Every year, more than 17,000 elevator accidents happen in the U.S. and nearly 30 people die from them. Elevator and escalator accidents often occur when they’re being installed or repaired, harming workers, but they may also injure passengers.

These accidents happen everywhere they’re installed, including malls, hospitals, hotels, office buildings, schools, and airports. Many elevator accidents also occur on construction sites when workers travel from floor to floor using manually–operated hoists. New York State has certain laws to protect workers in those situations.

Elevator injuries can happen when:

• Someone falls down an elevator shaft

• Something malfunctions, such as a sensor or an elevator car, that causes misalignment with a floor (misleveling)

• Safety personnel cause injuries during a rescue from a stalled elevator

• An elevator door slams shut on someone

Improper servicing or installation causes many elevator and escalator accidents. A major factor in proving these injury claims are the many New York elevator laws and codes that control the installation, inspection, and maintenance of this machinery to prevent violations.

For a successful elevator or escalator injury claim, it’s necessary to prove the devices caused your injuries and to find out who is at-fault. If you think you have a claim, call Scott Baron & Associates at (866) WAS-HURT now or contact us online.

How We Help Victims of Elevator and Escalator Accidents

Legal responsibility for elevator and escalator injuries may lie with the owner, installer, the manufacturer, or the maintenance contractor.

Inspection and maintenance contractors are on the front lines of elevator and escalator safety. They have a duty to ensure they work properly to prevent hazards.

In larger buildings, the owner often contracts out elevator maintenance to a company that works on-site to maintain them for safety. A major cause of these accidents is improper maintenance. Building owners who don’t hire on-site inspectors by law must use properly trained professionals to inspect, maintain, and repair the elevators regularly. If they don’t, tragedy can result.

When we gather evidence for an elevator injury claim, we look for such proof as the following:

• Security video

• Maintenance records (including inspections and test cycles) and contractsCorrespondence between the building owner and elevator company

• Invoices

• Disability

• Work estimates

• Insurance policies

Scott Baron and Associates has worked hard on behalf of many elevator and escalator accident victims to resolve their cases successfully. We are ready to use our knowledge and experience to help you understand your options, file your claim, and pursue the highest compensation possible.

Your Legal Rights

You have a right to expect elevators and escalators to be properly designed, installed, and maintained. The complex factors involved in these cases make a prompt and effective investigation critical to win a case. There is no substitute for expertise when it comes to recovering damages for injuries sustained in an elevator or escalator accident.

If you or a loved one have been harmed in an elevator or escalator accident, you may have a claim. Scott Baron & Associates will help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation by settlement or jury verdict. Call (866) WAS-HURT or contact us online today for a free consultation.

24/7 emergency response when available.