Houston Elevator Accident Lawyer

HOUSTON ELEVATOR/ESCALATOR ACCIDENT LAWYER

Elevators and escalators are modern-day marvels. They make movement so much easier and more comfortable. Imagine, you can go up several floors or cover huge distances in a matter of minutes, and all without even lifting a finger!

Indeed, we cannot imagine a world without these very convenient machineries. However, while manufacturing escalators and elevators, to be efficient in every way possible, could also break down and malfunction.

And sometimes, when these things are unable to operate as they should, tragedy happens. People get injured. And when people suffer injuries and are burdened with so much loss because of defective escalators and elevators, they should seek the help of personal injury lawyers who can help them seek compensation for damages.

WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE AN ELEVATOR/ESCALATOR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY?

Certainly, going through the experience of an elevator accident is indeed a traumatic event. Also, aside from dealing with the trauma, you need to face realities such as physically recovering from any injuries or afflictions from the accident. And then, you also have to deal with real-world problems. For example, paying for the bills that are stacking up–whether it’s for your medical treatments or repairs.

But in reality, not everyone has enough money to be able to deal with the effects of an elevator accident without processing their claims with their insurance company. Also, another sad fact of the reality is that dealing with insurance companies can be a burden, as well. In fact, the process of reimbursing victims for their losses with your insurance can be tedious with complications.

Also, a great help with all these complications is hiring a good elevator accident attorney with enough professional experience. And you may think you don’t need one because you don’t expect to go to court, but representing you in court is not the only thing a workplace attorney can do for you.

 Furthermore, one of the major actions your elevator accident attorney can do is negotiate with the insurance company. And whether it’s having discussions with your or the other driver’s insurance company, having someone knowledgeable about the elevator accident law can help you get the right compensation for you. Also, having someone you can rely on to discuss legal matters lessens the additional pressure. And minimizes the anxiety of having to deal with matters you are not familiar with.

Nonetheless, as an attorney, he or she can represent you in court, should your elevator accident escalate to that. But, before that even happens, it’s better that you already hire a personal injury lawyer to help you with paperwork, negotiations, and court appearances.

How often do accidents on escalators and elevators occur?

Incidents involving escalators and elevators might seem like isolated events that sound more like horror stories than actual events. After all, they do not happen as often as car accidents or drunk driving accidents. However, these accidents could actually be pretty common. In fact, they happen quite frequently than you might think.

A study from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately 17,000 individuals sustain injuries from the escalator and elevator accidents. Also worse, the most tragic accidents involving these machines lead to deaths. And with an estimation to be around 30 fatalities per year.

In fact, data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission reveal that among these deaths, elevator accidents account for about 90 percent.

What are common accidents on escalators?

According to a 2013 report from the National Institutes of Health, the most common escalator accident is from slipping and falling. Also, citing accidents caused by fellow passengers as the second most frequent cause.

To clarify, there were also accidents involving personal items getting caught in the escalator. And they are as well as those that disregard for proper use of the escalator. Reports of escalator malfunction as the least common cause of accidents.

Nonetheless, escalators that are not properly running may be from faulty tracks, electrical malfunction, damaged steps, and loose parts. And to avoid such incidents from happening, operators should regularly check their escalators frequently for proper maintenance. Also, escalators that receive heavy foot traffic might be more prone to damage and would require regular repairs. In fact, state safety inspectors also conduct annual inspections to ensure that escalators are safe to be for daily use by the general public.