Elevator accident attorney

Elevator accidents may not be as rampant to be considered as work-related or construction site accidents but this kind of accidents are more frequent than some people would think.

According to reports of Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) last 2002, more than 11,000 people have become victims of elevator accidents. Recently, it was reported there is an estimate of 30 people killed because of accidents involving elevators and escalators while over 17,000 people are injured.

Elevator accidents may be the result of several malfunctions and / or improper, insufficient maintenance. According to several cases handled by elevator accident attorneys, here are several instances that may cause an elevator accident:

• Mechanical break down or faulty pulley system which allows the elevator to fall freely down the car passage


• Unbalanced leveling which results to failure of elevator to line up as it should with the floor


• Uncovered elevator shaft which causes falls


• Getting trapped between the elevator’s car and its side wall


• Being trapped inside an elevator for a long period causes asphyxiation


• Elevator’s system with faulty wiring may cause accidental electrocution

Elevator installation and repairs are major events that trigger elevator accidents. In fact, from all construction – related jobs, installers and repair crews of elevators rank fifth regarding among the victims of work-related deaths.

Liability for elevator accidents vary depending on the particularities of one accident per se. However, there are different parties that could be legally responsible in court for accidents involving elevators. The elevator accident attorney could determine the liable party through some initial investigation.

The most significant aspect in determining liability is by discerning if a defendant acted with negligence or below the standard of what a reasonable person must do. The inadequate maintenance of an elevator may be charged to the owner, the company or department responsible for maintaining it.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer may be held responsible concerning malfunctioning elevators because of defects on its components.

In the lawsuit, it must be established that the party allegedly responsible have failed to exercise what a reasonable person would do under the same conditions in order to avoid an accident.

An expert elevator accident attorney, with considerable experience on handling elevator accident cases should be contacted immediately after incurring injuries or a loved one is killed due to an elevator accident.

The elevator accident attorney must be knowledgeable with the technicalities and specifications of elevator equipments that are much discussed during an elevator accident lawsuit. Only an experienced elevator accident attorney can handle the discussions that lead to establishing negligence or defective product claim required in elevator accident cases.

Have you been a victim of an elevator accident? Call Los Angeles lawyers right away for free case evaluation.