Personal Injury Law Articles
Elevator Accidents in New York City: Insult to Injury

Imagine for a moment that you’re going about a typical day in NYC. Your mind is focused on your plans for the day and how you will fit them all into your busy schedule. The elevator you’ve been waiting for opens, you step in and... BAM! Your ankle throbs in pain as you struggle to stand and gain your bearings. Finally, you realize what happened: the elevator shaft didn’t stop level with the door, causing you to drop 5 feet when you attempted to board it.

While the above is a hypothetical scenario, unfortunately, accidents like these are all too real on New York elevators. An estimated 27 people per year die on elevators, and thousands more are injured. Besides misleveling problems, elevators suffer other common malfunctions that injure people regularly. Sudden drops, for example, occur when an elevator shaft lurches or plummets abruptly down, often causing neck and back injuries to its occupants.

New York City has a rich history, with many of its buildings dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Elevators in these old buildings are aging too. Building codes and safety features have evolved considerably in the past 100 years, but many property owners in New York have not done their part to ensure that their buildings’ elevators are safely maintained and retrofitted.

Some older elevators for example, have malfunctioning doors that close too quickly, causing crush or pinch injuries to a person’s body. Another common problem in older elevators is that the doors can swing forward into the shaft when pressure is applied to them—an extremely dangerous situation. However, by retrofitting older elevator doors with Z brackets and Kick stops, swinging door accidents can be virtually eliminated. But while these two inexpensive fixes are recommended by the Elevator Advisory Council and the Buildings Department, they are not mandatory.

Many landlords have neglected to perform this simple fix, as well as other routine fixes, and as a result thousands of people continue to be injured in New York City elevators every year. These injuries cause undue suffering to its victims, who not only have to deal with the physical pain, but the hassle of medical bills and loss of income as well. If you have been injured in an elevator accident, it is a very good idea to contact a reputable personal injury lawyer, who can be invaluable in helping you sort out the mess caused by someone else’s negligence.

The personal injury law firm of Goidel & Siegel has the best elevator accident attorneys located in NYC.
We are committed to fighting for the rights of our clients and helping them obtain the highest possible financial compensation for sustaining injuries. Contact us today.