Escalators are commonly used in New York businesses, hospitals, retail stores, and many other locations. Escalator accidents can cause devastating injuries, often resulting from the property owner’s negligence. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and bone fractures are some of the injuries that can result from an escalator accident.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an escalator accident, you need a legal team with the experience and dedication to help you pursue compensation. At Dell & Dean, PLLC, our personal injury attorneys are well-versed in handling escalator accident cases. We will handle every aspect of your case, from investigating the causes of the accident to seeking the maximum compensation possible.
Common Causes of Escalator Accidents
Most escalator accidents occur when a property owner fails to inspect and maintain an escalator. Even a minor malfunction of an escalator can cause fatal injuries. The personal injury attorneys at Dell & Dean, PLLC, have the resources and professional network needed to investigate the cause of your injuries carefully.
During our investigation, we will identify the party or parties at fault for the escalator accident that caused your injuries. Some of the most common causes of escalator accidents include the following:
- Loose or missing screws or other components
- Comb plate defects
- Broken or unstable handrails
- A dangerous gap between the sides of the escalator and the stairs
- Inadequate signage warning about falling down the escalator shaft
- Improper installation of the escalator
- Electrocution caused by faulty wiring
- Failure to regularly inspect and maintain the escalator
- Failure to make necessary repairs
- Failure to fix worn-out or defective parts
- Rapid changes in the direction of the escalator
- Rapid stoppage of the escalator without warning
- Victims tripping or slipping when entering or exiting the escalator
- Falling over the escalator handrail
- Becoming stuck or entangled in the escalator
Escalator Accidents Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries
Escalator accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, from relatively minor sprains and strains to life-threatening internal organ damage. Electrical malfunctions leading to electrocution can cause devastating injuries and even death. Individuals with disabilities, children, and seniors are particularly at risk of serious injury or death in escalator accidents.
According to a study conducted by the Center for Construction Research and Training, elevator and escalator accidents cause approximately 30 deaths and over 17,000 injuries per year in the United States. Many deaths caused by escalator accidents happen when someone falls over or into the escalator. Blunt force trauma to a person’s head and body can cause devastating internal organ damage and bleeding. Victims can also suffer burn injuries caused by electrocution.
Holding Negligent Property Owners Accountable in New York
Under New York law, property owners have a legal obligation to keep their properties reasonably safe for their guests and customers. As a result, building owners and managers have a duty to maintain their escalators and make sure they’re safe for public use. When escalators are unsafe, property owners should use caution tape and signage to warn guests and deter them from using them. Property owners may attempt to save money by avoiding regular maintenance or putting off necessary repairs.
When victims are injured or killed due to a property owner’s failure to maintain their escalators, they or their loved ones have the right to seek compensation in civil court through a personal injury lawsuit. Similarly, when an escalator maintenance company negligently repairs an escalator or fails to notify the property owner of its defects, victims can hold them accountable for their injuries.
Holding Negligent Manufacturers Accountable for Escalator Injuries
Just as property owners must keep their promises reasonably safe, product manufacturers must ensure their products are safe for consumers. Victims can pursue compensation from the responsible manufacturer or retailer when an escalator accident happens because of a poorly designed escalator or a manufacturing defect or malfunction. Dell & Dean, PLLC will work with accident reconstruction specialists and other experts to identify all liable parties and begin negotiating a full and fair settlement for your injuries.
Maximizing Your Injury Compensation
Premises liability accidents, including escalator accidents, can cause life-altering injuries and significant medical expenses. If you become injured in an escalator accident, you could face hundreds of thousands of medical expenses in your lifetime. The cost of surgery, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and in-home health care can be daunting. When escalator accidents cause disabilities, victims may not be able to return to work, and they earn an income for themselves and their family members.
Pursuing a claim through the property owner’s insurance policy or a personal injury lawsuit can help victims and their family members move forward financially. At Dell & Dean, PLLC, we are dedicated to maximizing our clients’ compensation. We work with financial experts to carefully estimate our clients’ current and future damages. In New York, victims of escalator accidents can pursue the following types of damages caused by their injuries:
- Hospital and surgical costs
- in-home health care and prescription medication
- Durable medical equipment and adaptive automobile equipment
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and Rehabilitation programs
- Loss of income while recovering from injuries
- Reduced earning capacity due to disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent or temporary disability
- Disfigurement
Contact Our Experienced Escalator Accident Attorneys in Long Island & New York
Victims of escalator accident injuries in New York have the right to pursue damages through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Recovering compensation after an escalator accident can be challenging without the help of an experienced attorney. After you receive medical treatment, speaking to an attorney can be beneficial. Don’t hesitate to contact the experienced dental injury attorneys at Dell & Dean, PLLC. We represent clients in Long Island and throughout New York.
Dell & Dean, PLLC, represents clients throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, and Garden City on Long Island, as well as the boroughs of New York: Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan, and the Bronx.
