Escalator Accident Injuries in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia
Escalators are a common mode for people to travel from floor to floor in large buildings in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. However, thousands of escalator accidents occur each year that cause severe injuries and require the advice of an escalator accident attorney. Although there are less operating escalators than elevators in the United States, far more accidents take place on escalators than on elevators each year. There are approximately 35,000 escalators in the United States, each serving about 12,000 people per year – that equates to approximately 420 million people riding on escalators each year. If you were injured while riding on an escalator it’s important that you seek legal advice from an escalator accident lawyer right away.
There are two types of escalators common in the United States. “J Type” escalators are the standard type of escalator. They move from floor to floor and are common in multi-story buildings, such as office buildings, metro stations, and malls. “Moving walks” are the second type of escalator. Moving walks provide accelerated movement along one floor and are typically found in airports.
There are several causes of escalator accidents; many are related to passenger behavior while riding on escalators, but many are also caused by escalator defects and malfunction. Defects can include missing teeth on the escalator track, loose screws, excessive space along the sides of the escalator, broken steps, and general malfunctioning. Several types of accidents can occur as the result of these defects:
Falling Accident
The most common type of escalator accident involves someone falling down or off the side of an escalator. These accidents can cause severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and wrongful death. Falls on an escalator can often be attributed to passenger related causes, including drunkenness and playing on the escalator. However, they can also be attributed to equipment failure caused by improper maintenance or failure to provide proper guardrails. When equipment defect causes a fall off of an escalator, an attorney should be consulted immediately.
Entrapment
Entrapment includes side of step entrapment, comb plate entrapment and handrail entrapment. Entrapment often involves a piece of clothing or shoelace getting caught between an escalator step and side rail or in the comb plate of an escalator. In some cases, entrapment involves a person’s body part, such as a finger, toe, or hair, to get caught. Injuries resulting from entrapment can range from a minor bruise to loss of limb.
Successfully litigating an escalator accident case can be extremely difficult as it can be hard to determine who is at fault for the accident occurring. If an accident is caused by an escalator defect or malfunction, you might have a product liability case, and the contractor, property owner, maintenance company, or escalator manufacturer can be held liable for injury. This is only one reason to seek counsel from a good escalator accident attorney if you are injured on an escalator.
If you’ve been involved in an escalator accident in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia, and that accident is the result of an escalator defect or malfunction, call Injury Law Education Center, P.C. for a free consultation on your case. Our lawyers are veterans on personal injury cases sand will work diligently to help you seek fair compensation for any medical expense, disability, or death benefits resulting from an escalator accident.