Escalator Accident Lawyer in New York City

Who Oversees Escalator Safety in NYC?

The law requires that all escalators in use in New York City must be properly installed and maintained. To ensure the safe and proper use of escalators, the Department of Buildings’ Elevator Division inspects elevators and escalators in accordance with the New York City Building Code and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers standards. Escalators must pass installation inspections as well as periodic inspections by the Department of Buildings to be legally operated. New York State, as well as other municipalities in the state, has similar laws.

What Kind of Accidents Happen around Escalators?

There are about 6,000 injuries and two deaths in escalator accidents each year in the United States, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Accidents that typically result from escalator malfunction include:

• Slip and fall accidents, particularly with elderly passengers
• Finger entrapment, particularly with children, if the handrail entry at the balustrade has an opening too large
• Comb plate entrapment
• Between-step entrapment
• Personal effects such as hair, clothing, or shoes becoming lodged in the escalator

The CPSC estimates that falls cause 75% of escalator injuries, with entrapment causing 20%, and other causes making up the remaining 5%.

What Kind of Accidents Happen Around Escalators?

Escalator accidents are typically caused by such defects as:

• Missing teeth on the escalator track
• Loose or missing screws
• Excessive space between the moving walk area (the steps) and the escalator sides
• Broken or missing steps
• General malfunction (starting, stopping, speed, etc.).

Escalator Accident Injuries

Escalator accidents may lead to:

• Broken bones from entrapment or falls
• Soft tissue injuries, including severe lacerations, tears, strains and sprains
• Joint injuries from the twisting and tearing of entrapment or in falls
• Traumatic brain injuries, which is a common result of accidental falls
• Spinal cord injuries, which may include paralysis.

Are You Due Compensation for an Escalator Accident?

It is the building owner’s responsibility to pay all inspection fees and maintain all escalators on their property. Failure to properly maintain escalators may lead to fines. If an accident has occurred because a building owner has failed to maintain an escalator or has failed to ensure it was properly installed, the owner can be held liable for damages that are due to the injured person.

Severe injuries from an escalator accident can prevent you from working and result in permanent disabilities. This includes personal injury compensation to cover the costs of:

• Hospitalization
• Medical care
• Lost income
• Home care
• Rehabilitation.

How Do You Pursue Compensation for an Escalator Injury?

Our firm will thoroughly investigate your accident and diligently seek any benefits you are due for your medical costs and other injury-related expenses. If an escalator has been inspected on a regular basis, records will indicate this fact. If it hasn’t, the lack of records will indicate this lapse.

What Evidence Can You Use in Escalator Injury Claims?

Closed-circuit cameras, which exist at many public and private locations, may have recorded your accident. Testimony by witnesses to your accident, as well as your statement and your medical records, will also add to the evidence that supports your claim. Others who frequent the office building, shopping mall, or hotel where you were hurt, may have knowledge of similar malfunctions or accidents. They may have filed complaints with building management, which would indicate knowledge of the problem.

Turn to a NYC Escalator Injury Lawyer from HKD

Our office can manage your case from start to finish. We will explain the laws pertaining to premises liability and personal injury compensation, and explain the possible outcomes of your claim. New York City injury attorneys at our firm will guide you through the claims process and help you obtain sufficient medical documentation regarding the extent of your injuries and how the accident has impacted your life.

It is important to start work on a claim without delay. New York law requires that personal injury claims be filed within a limited amount of time. Personal injury lawsuits can be complex and time-consuming to investigate. It is best to begin work on a claim as soon as possible after your accident to ensure it is not denied due to the statute of limitations.