Generally, elevators are seen as a mundane part of anyone’s day. Most people don’t even give them a second thought. However, elevators are prone to accidents, just like virtually any other type of machinery. If you were on an elevator and were injured, you are most likely looking into recovering financial compensation. The worst part about an elevator accident is that the outcome is largely out of your control. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some of the questions you may have for our dedicated Bexar County, Texas personal injury lawyer:
What can lead to an elevator accident?
Several different factors contribute to elevator accidents, including, but not limited to:
- Power failures
- Failing to keep equipment up-to-date
- Door operator errors
- Mechanical breakdown
- Control system malfunction
- Drive malfunction
- Improper installations
- Faulty wiring
- Abrupt stops
- Pully system malfunction
- Negligent elevator design
What are the most common types of elevator accidents?
Some of the most common types of elevator accidents that we see are as follows:
- People falling down the shafts
- People tripping due to unbalanced leveling with the floor
- People getting electrocuted
- People getting caught in between malfunctioning doors
- People being thrown around due to excessive speed
What are the most common injuries sustained in elevator accidents?
Elevator accidents can result in a wide array of injuries, including the following:
- Severed limbs
- Cuts and bruises
- Crush injuries
- Back injuries
- Head trauma
- Neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Wrongful death
How do I determine liability in an elevator accident lawsuit?
Generally, to qualify for financial compensation, you must first prove that another party is liable for the injuries you have sustained. In certain cases, you may have to prove that the property owner knew or should have reasonably known about the safety hazard that caused your injuries and neglected to fix it anyway. If you can prove a property owner was notified of the hazardous condition and still neglected to fix it, you will most likely have a valid claim. In other cases, you will have to prove that either the designer, manufacturer or a failure to warn you of potential safety risks caused the injuries you have sustained.
How do I prove another party’s negligence?
The most important thing you can do is hire an experienced attorney to fight for your rights. An attorney will assemble all the necessary evidence to represent your case in the best way possible. Hiring an attorney greatly improves your chances of winning a personal injury claim. You and your attorney may gather security camera footage, witness testimony, and medical documentation detailing the extent of your injuries to help prove your claim.
