People who use elevators usually trust the machine will be safe and not put them in danger. While this is usually the case, there are incidents in which they become defective and an accident happens. This may be the result of another party’s negligence if they do not properly produce or maintain the machine. 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 are Common Types of Elevator Accidents?
There are many different ways that an elevator accident can happen in New York. Common causes of accidents can include:
- Electrocutions due to faulty wiring
- Tripping due to uneven or unbalanced leveling with the floor
- Falling down the elevator shafts
- Getting caught in between malfunctioning doors
- Being whipped around due to excessive elevator speed
- Elevator fires
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.
In order to be successful in recovering compensation in a personal injury case, the injured party must prove the negligent party’s behavior directly caused their injuries. This is possible with evidence such as security camera footage, witness statements, police reports, pictures of the safety hazard, medical documentation of the injuries you sustained, and more.
Contact our 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.
