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Manhattan Man Died in an Elevator Accident

It was a typical Thursday morning on Aug. 22, 2019, when 30-year-old Samuel C. Waisbren exited the elevator lift into the lobby at the Manhattan Promenade apartment building. The lift underwent a severe malfunction and suddenly dropped, crushing Waisbren to the death between the wall and the lift-car. 

Three people were present inside the lift-car when the accident occurred. People present in the lobby were horrified by the event. Another man named Tyler Hartsfield, who was present in the same elevator and had managed to jump out of the lift before Waisbren was killed, reportedly said that he still has nightmares of the incident. 

Do You Need a Bronx, NY Elevator Accident Attorney to Pursue a Damages Claim?

Elevator Accident

Did you know there are more than 50,000 escalators and 900,000 elevators in the US?  Each elevator services an average of 20,000 people every year. The number doesn’t sound that crazy considering how much we depend on them to get to-and-from work every day. But have you stopped to consider how dangerous these seemingly safe elevators can be? Every year, nearly 30 people lose their lives in elevator-related accidents. There are dozens of different ways an elevator can malfunction and the passengers inside can get injured. Here are a few ways an elevator can cause injuries:

  • A mechanical breakdown or malfunction in the pulley system can cause the elevator to drop suddenly
  • The shaft is open and doors malfunction, causing the people to fall into the shaft
  • The elevator isn’t leveled correctly and fails to line up evenly with the floor, causing people to trip and fall while exiting or entering
  • When the elevator doors suddenly close due to a malfunction, before the people have had a chance to get out or in safely
  • Every time an elevator control malfunctions or the wiring is faulty, there is a risk of electrocution or fire.

 

Escalator Injury Laws And Right to Compensation in Brooklyn, NY

Escalator Injury

Escalators are ubiquitous in a modern society such as ours. You can find them everywhere – from airports to train stations, hotels, shopping malls, and arenas. As a result, not many people are actually aware of the risks they pose. Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that every year, at least 30 people are killed and thousands of people are injured in accidents involving escalators. Studies also show that escalator accidents are not reported to the authorities in some cases, so the actual number of fatalities and injuries could be higher. Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff law firm, based in Brooklyn, New York, has been at the forefront of defending victims of escalator accidents for nearly a century. Since 1922, we have provided legal representation to over 30,000 personal injury victims and have managed to recover over $1 billion in damages. If you have sustained injuries as a result of an escalator accident in Brooklyn or if any of your loved ones has been injured or died in an accident involving an escalator, you have the right to file a claim against the parties responsible for the accident. Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment. We offer a free consultation for our first-time clients. We have highly experienced lawyers who have successfully defended the rights of thousands of personal injury victims in Brooklyn, New York.

Potential Damages Available to Victims in Bronx, NY Elevator Accident Cases

Escalator accidents

Every day, thousands of people in Bronx, NY make use of elevators as part of their routine home, work, or leisure activities. Elevators in apartment complexes, office buildings, shopping malls, hospitals, airports, hotels, and department stores move nearly 300 million Americans every day. Riding in an elevator is so common that nobody worries about their safety when stepping in or out of it. However, mechanical mishaps and malfunctions can cause severe accidents related to elevators and escalators, affecting thousands of people every year. Accidents related to malfunctioning elevators in Bronx, NY are much more common than people realize. Every year, thousands of Americans suffer from personal injuries due to escalator and elevator accidents. In many cases, old and poorly maintained elevators cause the personal injury accidents. However, in some cases, poor design and manufacturing defects may also be responsible. Sometimes building owners also fail to address the liability issues on their premises regarding a poorly maintained elevator like abrupt stopping, door malfunctions, misleveling, or falls. When elevators suddenly stop or drop, or when cables snap, it can result in severe personal injuries and death. There have been cases where elevator doors opened while the elevator carriage itself wasn’t present or elevator doors opened suddenly when someone leaned on them. At Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff law firm, our Bronx elevator accident attorneys have been representing victims of elevator accidents since 1922. In our nearly century long experience, we have represented over 30,000 victims of personal injuries and recovered over $1 billion in compensation. In a personal injury lawsuit case like this, it’s important that the lawyer understands the elevator functions and features, the maintenance process, building codes, industry standards, and inspection regulations. Want our experienced lawyers to review your elevator accident case for free? Just pick up the phone and call us now. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn all about legal actions and types of damages available to you in an elevator accident in Bronx, NY.

What You Should Know About Elevator Accident Laws in Brooklyn, NY

Elevator Accident Laws

According to figures released by the Department of Buildings (DOB) of New York City, there are more than 4,000 freight elevators and 66,000 passenger elevators in the five boroughs of New York City alone. This data took into account all elevators located within the residential, retail, and commercial properties in New York City. Elevators play a crucial role in transporting people as well as cargo in Brooklyn and thousands of Brooklynites use them every day. However, sometimes elevators are known to malfunction, causing injury or worse, death. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 26 people lose their lives in elevator-related accidents every year in America. On average, 10,200 people suffer injuries in elevator accidents every year and the majority of these accidents are caused by some sort of malfunction in elevator doors, vulnerabilities in passenger safety guidelines, and misalignment in carriages. What causes these accidents? As per the Consumer Watch website, there are several ways an elevator can malfunction, for example, defects in elevator’s door operation, pulley systems, wiring, or poor maintenance procedures. However, property owners in Brooklyn, NY are legally responsible for taking proper care of their buildings, and thus, the elevators on the building premises. If you or someone you know has suffered injuries in an elevator accident, you may be entitled to damages if the property owner is proved to be negligent in maintaining the elevator. An attorney from the Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff law firm can evaluate the specifics of your accident and find out whether someone else was responsible for your injuries. If it turns out that someone is indeed liable, we can help you receive compensation that you deserve to cover medical bills and other losses related to your injury.

BROOKLYN: Baby Killed After Stroller Falls Down Dangerous Elevator Shaft

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK (October 16, 2016)  A baby has died in a tragic elevator accident after her stroller plunged down an elevator shaft, according to abc news. The accident happened after the doors to the elevator opened and the woman stepped through only to realize that the elevator was below. The woman and her infant […]

MANHATTAN: Jose Fernandez Killed In Freight Elevator Accident at La Reguera Dominican Store In Washington Heights

BUILDING OWNER AND/OR ELEVATOR INSTALLER MAY BE LIABLE FOR FATAL ACCIDENT MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (July 24, 2016) 

A 43-year-old employee at a Washington Heights variety store has died in a tragic freight elevator accident near 552 W. 182nd Street, according to the New York Post. Authorities have been able to identify the man that was killed in the accident as Jose Fernandez. Fernandez also by the nicknames “Morenito” and “Flaco.” The employee was loading boxes onto a lift at  La Reguera Dominican when it suddenly pulled the man upward and pinned him to the ceiling. Emergency medical workers tried to save him, but he was later pronounced dead. There was an outpouring of grief at the business as people remembered Jose Fernandez. He was remembered as an extremely good person who had been working at La Reguera Dominican after he emigrated from the Dominican Republic. People who worked at shops around the store described him as very hard working and energetic and were deeply saddened that he died. This tragic accident is the second time that a person was killed or injured in a freight elevator accident in the last year. One other person was crushed to death and another worker lost an arm in a freak accident. The building was fined $1,200 in December of 2015 according to records that are available online. A building owner next door said that the elevator was installed about 1 year ago after an auto repair shop was turned into a discount store. A department investigation revealed that the elevator was built illegally to to accommodate a new storage space on the second floor.  Building department investigators are still trying to determine what caused the lift to malfunction as Jose Fernandez was loading merchandise. It remains unclear if there was even supposed to be an elevator at that address.

What to Know About Elevator Accidents

An employer cannot always be held liable for an elevator accident. Injuries at work lead to workers’ compensation claims, but there are times that faulty construction or improper safety checks lead to elevator accidents. Injuries caused from elevator accidents cause for a third-party claim who a personal injury lawyer can help you file.

Injuries caused from elevator accidents cause for a third-party claim.

Who is at risk?

People who are usually at risk of becoming victims of elevator accidents are electrical power installers, ironworkers, roofers, and construction laborers. But, anyone who works on or near an elevator is likely to be injured in the event that the machine wasn’t installed in a careful manner or that it was not up to safety standards.