If you have been injured in an elevator accident, contact Silberstein, Awad and Miklos, P.C. to discuss your case with a professional attorney.
Although they may not be as common as vehicle accidents or construction site accidents, elevator accidents happen more often than people think. In fact, it is estimated that over 12,000 people were involved in elevator accidents the last year. It also reported that elevators and escalators kill approximately 30 people per year and injure over 17,000 people.
Causes of Elevator Accidents
Elevator accidents can arise from any number of malfunctions or careless maintenance. However, the most common causes of elevator accidents are:
· Mechanical malfunction of the pulley system allowing the elevator to "free fall" down the shaft
· Improper leveling that keeps the elevator from lining up correctly with the floor
· Asphyxiation from being trapped inside an elevator too long
· Accidental electrocution due to defective wiring in the elevator
· Becoming trapped between the elevator car and side wall
· Falls resulting from an open or exposed elevator shaft
While elevators must pass state inspections before they are put into use, elevators are not subject to federal regulations or supervision like other products. This increases the potential for serious injuries to elevator passengers, as well as to maintenance providers.
Responsible Parties
Depending upon the facts of the elevator accident, many different parties can potentially be at fault and held liable in court for injuries resulting from the accident. For example, if the cause was poor maintenance, the owner or service company responsible for maintaining the elevator could be held responsible. If the elevator malfunctioned due to a product defect, the product manufacturer may be held liable.
Recoverable Damages
When elevator accidents result in injury or death, the victim and his or her family may be entitled to recoup the following damages from the responsible party:
· medical expenses
· pain and suffering
· lost wages
In order to win these damages, it must be proved that the responsible party acted negligently, or failed to act with the prudence that a reasonable person would exercise under the same circumstances to prevent the accident.
What to Do if You Have Been in an Elevator Accident
If you gave been in an elevator accident, you should first contact the police and an elevator accident lawyer immediately in order to preserve the evidence at the accident scene and discuss your legal rights. An accurate inspection of the elevator will need to be performed and photographs will need to be taken of the elevator, all of the components and the elevator’s control room. If severe injury or death has resulted from an elevator accident, qualified experts will need to be called in to investigate the scene. Depending upon the nature of the accident, these experts could include:
· An elevator engineer
· An elevator safety expert
· A building management expert
· A fire or rescue expert
Since lawsuits involving elevators are extremely technical and equipment specific, please contact an experienced elevator accident lawyer to discuss your case.
- Related Articles
- Related Q&A
- New York State Construction Accident Lawsuit Guide by Nys Lawyer
- Elevator Accidents
- Bronx Construction Accident Lawyer: Your Perfect Guide
- Choosing a New York Accident Attorney
- Has Road Rage Cause You to Get in an Accident? Contact an Accident Lawyer in New Jersey
- Manhattan Construction Accident Lawyers are There to Help You
- Unsafe Buildings
- Social Work and the Law




Surgical Errors
By: Evan Langsted | 06/07/2009Surgical errors or surgical malpractice, cause a very high number of deaths in the United States each year. A surgical error refers to the failure of a surgeon to provide an adequate standard of treatment and care for their patients, which then results in injury or death.
What are Some Common Treatments for Mesothelioma?
By: Evan Langsted | 06/07/2009Treatments for mesothelioma vary and there is far more information available than can be covered thoroughly, here. So, you are encouraged to read up on as much information as you can find as well as ask your doctor for recommendations specific to your needs, and why he recommends the treatments he does.
What A Dog Awful Day
By: catherine | 06/07/2009A goldern retriever was coated in toxic anti-vandal paint leading to his owner calling for more public awareness of mainatainace work that is completed in the open.
Ravers Told Not To Crowd Surf
By: catherine | 06/07/2009Music revellers have been warned that they should avoid crowd surfing to limit the chances of getting a whiplash injury.
Former Pupil Sues School Over Fall From Window
By: catherine | 06/07/2009A student sues her school after falling out from the window
Subtle Brain Injury
By: Evan Langsted | 06/07/2009Unfortunately, many of these injuries do not appear to be medical emergencies and are not always treated immediately, if at all. It is often the case that the symptoms of a subtle brain injury may have passed by the time the patient receives medical attention.
To Get That Whiplash Claims Today- Is Easy Now!
By: Lindsay Nolan | 04/07/2009Whiplash is an injury that occurs during a car accident. The sudden jerk of the vehicle makes your neck and head move forwards and backwards causing an extension in the neck muscles and tendons. Whiplash injury makes the victim in a lot of distress. Whiplash injuries can be claimed compensation. You can get that whiplash claims today. For this you need to contact a whiplash lawyer.
When To Hire An Injury Attorney
By: Cameron Lowe | 04/07/2009It is important to choose a quality personal injury attorney if you have suffered any type of bodily injury. It is common for a person to be unsure of where to begin the search for a qualified attorney. You are looking for a person who you know will be your ally. The right personal injury is a person who will be able to assist you with the notoriously difficult insurance companies.If you, a friend, or a family member have experienced an injury, it is extremely imp...
Don'T Loose Sleep Guessing
By: Patricia Woloch | 04/03/2009 | SleepSleep apnea affects millions of Americans and many do not know they suffer from it. Please read the following common questions about sleep apnea to help you better understand the condition and its treatments.
Premises Liability Law: Protection When You Slip And Fall
By: Patricia Woloch | 27/02/2009 | Personal InjuryPremises liability law holds property owners responsible for maintaining safe conditions on their property in order to prevent needless injuries. The majority of premises liability claims involve slip and fall accidents.
What Does Cataract Surgery Entail?
By: Patricia Woloch | 27/02/2009 | VisionRecent developments and advancements in ophthalmic technology has been a fantastic boon for patients suffering with cataracts. In the old days, surgery was usually followed by having to wear a contact and glasses so vision was mostly restored.
Injured In A Mall? You May Want A Lawyer
By: Patricia Woloch | 26/02/2009 | Personal InjuryHave you ever gone to a mall and thought, “I can’t use the elevator. It might not be safe” or “What if I go down this hall and the floor is wet”?
Personal Injury Law
By: Patricia Woloch | 23/02/2009 | Personal InjuryA personal injury refers to any physical or psychological damage caused by the negligence, recklessness or intention of another person or entity. A personal injury can devastate the victim physically, psychologically and financially. You may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages.
Spinal Cord Injury And Social Security Disability Insurance
By: Patricia Woloch | 20/02/2009 | LawSpinal cord injuries can be very traumatic. The spine is very, very sensitive and injuries to the spinal cord can vary from minor back pain to debilitating paralysis. The spine is the home to the cells that deliver the commands from the brain to the rest of the body.
Common Questions And Concerns About Botox
By: Patricia Woloch | 20/02/2009 | Plastic SurgeriesLots of people have questions about Botox Cosmetic, and often times they share similar concerns. Here are some answers to the most common questions about Botox.
Treating Cataracts With Crystalens®
By: Patricia Woloch | 20/02/2009 | VisionThe eye’s crystalline lens naturally performs “accommodation”, or automatic focusing. It does that by changing its curvature, making it steeper for close objects and flatter for far objects. As the eyes age, the lens becomes less flexible, and some accommodation is lost.