In a city like New York City, where skyscrapers are plentiful and many people must use elevators to get to high floors, elevator accidents are not uncommon. As any New York elevator accident lawyer knows, such accidents can be extremely dangerous, and even deadly.
The surviving family members of a New York woman who was killed in an elevator accident have filed a wrongful death suit against the elevator repair company. The elevator car started going up as the woman tried to get into the elevator and she was dragged between an elevator and a wall. The family alleges that the repair company failed to perform several essential tasks, including re-enabling a safety circuit and informing the Department of Buildings that the elevator needed inspection. The suit also alleges that the company failed to post repair signs or block off the elevator with caution tape.
Elevator maintenance involves complex safety issues, which is why many states (including New York) have laws to protect people from defective elevators. For example, the regulations state that property owners must provide elevators that safely transport passengers.
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Property owners who fail to maintain safe elevators or correct existing problems are negligent. If the negligence leads to an accident, the property owner can be liable for any resulting damages. If you sustained injuries due to a poorly maintained elevator, a Staten Island construction accident lawyer can help you bring a claim against the at-fault property owner.
Damages in a successful premises liability suit could include compensation for medical bills, loss of wages and pain and suffering. Where the victim has died, the surviving family members may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit to recover these same types of damages. While these damages cannot bring back a loved one or alleviate the pain from an injury, they are a step toward reducing financial strain caused by the accident.Call (212) 540-2981 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced New York personal injury lawyer.
Source: NYpost.com, “Elevator gal kin’s death suit,” Josh Saul and Dan Macleod, Jan. 30, 2013
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