If you were injured in an elevator accident in Queens, the Bronx, or anywhere in New York City, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the damages you have suffered as a result, including medical bills, lost wages, and emotional damages. These cases often involve another party’s negligence, including property owners, landlords, property managers, and maintenance companies. These accidents can lead to significant injuries, which is why injured parties can pursue legal action against the negligent party to recover compensation. Continue reading below to learn more and contact an experienced New York personal injury attorney for help with your case.
What Causes Elevator Accidents in New York?
Elevator accidents in New York City are generally the result of mechanical defects, inadequate maintenance, or design issues. Because elevators involve complex machinery with a number of moving parts, even seemingly minor issues can result in serious risk, especially in high-traffic buildings, which are common throughout the five boroughs.
In New York City, elevator safety is regulated by the NYC Department of Buildings, which imposes strict regulatory and inspection requirements across all five boroughs.
Common Causes of Elevator Accidents
- Mechanical breakdowns as a result of worn or old parts
- Control system malfunctions
- Leveling issues, in which the elevator is not aligned with the floor, it stops on
- Abrupt stops or sudden falls
- Negligent design or manufacturing defects
- Failure to adequately inspect or maintain equipment
- Door operation issues leading to entrapment and crush injuries
- Faulty wiring, resulting in electrical injuries
What Are Common Types of Elevator Accidents in NYC?
There are many different ways that an elevator accident can happen in New York. Understanding the different types of accidents is imperative to determining liability and who is ultimately responsible for the injuries and damages you have suffered as a result.
Types of Elevator Accidents
- Electrocutions due to faulty wiring
- Tripping due to uneven or unbalanced leveling with the floor
- Falling down the elevator shafts
- Getting caught between malfunctioning doors
- Being whipped around due to excessive elevator speed
- Elevator fires
What Injuries Are Common in Elevator Accidents in NYC?
Due to their serious nature, elevator accidents in New York can result in a wide range of injuries, from minor to catastrophic, depending on the severity of the accident and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Common Elevator Accident Injuries
- Lacerations and contusions
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Severed limbs
- Wrongful death, in catastrophic incidents
Can I Recover Compensation?
Elevator accidents can cause severe injuries to the people who use them. This can include cuts and bruises, crush injuries, back/neck injuries, head trauma, severed limbs, broken bones, and even wrongful death. That is why injured parties can pursue legal action to recover compensation for their suffering.
It is important to note that, during this time, they are required to identify the negligent party. This can vary depending on the circumstances of the case. They may face a premises liability case if a property owner is negligent, or a product liability case if the elevator manufacturer was negligent.
Under New York personal injury law, most claims, including elevator accidents, must be filed within three years from the date of the injury. However, shorter timelines may impact claims filed against government agencies and other municipalities.
Who Can Face Liability?
- Property owners
- Property managers
- Elevator maintenance and inspection companies
- Manufacturers
- Parts distributors
- Contractors and third parties are responsible for repairs
What Compensation Can Victims Recover?
- Medical expenses, including future care
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Permanent disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages for the surviving family
How Do I Prove Negligence in a New York City Elevator Accident Case?
To be successful in recovering compensation in a personal injury case in Queens, the Bronx, or anywhere in the City, the injured party must prove that the negligent party’s behavior directly caused their injuries. As such, if you are injured as a result of another entity’s negligent actions, it’s important to take the correct steps after the accident to gather evidence to help support your case.
Key Evidence in an Elevator Accident Claim
- Security camera footage of the accident
- Witness statements corroborating the account of the incident
- Police or incident reports
- Photos and videos of the hazard
- Maintenance records and prior complaints made to the building owner or manager
- Inspection logs
- Medical documentation linking injuries to the accident
Contact Our New York City Personal Injury Firm
The Law Offices of George Poulos is an experienced Workers’ Compensation, personal injury, and Social Security Disability law firm with offices in Queens and the Bronx. We understand the implications of a serious accident, which is why we take pride in tenaciously representing our clients. If you require strong legal representation, contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation.