What should you do if you were injured in an elevator accident?

People use an elevator multiple times a day if they live in a high-rise building or work in an office. Typically, elevators are serviced regularly and work properly, so people don’t notice them, until something goes wrong.

Elevators are complex machinery and subject to many codes and laws. They need frequent maintenance and inspections to ensure safety, especially in bigger buildings. When something does go wrong, it can be a traumatic experience. If the accident caused injuries and was a result of a violation, then the elevator company or the building owner may be liable.

What are some common reasons for elevator accidents?

• Defective parts
• Power failure
• Failure of safety device
• Mis-leveling
• Improper maintenance
• Communication failures
• Sudden acceleration or deceleration
• Sudden stops
• Failure to open and entrapment
• Door closes too quickly
• Falls into shafts
• Improper wiring and shocks

If you were injured in an elevator accident and are interested in pursuing litigation against the liable parties, there are steps you can take to build a strong case.

You could request:

• Maintenance contracts
• Elevator maintenance log for the accident
• Service reports
• Elevator company repair recommendations and proposals
• Correspondences between the elevator company and building owner
• Work records from the past few years
• Elevator company inspection reports and inspection agencies
• Surveillance footage from elevator cameras
• Insurance policies
• Any documents pertaining to elevator upgrades
• Invoices

Elevator accidents also occur on construction sites. These accidents, however, may be subject to special laws depending on the state where the accident occurred.

For more information about building a case, consult with an experienced personal injury attorney.