New York Elevator Accident Lawyer
Millions of New Yorkers use elevators every day in apartment or office buildings, MTA subway stations, hotels, department stores, and other public places. Although elevators can be a convenient way to travel between floors without climbing multiple flights of stairs, they may not always be safe. Unfortunately, elevators that aren’t maintained, inspected, or repaired when necessary can lead to the potential for serious injury — or even fatality.
If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in an elevator accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. The personal injury attorneys at The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. recognize the substantial impact an elevator accident can have on your everyday life and provide strategic counsel to help maximize your monetary recovery.
Causes of Elevator Accidents
No matter how many precautions you might take when riding in an elevator, dangerous conditions may exist that can cause severe injuries. Many elevator accidents can arise due to the negligence of a building owner or the party responsible for maintaining the elevator. In some cases, a manufacturer may be held accountable if the accident was caused by a defect in the machinery of the elevator.
Some common causes of elevator accidents may include:
- Mechanical failures
- Incorrect installation
- Excessive gaps
- Inadequate maintenance
- Misleveling
- Falls into shafts
- Speed malfunctions
- Sudden stops
Elevators in New York City must be inspected and tested periodically to comply with Department of Building regulations. However, violations and hazardous conditions can sometimes be missed or overlooked by the inspector — they may also be ignored by the building owner. Critically, owners who fail to correct a Department of Buildings violation may be subject to a criminal summons. A property owner or another responsible party may also be held liable in a personal injury action for injuries caused by their failure to remedy any defects that they knew about — or should have known about.
Elevator accident liability is often complex, and there may be numerous parties that can be named in a personal injury lawsuit. The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. will thoroughly investigate your claim and work to ensure that any party at fault is held accountable for your injuries.
Elevator Accident Injuries
An elevator accident can be serious and result in debilitating injuries or permanent disability, depending on the circumstances of the accident. While an accident involving a sudden stop may result in soft tissue injuries, a fall into an elevator shaft can cause paralysis, traumatic brain injury, or fatality. Additionally, malfunctioning doors may result in amputation of a limb or crush injuries. Other elevator accident injuries can include broken bones, nerve damage, spinal cord damage, or fatality.
After an elevator accident, it’s crucial to get medical attention as soon as possible. A doctor can determine the extent of your injuries and recommend a course of treatment. In many instances, your doctor may order X-rays, MRIs, EMG-NCVs, and any other tests necessary to render a diagnosis. Treatment can include pain medication, physical therapy, chiropractic care, the use of medical equipment, or surgery.
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has been providing compassionate counsel and aggressive advocacy for victims of elevator accidents for 30 years. No matter how complex your case, we have the acumen and experience necessary to help you obtain the compensation that is rightfully yours.
Experienced Representation Fighting for Your Right to Full Monetary Recovery
If another party’s negligence or carelessness contributed to the elevator accident that caused your injuries, you may be entitled to recover your economic and non-economic damages in a personal injury action. In addition to obtaining compensation for your unreimbursed medical expenses, lost income, and out-of-pocket costs, you might also be entitled to monetary recovery for your pain and suffering, as well as the loss of enjoyment of life you experienced due to the accident.
Additionally, families who have lost a loved one in an elevator accident might be eligible to receive compensation in a wrongful death action. The spouse and dependents may be able to recover for funeral and burial bills, as well as the lost wages that were earned by the victim. Other damages can include loss of inheritance, loss of parental guidance, and loss of services the decedent provided. While family members of an elevator accident victim cannot recover for their sorrow or emotional anguish in New York, they may be entitled to compensation for the victim’s conscious pain and suffering experienced before they passed away from their injuries.
The personal injury lawyers at The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. understand the physical and emotional pain you might be going through after an elevator accident — and we know the economic toll it may have taken on you and your family. We are dedicated to guiding our clients through the legal process and achieving the best possible results in their cases.
Contact a Knowledgeable New York Elevator Accident Lawyer
Elevator accidents can be devastating and cause you to sustain life-changing injuries. If you have been hurt in an elevator accident that was caused by the negligence of a building owner, maintenance company, manufacturer, or another party, it’s essential to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. There are strict statutes of limitations that apply to elevator accidents, and shorter ones if a municipality is involved. The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. is committed to protecting their clients’ rights — and fighting for the compensation they deserve for their injuries.
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has convenient office locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, as well as mobile locations serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Rockland, and Long Island in Nassau County and Suffolk County. Contact us for a consultation.