Elevator Accident and Injury Lawyers in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia
Elevator accidents are surprisingly common. If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of an elevator accident, elevator equipment malfunction, or on the job working on an elevator you should seek advice from a personal injury attorney who deals with elevator accidents right away to see if you have a case.
A 2010 Consumer Watch report indicates that there are approximately 900,000 elevators in the United States, each serving about 20,000 people per year – that equates to approximately 1.8 billion people riding in elevators every year. In metropolitan areas, such as Washington, D.C., and the surrounding Maryland and Virginia areas, where high-rise office and apartment buildings are common, elevators are a popular alternative to people taking the stairs between floors. There are several different types of elevators, varying in size and capacity.
- Passenger elevators are generally found in commercial and residential buildings and service the greatest number of elevator riders.
- Freight elevators are designed to carry heavier loads, such as industrial equipment.
- Limited Use/Limited Liability (LULA) elevators are designed to service a very small number of people on an “as-needed” basis and generally sit in small spaces in commercial buildings.
- Personnel elevators are also designed to service a small number of people; generally, maintenance, mechanical or operations personnel.
- Home elevators can be found in personal residence for people with disabilities and limited mobility.
Regardless of the type of elevator, accidents can happen. Data collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System estimates that over 20,000 people per year are injured or killed as the result of elevator accidents. A majority of these accidents involved elevator maintenance or repair persons, but many also involve passengers.
There are various elevator defects and malfunctions that can result in an elevator accident. Pulley system malfunction, faulty doors, faulty wiring or wiring malfunction, incomplete maintenance, and unbalanced leveling and misalignment of the elevator are some possible issues that can cause elevator accidents. These accidents can result in falls down the elevator shaft, being caught between floors, getting clothing or a body part stuck in an elevator door, or having an elevator collapse.
Determining who is at fault for an elevator accident can be complicated. Contractors, manufacturers, maintenance companies and property managers can all be at fault depending on the case. City and state governments may be responsible for conducting elevator inspections, but elevators are generally not subject to federal product regulations and therefore are not subject to federal inspections or recalls. These are just a few reasons that it is important to contact an elevator accident attorney right away if you are involved in an elevator accident and sustained any injuries. If you are a passenger injured in an elevator accident you might have a product liability case and could be eligible to seek compensation for medical expenses, disability, or death benefits. If you are an elevator maintenance or repair worker injured in an elevator accident while working, you might have a workers’ compensation claim. Understand your rights!
The elevator accident attorneys at Injury Law Education Center, P.C. are veterans of personal injury cases. If you have been injured in an elevator accident in Washington, D.C., Maryland or Northern Virginia and are looking to seek compensation for your injuries, contact us right away for consultation on your case.