Elevator and Escalator Accident

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and His Team of Aggressive, Tenacious and Hardworking Buffalo, New York Personal Injury Attorneys at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Will Fight to Attempt to Obtain the Best Result for People Injured in Elevator and Escalator Accidents.

Many of us in Western New York depend on elevators and escalators every day in order to conveniently travel from one floor to another in office buildings, apartment buildings, hospitals, shopping malls, sports stadiums and many other places. In fact, we use them so frequently that we rarely consider their associated safety risks. Unfortunately, accidents involving elevators and escalators are much more common than most of us realize.

When it comes to elevators and escalators, defects, malfunctions and proper maintenance requirements that are overlooked, ignored or improperly taken care of, can lead to terrible accidents. Accident victims usually have no idea that an elevator or escalator is defective, until it is too late. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, incidents involving elevators and escalators kill about 30 and seriously injure about 17,000 people in the United States, every year.

Elevator and escalator accident victims want to have the best personal injury lawyer in Buffalo, New York in their corner. Since 1999, Jed Dietrich, Esq., recognized as a Best Lawyer of America, has exclusively handled serious personal injury cases for people who were injured by someone else’s negligence. At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., our team of elevator and escalator injury lawyers in Buffalo, New York understand how to properly and aggressively pursue elevator and escalator injury claims in order to get the best possible results for our clients.

Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his highly experienced, top rated and elite team of Buffalo, New York elevator and escalator accident attorneys over $175,000,000.00 in verdicts and settlements. Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., recognized as a Best Law Firm of America, TODAY at 716-839-3939 for your free consultation. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we win for you!

There are a number of ways elevator accidents may occur. Some of the most frequent types of elevator accidents occur as a result of:

1. Abrupt drops, often caused by pulley system malfunctions that cause the elevator to fall;
2. Becoming trapped in an elevator;
3. Electric shock or electrocution caused by malfunctioning control panels or faulty wiring;
4. Elevator doors opening too soon or failing to close at all;
5. Elevator doors closing on a person;
6. Failure to regularly and properly inspect, maintain and repair the elevator;
7. Improper elevator design, manufacturing or installation; and
8. Unbalanced, misaligned or unlevel elevators, not level with the floor.

The constant motion of escalators, only increases the likelihood of accidents and injuries occurring. Some of the most frequent types of escalator accidents include:

1. Falling down or off of the escalator because it abruptly stopped, shifted or sped up;
2. Lacerations caused by escalator panels that were repaired or replaced incorrectly;
3. Fingers, hands, clothing, jewelry or footwear getting caught or snagged in large openings near moving parts of the escalator;
4. Passengers getting their feet caught in between the moving steps and the stationary floor plate;
5. Slip and fall accidents;
6. Tripping hazards and missing or broken steps and/or teeth on the escalator track; and
7. Unsafe and improperly barricaded spaces surrounding the escalator and its moving parts.

If you, or a loved one, were seriously injured in an elevator or escalator accident, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and the team at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at 716-839-3939. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we WIN for you! Jed Dietrich, Esq., recognized as a New York Super Lawyer, and his team of highly experienced Buffalo, New York elevator and escalator accident injury attorneys will fight to obtain the best result for YOU!

The severity of injuries suffered in elevator and escalator mishaps greatly depends on the type of accident. Nevertheless, both elevator and escalator accidents can cause severe bodily harm, some of the most frequently occurring injuries include:

1. Back and neck injuries;
2. Concussions;
3. Contusions and lacerations;
4. Crushed limbs, hands, feet or digits;
5. Death;
6. Electrocution or electric shock;
7. Fractured or broken bones;
8. Muscle and soft tissue damage;
9. Tearing injures; and
10. Traumatic brain injuries.

If you, or a loved one, were seriously injured in an elevator or escalator accident in Buffalo, New York; Rochester, New York; Niagara Falls, New York or throughout New York State, you want the best Buffalo, New York personal injury lawyer to handle your claim. Jed Dietrich, Esq. is dedicated to providing the highest level of personal injury service to the people of Western New York and always strives to get his clients the best results possible. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. will treat you with respect and compassion and help you get through this difficult time. Do not delay, contact us today at 716-839-3939.

All property owners are legally obligated to maintain their premises, which includes the elevators and escalators inside of their buildings. Under New York law, all building owners are legally obligated to make certain that their premises are reasonably safe for all visitors, residents, patrons and employees. This includes properly maintaining elevators and escalators, inspecting them on a regular basis and repairing them properly, in a timely manner.

When there is an issue with an elevator or escalator that makes its use dangerous, the property owner is required to shut it down and warn others that it is not to be used. Although property owners are required to meet such obligations, they may not always be the sole party responsible for your accident. The company that maintains, inspects, services or repairs the elevator or escalator, where you had the accident, may also be held liable for your injuries and other damages. Further, liability may also fall to the manufacturer of the elevator or escalator or the company responsible for its installation.

Once the responsible party is determined, accident victims may be able to hold the responsible party liable through a personal injury lawsuit. In order to establish that a party is legally responsible for your injuries due to negligence, you must be able to demonstrate the following:

1. That the responsible party owed you a reasonable duty of care;
2. That the responsible party breached their reasonable duty of care, through either a negligent or careless act or failure to act;
3. That your injury was proximately caused by the breach of duty; and
4. That you suffered actual damages resulting from your injuries.

The type of legal claim you may be able to file after an accident greatly depends on who or what caused the accident and resulting injuries. If you, or a loved one, sustained injuries in an elevator or escalator accident, it is important to consult with a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney, like Jed Dietrich, Esq. You may not know the exact cause of your accident and whether or not it resulted from someone else’s carelessness, negligence, recklessness or intentional wrongdoing, but we will investigate your accident, analyze and determine fault and liability and carefully explain all of your legal options.

While every case is unique, you may be able to recover damages for expenses such as replacing damaged property, past and future medical costs, disfigurement, physical impairment, present and future lost wages, emotional distress, loss of consortium and pain and suffering. Our goal in every case is to attempt to obtain the maximum compensation from all responsible parties.

If you, or a loved one, suffered a serious injury in an elevator or escalator accident, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top rated team of Buffalo, New York elevator and escalator accident attorneys at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. for a free consultation. Our team is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, at 716-839-3939 or by filling out the online consultation form. We are the aggressive, tenacious and hardworking Buffalo, New York personal injury lawyers who are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve!

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

---