Our elevator accident lawyers help people who have been injured in elevator-related accidents. The harsh reality is that approximately 17,000 people in the U.S. get injured in elevator accidents every year. You and your family members deserve fair compensation for your injuries.
Several different scenarios can cause an elevator-related accident. For example, you can fall down elevator shafts, get caught in between elevator doors, or suffer injuries when an elevator platform collapses. Common injuries in these cases include head injuries, back injuries, and broken bones.
A personal injury attorney can file an elevator accident lawsuit on your behalf. These suits are typically based on any of the following legal theories:
- negligence,
- products liability (in cases involving faulty elevators), and
- premises liability (in cases where property owners are responsible for an elevator injury).
In addition to filing a lawsuit, elevator accident lawyers help you by:
- managing your ongoing medical care and treatment,
- gathering evidence to uncover all liable parties, and
- filing personal injury claims with the insurance companies of at-fault parties.
The Shouse Law Group is a personal injury law firm that represents people in elevator accident cases. Our experienced attorneys work tirelessly and seek to get you the biggest settlement possible. Contact our law firm today to get the legal representation you deserve.
What are common causes of elevator accidents and common injuries?
Unfortunately, elevator accident cases occur quite frequently across the U.S. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 17,000 people in the U.S. suffer elevator accident injuries every year.1 Elevator accidents also lead to about 30 fatalities annually.2
Common types of elevator accidents include:
- falling down elevator shafts,
- elevator or elevator platforms collapsing,
- getting caught in or between moving elevator doors or parts,
- getting hurt by an elevator because of poor or inadequate elevator maintenance, and
- injured by mis-leveling (which occurs when an elevator car is not aligned with the floor of a building).
Elevator accident cases can result in serious injuries. Common elevator accident injuries include:
- head and brain injury,
- amputated limbs,
- back and spinal injury,
- broken bones, and
- lacerations.
Who are common defendants in these cases?
If you are injured in an elevator accident, you typically file an injury lawsuit against one or more of the following parties:
- elevator manufacturers,
- property owners (in premises liability cases),
- building owners (especially owners of office buildings),
- a property maintenance company,
- a property management company,
- individual construction workers, and
- elevator operators.
You usually have to prove that one of these parties was negligent in order to receive a payout in these cases. People or entities are “negligent” when they fail to act the way a reasonably careful person or entity would in the same situation.
If successful in bringing a suit or claim, you can receive financial compensation for:
- medical bills and medical expenses,
- lost wages,
- lost earning capacity,
- property damage, and
- pain and suffering.
If someone was killed in an elevator accident, their family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party that caused the incident. Damages can include (but are not limited to):
- burial and funeral expenses,
- amounts the deceased would have earned as income, and
- compensation for the loss of the deceased’s companionship and support.
What is the role of personal injury attorneys in elevator accident cases?
Attorneys play a huge role in cases involving elevator accidents and injuries.
For example, they interview you to learn the facts of your case and their medical needs. Lawyers can help you receive immediate medical attention, and they can assist in managing your ongoing medical care and treatment.
Further, a personal injury lawyer can help you gather evidence of poor elevator safety or negligent elevator operation. If necessary, an attorney can appoint experts to help in understanding this evidence or explaining it to a judge or jury.
When insurance companies are involved, an attorney can file your personal injury claim with the insurer and negotiate the claim with the applicable insurance adjuster.
If you were hurt by an elevator while at work, elevator accident attorneys can help you file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ comp benefits include compensation for medical expenses and lost wages.
Finally, lawyers can file lawsuits in personal injury cases and work to receive favorable verdicts on your behalf.
What is the benefit of an elevator attorney?
Lawyers in elevator accident cases help you maximize your compensation.
They know how much a specific case is worth. This means they can hold liable parties to pay their fair share of your damages.
Experienced attorneys are also skilled in finding hidden value within a case. They can then help you receive the largest settlement possible.
Note, too, that a lawyer manages a case from the first moment they take it on. This allows you to focus on your health and healing.
Most injury attorneys provide free case reviews and case evaluations. As a result, you can learn your legal options without spending a dime.
Also keep in mind that any communications with a lawyer are protected by the attorney-client relationship. A lawyer cannot disclose your information without first gaining your consent.
For additional help…
If you or a loved one was injured in an elevator accident, we invite you to contact our law firm/law office at the Shouse Law Group. Our California personal injury attorneys provide both consultations and legal advice you can trust.
We work tirelessly to get you the maximum compensation available for your case.
Legal References:
- Michael McCann, Center for Construction Research and Training publication, “Deaths and Injuries InvolvingElevators and Escalators,” (2013).
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