How Do Elevator Accidents Happen?
According to the National Elevator Industry, there is an estimated 900,000 elevators in the United States. And with each elevator carrying 20,000 people, that’s 18 billion passenger trips annually.
Did you take one of these 18 billion elevator trips? Probably.
And by taking just one of these trips, you exposed yourself to the possibility of a dangerous and sometimes fatal elevator accident.
Elevator and escalator accidents have a staggeringly high injury rate, according to The Center for Research and Training. While only 30 people are killed each year in elevator and escalator accidents, approximately 17,000 people suffer serious injuries.
Serious elevator injuries can be caused by:
- Elevator shaft falls
- Entrapment in the elevator door
- Entrapment between the elevator and the shaft
- Entrapment between the landing and the elevator
- Improper braking
- Sudden stops or drops
- Elevator installation and repairs
Property owners are responsible for your safety on an elevator. To ensure that you stay safe, property owners should have their elevators regularly examined, repaired and updated. Defects and failures are often the cause of elevator accidents and injuries. If you’ve suffered an elevator injury, one of these 12 malfunctions or oversights could be the cause:
- Door or brake failure
- Door-floor misalignment
- Failure to maintain, repair or remove debris
- Faulty control system, resulting in rapid acceleration or sudden stops
- Pulley or gear malfunction
- Open or exposed shaft
- Inadequate safety devices, such as door sensors that fail to detect movement
- Failure of emergency communication equipment, buzzers or alarms
- Defective springs
- Faulty wiring, creating a risk of electrocution
- Failure to periodically inspect and test
- Inadequate illumination of landings and cars.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an elevator or escalator accident, contact Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC today. Send us an email to schedule an appointment and find out about your legal options. Remember, you owe no attorney’s fee unless we win your case.