Dedicated Personal Injury Attorney Helping Victims of Miami Elevator and Escalator Accidents
While you may think elevator accidents are uncommon, over 10,000 people are actually injured every year due to elevator defects, and over two dozen people actually lose their lives in an elevator accident. Escalator accidents are many times more common than elevator accidents, and injuries and deaths related to escalators have been on the rise every year since 1990.
The public often never knows an elevator or escalator is defective until an accident happens. Even when an elevator or escalator manufacturer has discovered a defect in its product, all it is required to do is notify the equipment owner by certified letter. Unless the owner acts quickly to shut down the equipment, put up a warning or initiate a repair, serious and even fatal consequences can follow.
When these needless tragedies occur, Miami injury attorney Michael Goldfarb works to hold premises owners and equipment manufacturers liable for their negligent mistakes. In shopping malls, department stores, and apartment buildings throughout Miami and beyond, Goldfarb Law provides skilled, knowledgeable and effective representation to hold negligent actors accountable and see that clients get the medical care and compensation they need after being injured in an elevator or escalator accident.
Common types of elevator defects
There are many different ways in which elevators can be faulty, and all of them pose serious risks to elevator users. Some of the most common types of elevator defects and malfunctions include:
- Sudden drops due to mechanical defects or breakdowns
- Malfunctioning pulley systems which cause the elevator to drop down the elevator shaft
- Misaligned, unbalanced or mis-leveled elevator which does not line up with the floor, creating a tripping hazard
- Doors open before elevator arrives, creating fall risk
- Electrocution due to faulty wiring or a malfunctioning elevator control panel
- Accidents caused by maintenance or repairs being put off or performed incorrectly or incompletely
- Lack of regular inspections or inspections performed by negligent or unqualified personnel
- Entrapment in the elevator due to malfunctioning doors or faulty wiring
Common types of escalator defects
In constant motion and use, an escalator defect is even more likely to result in accidents and injuries than a faulty elevator. Some of the most common escalator defects and injuries include:
- Repairs performed negligently or incompletely, creating tripping hazards
- Lacerations from escalator panels being incompletely replaced after repair or maintenance
- Missing or loose screws
- Missing or broken steps
- Teeth missing from the escalator track
- Empty space between escalator steps and walls, creating tripping hazards or risk of getting foot stuck
- General mechanical malfunctions
Goldfarb Law is Here to Help after a Miami Elevator or Escalator Accident
Goldfarb Law works to hold owners and manufacturers accountable for negligent maintenance and repair, product defects and other mistakes which lead to serious injury on elevators and escalators in Miami and surrounding areas. We go to work right away uncovering the evidence needed to build a strong case against negligent manufacturers and property owners. Call Goldfarb Law at 305-433-3200 after a Miami elevator or escalator accident for a free consultation with an aggressive, effective Florida personal injury lawyer.
