Elevator Commercial & Residential High-rises
Millions use elevators to move up and down the buildings they either work or live. There are around 900,000 elevators in use in the United States, and New York City buildings house around 80,000 of them. Elevators can go wrong while being installed, maintained, or when in use. Many service engineers have lost their lives while handling elevator service calls.
There have been several accidents with elevator doors in past several years. Enough to trigger in January of 2015 the Consumer Product Safety Commission has been requested to stipulate safety standards for residential elevators under the Consumer Product Safety Act. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission report, each year 27 people die in elevator related accidents and around 10,000 are injured. Around 1,600 people were injured in residential elevator accidents between 2011 and 2012.
Wrongful Deaths Due to Elevator Mishaps
Elevator cabins drop down without any warning, or go up without any notice, trapping passengers especially kids in between the door and floor ceiling. Sometimes, elevator users fall into the shaft when the faulty cabin doors open when they are not supposed to open.
If you have lost your loved one in a catastrophic elevator accident, you have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the property owner for negligence and fault. You are entitled to receive compensation for damages such as lost companionship, loss of wages, and funeral expenses. Contact the experienced elevator accident attorney in New York for legal help.
Legal Remedies are Available
You have legal options to recover damages you suffer in an elevator accident in New York.
- As a worker in a commercial building/property, you can file a workers’ compensation claim if you have suffered injuries while attending to elevator maintenance jobs.
- If you have suffered injuries as a user of an elevator, you can file a premises liability claim for negligence and insufficient maintenance.
- You can file a product liability claim for defective products and components from the product manufacturer.
Elevator Safety
The Department of Buildings’ Elevator Division [www.nyc.gov] manages and supervises the NYC elevators’ use, operation and safety. The division posts a list of top elevator offenders in the city. This list is based on complaints, maintenance reports, violations, and inspection records.
- Based on the type of elevator, the elevator division organizes inspection of elevators each year.
- The inspection results are posted online through the Building Inspection System – BIS.
- A copy of the inspection certificate needs to be placed inside the elevator cabin for public attention.
Major Causes of Elevator Accidents
Elevator accidents happen due to:
- Slippery floors inside the cabin
- Elevator misalignment with floor level
- Service and maintenance issues
- Unforeseen ascend or descend of the cabin
- Electrical and electronic circuit malfunction
- Mechanical and hydraulic system malfunction
- Faulty door sensors
Call Now for Legal Support
Our New York Elevator Accident Attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff have won millions in lawsuits for our clients. Do you want to join this happy and satisfied list? We know how to win cases and that is why we are one of the most prolific and reliable law firms in the city.
You deserve the best compensation for your elevator accident injuries and possible losses. Call 212-344-1000now to speak to one of our attorneys to move forward and in the right legal direction.
