South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Elevators and escalators, like other moving devices, can cause serious injuries to individuals in Florida and across the United States. Elevators and escalators should constantly be checked and maintained, due to their frequent use. If you or someone close to you has been injured on an elevator or escalator, it is important to speak to a skilled Miami injury attorney who can seek the justice and compensation you deserve for your harm.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 17,000 individuals are injured and 30 people die in accidents involving elevators or escalators every year. Elevator and escalator accidents can take place in a variety of ways. Elevator cables can break, causing the elevator to plunge to the ground. Elevator doors can close on people, and elevators can get stuck for long periods of time. Escalator injuries can arise when steps loosen and catch on clothes, toes, or other body parts, when the steps don’t level properly, or when there is too much space between steps and side walls.
An elevator or escalator accident victim may wonder who he or she can hold responsible for the harm. To ascertain liability, inspection logs, maintenance records, operating permits, and other documents must be carefully reviewed. In many cases, the property owner may be legally responsible for the accident.
Florida property owners have a duty to maintain their premises in reasonably safe condition in order not to cause harm to those who enter the property. This duty encompasses the obligation to ensure elevators and escalators are in safe working condition. If an accident was caused because of a property owner’s failure to maintain an elevator or escalator, that property owner may be held accountable. If the victim’s injuries were caused because the elevator or escalator was defective, the injured victim may also be able to file a claim against the manufacturer of the elevator or escalator. Thus, an elevator or escalator accident can give rise to a premises liability claim as well as a products liability claim.
If liability is established, the injured victim may be entitled to medical expenses, lost income and benefits, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, and more. The exact amount of compensation an individual may be entitled to will vary depending on the nature and extent of the harm suffered.
In the event that a person dies from an elevator or escalator accident, certain family members of the victim may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death claims allow families to seek medical expenses prior to death, funeral expenses, loss of income resulting from the loved one’s death, loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and more.
Elevators and escalators should be checked and maintained regularly. If you or someone you know was hurt in an elevator accident, it is important to seek the help of a qualified Miami premises liability attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we believe that negligent or careless parties should be held accountable for the harm they cause. We can vigorously advocate for your rights during the settlement process and in the courtroom, if necessary. We represent clients throughout South Florida. Feel free to contact us online or call us today at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) for a free, confidential consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Airbag Accidents in Florida, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, July 28, 2015
ATV Accidents in Florida, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, July 8, 2015
Florida Appellate Court Rules that Plaintiff’s Motion to Amend Complaint Must be Reconsidered, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, July 8, 2015