Escalator Accidents
Escalators can be extremely dangerous if they do not function properly. Escalators that stop or start unexpectedly or run at incorrect speeds can cause users to fall and injure themselves. Other injuries can occur if the structure of an escalator has fallen into disrepair and a user becomes entangled or entrapped in some portion of the escalator.
Escalator accidents can cause lacerations, torn ligaments, broken bones, foot and knee damage, and similar injuries. A person who falls on an escalator can suffer a potentially debilitating head, brain, back, or spinal injury.
If you were injured in an escalator accident, contact a NYC premises liability lawyer with Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. to discuss your rights to compensation. You may be due compensation for your medical bills and other losses if the accident was the result of someone’s careless or negligent actions.
Contact us today at (212) 490-5700 to schedule a free, initial consultation of your case.
Let Our Escalator Injury Lawyers Help!
New York City has approximately 2,200 escalators according to the NYC Department of Buildings. Owners of retail stores, shopping malls, and office buildings are required by law to properly maintain their premises including escalators. Government entities also have a legal obligation to keep their buildings in good repair and hazard-free.
Premises liability law requires that property owners repair hazards in a timely manner and adequately warn visitors to the property when a hazard exists. The laws also holds that negligent property owners may be held responsible for visitors’ injuries if they are caused by hazards that the owner knew about or should have known about but took no steps to repair or adequately identify as a warning to visitors.
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.
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%.
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 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.
Premises Liability
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.
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.
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.
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.
Contact Our New York Escalator Accident Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been injured because of an unsafe escalator, contact Hecht Kleeger & Damashek for a free discussion of your accident and a potential claim. You may be able to obtain compensation to assist you with medical bills and other expenses related to your accident.
Hecht Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. is a skilled personal injury firm that provides seasoned legal advice regarding personal injuries caused by escalator accidents in New York City and elsewhere in New York State. We help our clients secure the financial benefits they deserve for their injuries. Contact us today at (212) 490-5700.
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CLIENT REVIEWS
05/01/2015
“I cannot recommend Jon Damashek highly enough. I attribute the favorable outcome of my case to his consummate and tireless dedication and tenacity. Just as important, he was truly there with me every step of the way. He was very…
5
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05/01/2015
“I had the opportunity to work with Jon Damashek and had an amazing experience. I have known Jon for many years and always felt very comfortable relying on his expertise, knowledge of the law, and more importantly – his ability…
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06/05/2019
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07/05/2015
I cannot recommend Jon Damashek highly enough. I attribute the favorable outcome to my case to his consummate and tireless dedication and tenacity. Just as important, he was truly there with me every step of the way. He was very…
5
Mike W., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I had the opportunity to work with Jon Damashek and had an amazing experience. I have known Jon for many years and always felt very comfortable relying on his expertise and knowledge of the law and more importantly his ability…
5
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07/05/2015
I have worked with countless attorneys over the years and Jon Damashek stands out among them. I have seen first hand him advocate for his clients vigorously. He fights for the rights of the seriously injured, does not back down…
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07/05/2015
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07/05/2015
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07/05/2015
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