Common Causes of Elevator and Escalator Injuries
Busy cities rely on escalators and elevators to help move people swiftly and safely from one place to another. However, as much as we rely on these machines to help us keep up with our busy schedules, they can still pose a serious danger if they are not properly installed and maintained. While elevators and escalators may seem harmless due to how simple they appear, they can still cause serious and sometimes life-changing injuries.
Escalator Accidents
The most common causes of escalator accidents include:
- Improper installation, including missing parts and side panels
- Sudden stops
- Loose or missing parts, such as the metal teeth known as “comb plates”
- Inadequate maintenance
- Side entrapment involving soft shoes
Often times, the victims of escalator accidents are young children who are unaware of the dangers posed by fast moving parts. Common escalator injuries for children are those that result from clothing and body parts becoming entrapped in the sides of machine, since young ones stand closer to the sides to hold onto the railings.
The age of the victim often does not make a difference to the severity of the injuries as the sheer force of the machines can cause serious harm to any victim. Common injuries associated with escalator accidents include lacerations or even amputation.
Elevator Accidents
The mot common causes of elevator accidents include:
- Elevator falls or drops
- Improper door movements or defective safety strips on doors
- Car landing incorrectly, either above or below designated floor
- Improper design
- Improper maintenance
Modern elevators have advanced technology that prevent the cars from sudden stops and dropping from extreme heights, but that does not mean they do not happen. When they do, the consequences can be serious. More often, elevator accidents occur because the doors malfunction and close on a victim’s extremities when those sensors are supposed to open the doors with minimal effort.
Who is Responsible for Elevator and Escalator Accidents?
When an innocent person is hurt in an accident with an elevator or escalator, there may be multiple parties responsible for the injury. Some of the chief parties that may be responsible for injuries in these situations include:
- The manager of the property where the elevator or escalator is located
- The owner of the property
- The company that manufactured the escalator or elevator
- The company that is responsible for maintaining the unit
When someone suffers a catastrophic injury on an elevator or escalator, the defendants in the case will likely try their best to deny their liability in the case and defend an otherwise meritorious claim. With so much on the line against big businesses and their powerful insurance companies, victims need an experienced legal advocate on their side to compel these parties to take responsibility for their indifference to safety and compensate victims accordingly.
Escalator and Elevator Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one were seriously hurt in an accident because of someone else’s negligence, contact the escalator accident lawyers of Cash, Krugler & Fredericks for a consultation about your case. Let our experienced injury attorneys handle your case while you and your family focus on healing and recovery.
