Overall, elevators and escalators are very safe. It’s been estimated that there are over 100 billion trips taken by Americans on elevators and escalators every year. While they are convenient, if they are not maintained or operated safely, they can cause serious accidents. There are thousands of severe injuries caused by elevators and escalators in the U.S. each year, and dozens of deaths.
Most injuries that happen in elevators occur when getting in and out of an elevator. It is common for people to trip or fall when entering or leaving an elevator. If the car does not stop as it should, it may not be properly aligned with the floor outside the elevator. In some cases, a door may close on a person, which can crush a limb. Although elevators have safety features to prevent the doors from closing on a person, the doors sometimes malfunction, causing injuries. In rare cases, an elevator may experience a rapid drop. This can throw passengers around, causing serious injuries and even death.
Elderly and children and teenagers are the most vulnerable to elevator accidents. Studies have shown that thousands of elderly individuals end up in the emergency room each year because of elevator accidents. About half of those accidents are due to trips or falls. Another study found that toddlers are at a much higher risk of being hurt in elevator accidents than the rest of the population.
Elevator accident cases can be complicated and often require investigations and expert witnesses to build a strong case. If you or a family member has been hurt in an elevator accident in Los Angeles, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney at 310-385-0567. I can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.