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New York Elevator Accidents
An elevator accident may seem like a rare occurrence, but according to the most recent data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), elevator and escalator incidents seriously injure around 17,000 people in the U.S. each year. New York City poses an even greater risk because it has 70,000 elevators and escalators, the most of any U.S. city. In August 2019, Samuel Waisbren was crushed to death by a malfunctioning elevator in his Manhattan apartment building. In 2016, Stephen Hewett-Brown was killed by a faulty elevator on the Lower East Side. In 2011, Suzanne Hart was fatally dragged and pinned by an elevator in a Midtown office building. According to New York City’s Department of Buildings, from 2010 to 2018, there were 500 elevator-related accidents in the city, causing 48 serious injuries and 22 deaths. In short: New York elevator injuries are common, and they can be severe. If you were injured in an elevator or escalator accident, you may be able to recover significant financial compensation.
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Causes of New York Elevator Accidents
In many New York elevator mishaps, passengers had complained about shaky or unreliable elevators, and a building manager or owner subsequently ignored them. Sadly, these incidents are often preventable, arising from one of the following causes:
- Poor maintenance
- Lack of inspections
- Lack of barriers to prevent falls down shafts
- Inadequate training for onsite workers
- Elevators operational while out of service/undergoing repairs
Types of New York Elevator Accidents
Here are some of the most common elevator and escalator incidents that cause serious injury or death:
- Falling down an elevator shaft or off an escalator
- Getting caught, pinned, and/or crushed by a moving elevator
- Being struck by an elevator or counterweight
- Elevator or elevator platform collapse
New York Elevator Accident Injuries
Elevator-related injuries can be gruesome, even fatal. These are some of the most common injuries that occur in these cases:
- Broken bones
- Ligament damage
- Head injury/concussion
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputated limbs
- Death
Proving Negligence
If you were injured in an elevator or escalator accident and believe that the machine’s operator, manufacturer, or another party was at fault, you might be wondering how to go about proving it. “Negligence” is the legal term for liability or responsibility in an accident. Proving liability generally involves satisfying the following criteria:
- The other party owed you a duty of care. They were responsible for operating the elevator in a safe manner, and they failed to do so.
- They breached their duty. The other party breached their legal obligation to avoid harming you.
- Their breach caused the accident. The other party’s actions were responsible for the accident, making them legally liable.
- There were losses suffered as a result. The other party’s actions caused you injury (physical or emotional) and/or property damage.
Potential Damages
If you or a loved one were injured in a New York elevator accident, you may be able to hire one of our elevator injury lawyers to seek compensation for:
- Lost wages or loss of earning capacity
- Past and future medical bills
- Emotional distress
- Physical therapy
- Loss of life’s enjoyment
- Funeral expenses
Speak to a New York Elevator Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a New York elevator or escalator accident, contact an elevator injury lawyer at Morgan & Morgan. Our highly skilled attorneys can review the facts of your case to determine liability for your injury and help you collect financial compensation during this difficult time. To date, we have recovered more than $15 billion for our clients. Best of all, we work on a contingency fee basis, so there’s no cost to get started, and we get paid only if you win. To learn more, schedule a free case evaluation now.