Top Ranked Erie, Pennsylvania, Elevator Accident Injury Lawyers

Jed Dietrich, Esq. is Committed to Defending the Rights of Anyone Who Has Been Injured in a Defective, Faulty, or Improperly Manufactured Elevator Accident.

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Few people think twice before stepping into an elevator. While many Americans feel uncomfortable in closed spaces, we typically trust that elevators are rigorously tested and regularly maintained. However, even though elevator accidents are relatively rare, a surprising number of people suffer elevator-related injuries each year. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, thousands of people are injured in and by elevators annually. Compared to accidents involving escalators and other automated people-moving machines, elevator-related accidents are disproportionately likely to culminate in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening injuries. Even for financially stable victims, the costs of a broken bone, amputated limb, or traumatic brain injury can be devastating, sufficient to push entire families to the brink of bankruptcy.

Fortunately, you do not have to accept crippling medical debt and a lifetime of lost income. Under Pennsylvania law, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent landlord, irresponsible business owner, or defective device manufacturer who caused your injuries. Since the Keystone State does not cap the damages available to most personal injury plaintiffs, you could receive the compensation you need to begin reclaiming your independence.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. is committed to providing the victims of elevator accidents with unparalleled personal injury service. Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s experienced team of attorneys has helped our clients secure more than $175 million in damages. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. knows what it takes to hold a wrongdoer accountable for misconduct. Please send us a message online or call us at 814-839-3939 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.

Understanding Elevator Mechanics and Maintenance Laws

Human-powered elevators have been used since time immemorial. However, modern passenger elevators are a relatively recent invention. Since the first passenger elevators were installed in New York and Chicago high-rise buildings in the late 19^th century, technology has progressed at an incredible rate. While early elevators could scarcely travel at rates of forty feet per minute, today’s elevators can travel at speeds exceeding forty feet per second. Despite significant advances in engineering, elevator systems are usually comprised of a small handful of critical components, including the following:

1. One or more passenger cars that can move up and down;
2. Counterweights that keep passenger cars balanced;
3. An electric or mechanical motor;
4. A braking system;
5. Metal cables and pulleys;
6. Safety systems designed to prevent accidents; and
7. Electronic control systems that let passengers travel to different floors in the most efficient manner.

Pennsylvania law requires that most electrical and hydraulic elevators be inspected at regular intervals of either six or twelve months. Elevator inspections are mandatory for new elevator installations and existing elevators. A typical elevator inspection assesses the safety of the following components:

1. The elevator shaftway, including its length, strength, and fireproofing;
2. The elevator shaftway’s safety measures, such as its buffers and buffer support system;
3. The elevator doors, their opening and closing mechanisms, and their automatic locking system;
4. The elevator machinery; and
5. The elevator system’s safety controls.

Although regular elevator inspections play a critical role in reducing incidences of elevator-related accidents and injuries, the months-long interval between inspections increases the chance that a minor defect, or the effects of irregular maintenance, could compromise the entire system’s safety.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an Erie, Pennsylvania, elevator accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to significant compensation. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you evaluate your damages, investigate the property owner, landlord, or elevator manufacturing company, and file a personal injury lawsuit for damages. Please call us at 814-839-3939 to speak to a legal professional and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Common Causes of Elevator Accidents and Injuries

While elevator systems are not very mechanically complex, the failure of one or more critical components could jeopardize the entire system’s safety. The most common elevator malfunctions that cause accidents include, but are not limited to:

1. Faulty doors;
2. Faulty wiring;
3. Pulley system failures;
4. Improper repairs; and
5. Inadequate system maintenance.

Since many elevator-related injuries relate to unexpected drops and door closures, accident victims could sustain serious impact injuries and crushing injuries, such as:

1. Broken or fractured bones;
2. Crushed bones;
3. Neck and spine injuries;
4. Traumatic brain injuries;
5. Whiplash;
6. Partial amputation;
7. Whole amputation;
8. Disfigurement;
9. Decapitation; and
10. Wrongful death.

Pennsylvania does not limit the damages available to most personal injury plaintiffs. However, the Coal State has a strict statute of limitations, a special type of law restricting how long accident victims have to file a claim for recompense. If you wait too long to contact an attorney, critical evidence could be lost, and the court may dismiss your claim without further consideration.

Liability After a Pennsylvania Elevator Accident

Pennsylvania law requires that property owners maintain premises safe from obvious hazards and reasonably foreseeable dangers. Similarly, the state expects that product manufacturers perform due diligence when designing, testing, and selling devices for consumer use. When property owners and product manufacturers fail to ensure that consumers, employees, and the general public remain safe from harm, they could be held accountable for any resulting damages.

However, big businesses often have their own team of lawyers—lawyers who do everything in their power to push back against personal injury claims. Even if the property owner or elevator manufacturer does not have their own dedicated counsel, their insurance company almost certainly will. In order to make a successful claim for recovery, you will need to establish the following common elements of a personal injury claim or a product liability claim:

1. The defendant owed you a duty of care;
2. The defendant breached their duty of care, whether by designing a defective product or by failing to ensure their premises were safe from a hazardous condition;
3. The defendant’s negligence caused your injuries; and
4. You suffered damages that the court could compensate.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades aggressively advocating for the rights of accident victims across the region. We know what it takes to build a compelling, evidence-based claim for compensation. Our experienced team of attorneys could help you collect, assess, and analyze the evidence needed to show that a landlord, property owner, or elevator manufacturer’s negligence caused your elevator accident injuries. Please send us a message online or call us at 814-839-3939 to discuss your options for rapid legal relief.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 814-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Erie, Pennsylvania. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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