It depends on why you fell. While most elevator and escalator rides do not result in a fall injury, there are times when an elevator or escalator malfunctions and a serious injury can result. For example, you may have been hurt when:
- The elevator did not line up properly with the floor.
- The elevator moved abruptly and caused you to lose your balance.
- The doors to the elevator opened and the elevator cage was not there.
- The escalator stopped suddenly.
- The escalator was slippery.
- There was a problem with the handrail on the escalator.
Any of these situations can result in an injury that causes you to miss work, incur substantial medical expenses, and suffer significant pain.
The Accident Wasn’t Your Fault—So Who Will Pay?
If you got hurt when the elevator or escalator malfunctioned in one of the ways described above, or in another way, then you need to determine why the accident happened. The accident could have happened because of the negligence of one or more of the following parties:
- The building owner who failed to get regular inspections or fix escalator or problems he knew about—or should have known about—prior to your accident.
- The elevator or escalator manufacturer who may have made and sold a defective product.
- The elevator or escalator installer who may have made a mistake during the installation of the elevator.
- The elevator or escalator maintenance contractor who may have failed to complete a full inspection, to detect a problem, or to adequately fix any issues.
- The business where you were injured if the staff were negligent in responding to a hazard they knew about…or should have known about.
In order to determine which of these parties is responsible for your fall injury, you may have to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. For more information about how to do that and about how to protect your rights, please start a live chat with us today.