Elevators or escalators can be found in almost any building that has multiple floors. They are useful to just about everyone. The short ride from one floor to another is hardly something that people think about as dangerous. Unfortunately, issues can arise with elevators and escalators that may cause them to malfunction. When they are not regularly taken care of, elevators and escalators can become defective. If this happens, they have the potential to cause serious injuries to people who use them. If an individual becomes injured as a result of a defective elevator, it may be due to the negligence of those who create or care for the machines. If you have been injured in an elevator or escalator accident, it is important to seek legal representation to guide you through your case.
When machines are not properly taken care of, they can malfunction. Common reasons that escalators and elevators can malfunction are due to design defects or mechanical failures. This is why they must be inspected regularly in order to ensure the safety of those who use them. When those responsible do not do so, these issues can go unnoticed and possibly hurt many people. This is also true for chair lifts and moving sidewalks. Victims of these accidents can suffer from injuries such as crushed limbs, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries.
Premises Liability
When a person is injured on someone else’s property, that property owner may be held liable for their injury. Property owners have an obligation of safety to the people who come onto their premises. If they do not maintain a safe environment, they may be responsible if an individual becomes injured because of their failure to do so. Premises liability laws exist to protect individuals in these situations. When a person becomes injured on another’s property, they are required to prove that the property owner knew about, or should have known about, the dangerous conditions that caused their injury and did nothing to fix the issue.
Product Liability
Sometimes, it is not a property owner’s fault that an individual was injured. Many things go into creating elevators and escalators in order to ensure that they work properly. Sometimes, mistakes are made of manufacturers neglect to make a safe machine. When this happens, escalators and elevators may malfunction and cause an accident. Because of this, product liability laws are in place to protect victims of this type of injury. If a manufacturer acts negligently, fails to warn a consumer, or creates a harmful design, they may be held liable to any injuries that may happen as a result.
Contact our Firm
If you or someone you know has been injured in an escalator or elevator accident, contact Trombly & Singer, PLLC. today.
The experienced personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys at Trombly & Singer, PLLC are prepared to represent clients facing legal matters after being injured due to another person’s negligence. If you require strong legal representation in Washington D.C. or Maryland, contact our firm today to schedule a consultation.
