occur, they tend to be serious when they happen, and most of the injuries are preventable.

Defective design, manufacturing, or improper installation, maintenance or operation of an elevator can lead to a variety of accidents, including:

• “Free falls” or sudden elevator movements (often caused by pulley system malfunctions)
• Elevator doors slamming shut on someone
• Trips or falls from an elevator not lining up with the floor
• Falling down an open elevator shaft
• Becoming trapped between the side wall and the elevator car
• Electrocution (usually due to faulty wiring)
• Elevator becoming stuck between floors
• Asphyxiation from being trapped in the elevator over a prolonged period of time

It is often not clear to the victim of an elevator-related accident which person(s) or entity/entities may be responsible for his or her injuries. Specialized engineers or other technical experts may need to provide testimony for a claim to prevail. Responsible person(s) or entity/entities may include:

• The owner(s) of the building in which the elevator is located
• The elevator maintenance company outsourced to inspect or repair the elevator
• Designers and/or manufacturers of the elevator
• The company hired to install the elevator
• Attendants, programmers, or others charged with operating the elevator

Elevators must pass State inspections before the general public can use them. But elevator safety code inspections and regulations vary from state to state, and those responsible are not subject to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requirements or other Federal agency regulations.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an elevator-related accident, it likely in your interest to contact an attorney who specializes in elevator accident-related lawsuits in the state where the accident occurred. It may also be best to contact such an attorney as soon as possible in order to preserve any evidence and maximize the compensation you may be entitled to.