Slip And Fall on Defective Escalators & Elevators in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Lawyers for Defective Elevator and Escalator Accident Victims
Philadelphia is a city of high-rise buildings, which means that there are numerous elevators and escalators in the county. Although most still work well, some are poorly designed or manufactured. Others fail due to poor maintenance. If you or a loved one was injured while on an elevator or escalator, you may have a right to compensation for your losses and damages.
At Philly Slip and Fall Guys, our attorneys have been helping injured clients for over 30 years. Over the years, we have obtained compensation for hundreds of people, including those who incurred injuries due to defective elevators and escalators.
If you or a loved one was injured in an elevator or on an escalator anywhere in Philadelphia County, call our lawyers. We handle accident injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe no attorney’s fee until we obtain a verdict or settlement on your behalf. Call us at (215) 268-6898 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Understanding Your Rights After an Elevator Accident
An elevator accident can change your life in seconds. You step into what should be a safe machine, and something goes wrong. Elevator malfunctions happen because someone failed to do their job properly. The property owner, maintenance company, or manufacturer might be responsible for what happened to you.
When an injury occurred inside an elevator or escalator, you have legal options. A personal injury lawyer can help you understand who should pay for your damages. All this matters because accidents like these create serious financial problems. You deserve to recover compensation for everything you’ve been through.
Multiple parties might share the blame for your injuries. The building owner has a duty to keep equipment safe. The maintenance crew must inspect and repair problems in a timely manner. If they all failed, you can hold each one accountable. A personal injury attorney investigates to find everyone responsible.
Causes of Elevator and Escalator Injuries
Our attorneys have attained compensation for clients who sustained injuries due to malfunctioning elevators and escalators caused by:
- Elevator doors closing quickly
- Bad design
- Poor maintenance
- Faulty manufactured parts
- Wet floors in elevators
- Failure of safety devices
- Stopping and jerking on escalators
- Mis-leveling of elevators
Some of these conditions lead to trip-and-falls, while others result in users being caught in the mechanisms or getting stuck between floors. Clients have suffered head injuries, broken bones, crush injuries and various other injuries because of defective elevators and escalators.
Common Injuries From Escalator Accidents
An escalator accident often causes serious harm. People fall backwards when steps suddenly stop or speed up. Clothing or shoes get caught in the moving parts. Children suffer finger injuries when they put their hands near the sides. These escalator injuries require immediate medical attention and often long-term treatment.
Head injuries are common when people tumble down moving steps. You might hit your head on the metal sides or on the steps themselves. A traumatic brain injury can result from these falls. Broken bones happen when arms and legs twist in awkward positions during a fall. Spinal injuries occur when the back hits the escalator edges with force.
Other injuries include cuts from sharp metal edges and crush injuries from getting trapped in the machinery. Escalator cases often involve severe wounds that need surgery. The moving parts of an escalator can cause damage that affects you for the rest of your life. Common injuries require months of physical therapy and recovery time.
Who Is Responsible for Elevator and Escalator Accidents?
The property owner must make sure their equipment works safely. Shopping malls, office buildings, and apartment complexes all use these machines daily. When they fail to inspect or repair problems, they put everyone at risk. A building owner who ignores safety issues can be held liable for injuries that result.
A maintenance company has a job to keep equipment running properly. They should check elevator cables, test elevator doors, and inspect escalator steps regularly. Poor maintenance leads to dangerous breakdowns. If the maintenance crew skips inspections or rushes through repairs, people get injured. They must complete their work in a timely manner to protect people who use these machines.
Manufacturers can also be at fault when they produce a defective elevator or defective escalator. Design flaws cause accidents even when everything is maintained correctly. Parts that break easily or safety features that don’t work show manufacturing defects. You can pursue compensation from the company that made the faulty equipment.
Steps to Take After Your Injury Occurred
Right after your injury occurred, report what happened to the building management. Ask them to document the incident and get a copy of the report. Take photos of the escalator or elevator where you were hurt. Look for any warning signs that were or were not posted. This evidence helps prove your case later.
Get medical help right away, even if you think you’re okay. Some injuries don’t show symptoms immediately. A traumatic brain injury might not be obvious at first. Having medical records that document your condition strengthens your claim. Your doctor needs to see you as soon as possible after the accident.
Gather evidence by getting contact information from witnesses who saw what happened. They can confirm how the elevator or escalator malfunctioned. Don’t talk to insurance companies without legal help. They often try to minimize your claim or deny responsibility. A personal injury lawyer protects your rights during this process.
Financial Losses From Elevator and Escalator Injuries
Medical bills pile up quickly after a slip and fall on defective escalators or an elevator accident. Emergency room visits, surgery, and hospital stays cost thousands of dollars. Physical therapy sessions continue for weeks or months. You might need specialized treatment for a traumatic brain injury or other injuries. All this medical care adds up to huge expenses.
Lost income affects your ability to pay bills and support your family. When you missed work because of your injuries, your paycheck stops but your expenses don’t. Some people can’t return to their jobs for months. Others suffer permanent disabilities that prevent them from working at all. You deserve to recover money for every dollar you’ve lost.
To recover compensation, your lawyer calculates all your current and future costs. This includes medical bills you’ve already paid and treatment you’ll need later. It accounts for wages you’ve lost and future earning capacity you’ve lost. A personal injury attorney makes sure nothing gets overlooked when determining what you should receive.
Why You Need Legal Help After These Accidents
Elevator and escalator cases are complex. Proving that equipment was defective requires technical knowledge and expert testimony. A personal injury lawyer knows how to investigate these accidents properly. They work with engineers who can explain what went wrong and why it happened.
Insurance companies defend these cases aggressively. They have lawyers working to deny or reduce your claim. Trying to handle all this yourself while recovering from injuries is overwhelming. Having your own attorney levels the playing field. They fight for your rights while you focus on getting better.
Contact a Philadelphia Elevator Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one was injured in an elevator or escalator, contact our attorneys online or by telephone at (215) 268-6898. Schedule your free consultation to learn how we can help you get compensation and damages.
I recently had a consultation with Keith Kofsky in regards to a slip and fall incidents. He was very professional, not only he sent me an email to follow up, but also he answered my multiple calls whenever I needed his help. I felt he genuinely cares about his clients. Thank you Keith for taking your time to explain my legal options, and provided much needed advice on a short time period. You made me feel valued and cared.
Keith and his associates were the best to work with. Never getting tired of my constant calls and questions. Till everything was completed, they were like my extended family. I highly recommend Keith and his crew, especially Lisa because I drove her bonkers!! Love you guys
Keith Kofsky was very prompt in getting back to me after receiving my request for a consultation. Although he was not able to help with my issue, he took the time to explain the particulars of my incident. His attentiveness was much appreciated.
Keith and his team were exceptional in handling my mother's case after she slipped and fell in Philadelphia while on vacation. From day one, they were compassionate, responsive, and highly knowledgeable. They guided us through every step, ensuring she received proper care while fighting for a fair settlement. Their dedication and attention to detail made a stressful situation much easier. My mother got the justice she deserved, thanks to Keith and his team. Highly recommend!
Great lawyer he listens, he gives the great advice pretty fair overall most importantly he works for you
Keith was an amazing lawyer and made sure I understood everything and the process of everything and his staff was very helpful as well ..thanks again Keith and staff
I was very happy with the service and dedication Attorney Kofsky and his team provided. I highly recommend his practice for anyone looking for legal help.
Took over are case from a another layer greet results thank Keith
My name is John, Mr Kofsky is the attorney you call when you need a lawyer in Philadelphia. He is well versed in the law and gives information straight and puts you at ease as a client He works hard and listens to you… we had some challenges but were very successful in the end… the staff is professional and courteous and always respond quickly via phone call or email I strongly recommend Mr Kofsky and you won’t be disappointed in the least
I highly recommend this Firm. My case was a long and drawn out case due to Covid being a new disease and court appointments being pushed back and the opposing counsels not being cooperative but, at the end of the day Keith’s team always kept me in the loop on what was going on and always contacted me before making any decisions on my behalf. When my case settled Keith explained to me what the Judge thought would be a fair settlement amount and what he thought was a good settlement amount but, ultimately it was up to me whether or not to settle and at the end of the day I was very happy with the end result
Super Grateful for Keith and his staff, when I was injured from a fall, I was so stressed to find somebody that would represent me and my case. I was denied many times by others, but Keith actually listened to me and took my case. He knew my case was worth something and fought hard for me and my family I really appreciate all his Hard work and Dedication to Justice. Please Understand any Large lawsuit will take time years in fact I understood this from the beginning Keith explained everything to me clearly and I had patience with this process. After a couple of years, we had a Settlement, and I cannot be more Thankful for Keiths hard work. God Bless this Business!!!
I have been referring patients to Keith Kofsky and his firm over the past 30 years! There is no other attorney that I trust to represent and protect my patients and their interests.