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Elevator Escalator Accidents

New York City Elevator & Escalator Accident Attorneys

SEEK FAIR, COMPLETE COMPENSATION FOR YOUR INJURIES

Elevators and escalators make our lives as New Yorkers easier, there’s no doubt about it. Unfortunately, they can also cause harm. When elevators and escalators are defective or negligently maintained, they can cause catastrophic injuries and even death. Elevator falls, trip and fall accidents, and other incidents can leave victims seriously injured and facing uncertain futures.

Silbowitz, Garafola, Silbowitz, Schatz & Frederick, L.L.P. has represented the interests of New York’s injured for over two decades. We have a strong reputation for success even in the most complex personal injury and wrongful death matters, including those involving escalator and elevator accidents. These cases can bring up issues involving product liability (the legal accountability of manufacturers to produce safe products) or premises liability (the legal duty of property owners to maintain reasonably safe grounds). We have extensive experience in all types of injury litigation and can address accidents caused by negligence, defective products, or property owner wrongdoing.

Elevator & Escalator Accidents

Call a New York City elevator accident lawyer at our firm at (800) 498-2782 for a free, private case evaluation. We’re accessible and ready to see how we can help you.

Types of Escalator & Elevator Accidents

Millions of people use escalators and elevators across New York City every single day. We expect that these complex machines will operate properly and will help us get where we need to go, but this does not always occur, and with tragic results.

We help victims of all types of elevator and escalator accidents in NYC and throughout the surrounding areas, including:

  • Elevator drops/falls
  • Trip and fall accidents caused by an elevator uneven with the floor
  • Escalator slip and fall or trip and fall accidents
  • Caught in moving escalator
  • Caught in elevator door
  • Elevator shaft falls

Accidents Caused by the Elevator Being Uneven with the Floor

Elevators are complex pieces of machinery that must function properly if they are to safely transport passengers from floor to floor of a building. One of their key functions is their ability to properly level with the ground when they come to a stop and the doors open. When an elevator is uneven with the floor, a person may trip and fall while entering or exiting. This can cause serious injuries.

Why Elevator Leveling Accidents Occur

A hydraulic or electric elevator may fail to level with the floor for various reasons. These may include:

  • Leveling magnet misalignment
  • Faulty leveling switch
  • Machine brake malfunction
  • Malfunctioning leveling circuit board
  • Broken components on leveling board

New York City Property Owner Liability for Elevator Leveling Injuries

In New York City, property owners are legally responsible for maintaining safe premises for their visitors. This includes any elevators on their properties. They need to ensure elevators are inspected and maintained in accordance with the appropriate regulations. If they fail to do so and an accident occurs, they can be held accountable.Elevator Drop Accidents

Elevator Drop Accidents

Improper maintenance and defective designs or elevator parts can cause serious accidents, including sudden drops. A partial or complete elevator drop can have disastrous results.

An elevator drop can cause catastrophic injuries to anyone inside. Such injuries may include:

  • Broken ankles, legs, and hips
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia)
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Internal organ damage
  • Head trauma

The distance of the fall and other factors may influence the exact type and severity of injuries, and some elevator falls may even prove fatal. If you or a loved one was injured as a result of an elevator drop, it is important to discuss your legal rights with an experienced professional.

Elevator Falls: Who Is to Blame?

The at-fault party in an elevator fall may vary depending on what caused the incident in the first place. Was it a defective elevator part? If that’s the case, the manufacturer of the elevator may be responsible. Was it negligent maintenance of the elevator? The property owner and/or the maintenance company may be to blame.

Proving Liability in a NYC Elevator or Escalator Accident Claim

When our NYC elevator injury lawyers take on a case involving an elevator that was uneven with the floor, we carefully analyze the circumstances leading to the misalignment and then the trip and fall itself. This will help us determine – and prove – fault and pursue maximum compensation.

​​​​​Our NYC personal injury attorneys thoroughly understand the numerous laws and codes that govern the inspection, maintenance, and installation of elevators and escalators throughout New York. We use our own knowledge of these matters and work with experts in engineering and elevator/escalator maintenance and installation to uncover negligence or wrongdoing. We effectively identify at-fault parties and build evidence that proves their liability, all to maximize your recovery.

Find out more about your case and your right to compensation by calling (800) 498-2782.

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