Escalators and elevators help transport people between floors of buildings that they may otherwise not be able to reach or would have more difficulty reaching via stairs. With the baby boomer generation advancing and more of the American population becoming obese, elevators and escalators receive more use than ever before. Elevators and escalators are commonly utilized in residential and commercial buildings, such as private residences, schools, malls, hotels and office buildings.
To many people who experience the safe use of elevators and escalators, statistics noting the danger associated with both mechanisms may be shocking. Annually, elevators and escalators are involved in 30 deadly incidents and 17,000 seriously injurious accidents in the United States, according to data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The leading victims of elevator or escalator accidents are workers who are involved in installing, repairing and maintaining the mechanisms. Often these people suffer from injuries or death resulting from
- Falls into the elevator shaft
- Being caught between moving parts of elevators/escalators
- Elevator platforms that collapse
- Being struck by elevators or counterweights
Who is responsible for accidents?
An accident involving an escalator or elevator can result from negligence on the part of
- Property owners
- Elevator/escalator maintenance and service companies
- Inspection companies
- Equipment manufacturers
Elevators and escalators must be maintained by experienced and trained professionals. Too often apartment complexes, office buildings and malls try to save money by utilizing a general “handyman” to perform maintenance on these complex machines. This creates a dangerous situation and can contribute to accidents involving the handyman or users of the devices. This negligent and irresponsible behavior on the part of the building owner or manager is unacceptable, and victims of such elevators or escalators have a right to compensation for what could have been preventable injuries.
Contact an Elevator/Escalator Lawyer
If you or someone you know has experienced an accident involving an elevator or escalator, contact the attorneys at Fried Rogers Goldberg today for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options. You can also view our verdicts and case results by clicking here.