Escalator Injuries: How Do They Happen?
Posted on Tuesday, February 11th, 2020 at 1:05 am
If an escalator is defective, poorly maintained, or otherwise unsafe for use, innocent people could be severely hurt or killed. Some of the most common types of injuries that occur on escalators include:
- Neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Cuts or lacerations
- Broken bones or fractures
- Internal organ injuries
Other types of elevator or escalator accident injuries could include possible entanglement injuries such as choking hazards caused by clothing or body parts being caught in machinery. Some people may also suffer electrocution injuries in some cases.
Escalator accidents can happen anywhere, at any time. Escalators are commonly found at:
- Shopping malls
- Amusement Parks
- Hotels and Resorts
- Office Buildings
- Movie Theaters
An important thing that you can do after an elevator or escalator accident is to take pictures of everything at your accident scene. If there is a clear issue with the safety of an escalator or elevator, try to get as many photographs as you can of the hazard from lots of different angles and distances.
You need to be very careful if you are contacted by an insurance company for the negligent property owner in your case soon after your accident. Remember that all insurers are only concerned with trying to limit what they pay you to keep their costs low, so any agent who is telling you that you do not need to worry about hiring a lawyer because you will be taken care of is only trying to lull you into a false sense of security.
To determine liability for an escalator accident, your attorney will have to go through many different kinds of evidence relating to the case, including any security video, work records for the escalator or elevator, and inspection reports. Evidence could also include correspondence between a property owner and elevator or escalator company, service reports, and maintenance logs.
This requires an experienced injury attorney who knows what to look for to build a strong case on your behalf. If you suffered severe injuries in an escalator accident in New York, contact Hach & Rose, LLP at (212) 779-0057 to discuss your rights and legal options right away.