Basketball Fans Injured After Escalator Malfunction at Arena
Multiple sports fans were recently injured after an escalator malfunction at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The accident took place as fans exited the area after viewing the University of Louisville women’s basketball team defeat University of Connecticut. The incident marred what was the largest crowd in attendance at a women’s college basketball game this season.
According to reports, the malfunctioning escalator that connects the main arena floor with the top level of the venue began moving quickly, and a video posted online shows people bunched together at the exit. As a result, fans on the escalator were forced into those at the bottom of the platform, causing some caught up in the commotion to fall and be trampled on. Social media users also reported that one fan jumped off the side of the escalator as it sped up and was able to hit the emergency stop button to shut down the machine.
The cause of the malfunction remains unclear, but the area’s operators released a statement saying management would investigate the issue and the escalator will be inspected by Kentucky’s escalator inspector and serviced by both the venue’s engineering team and escalator service provider. It remains unclear if the escalator will be serviced and running in time for other events scheduled to take place at the 22,000-seat arena.
Fortunately for the victims involved in the accident, initial reports indicate that there were no serious injuries. The outcome could have been much worse had the scenario been different and one of the fans was not able to shut down the escalator as quickly as he did. While many escalator riders may consider them to be benign, the truth is that these are powerful machines capable of causing potentially catastrophic injuries if they malfunction.
Often times, escalator injuries occur because property owners and maintenance companies fail to perform the necessary repairs to keep these machines in safe, workable order and comply with applicable state safety laws. In some cases, the design of the escalator may be inherently flawed, with the manufacturer intentionally or negligently placing a dangerous machine into the stream of commerce, posing serious danger to unsuspecting patrons.
When escalator accidents occur due to the negligence of another party, the law gives victims the right to file personal injury lawsuits against the responsible parties and recover fair compensation for the harm sustained. By filing an escalator injury lawsuit, victims can recover compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any resulting disability that may hamper their earning potential and lifestyle.
Escalator Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one was seriously hurt in an escalator accident because of someone else’s negligence, contact the experienced personal injury lawyers of Cash Krugler & Fredericks for a consultation. You pay no attorneys’ fees unless we are successful in resolving your claim.
