Injuries caused by elevators affect thousands of people in the United States every year. Fortunately, fatal accidents are rare, and most of those happen to people working on the equipment. When someone has been hurt because of elevator malfunction, they may want to consult with an elevator injuries attorney in Queens County, NY. That lawyer can estimate how much compensation the person deserves after reviewing insurance company payments in similar accidents.
Statistics
About 10,000 people are injured annually because of accidents involving elevators in the United States. Two situations account for a large number of these injuries. An elevator injuries attorney in Queens County, NY is very familiar with these episodes and knows the havoc they can cause. This lawyer determines how much compensation the client should receive and then begins settlement negotiations with the insurer. The two situations are described below:
1. Misaligned Floors
When the elevator carriage does not line up with the floor when it stops, the risk of tripping and falling when getting in or out is increased. In addition, a person in a wheelchair who backs into an elevator may never realize there is a problem with the alignment until the chair tips backward.
2. Door Malfunction
The other situation usually results in worse injuries. That is when the doors malfunction and open to an empty shaft. People waiting for the elevator expect the carriage to be there and step inside, only to find themselves falling. This is a horrifying experience even for someone who did not suffer severe injuries from the fall. An attorney with a firm such as the Law Offices of Joseph J. Perrini, III may include a demand for compensation for emotional trauma during the settlement negotiations.
Concluding Thoughts
Generally, elevators are extremely safe. With nearly a million of these devices in use in the United States, it should actually be surprising that the number of accidents is relatively small. Nevertheless, this is not much consolation to people who have been hurt because the equipment malfunctioned. At least they should receive compensation for medical expenses and lost wages from the elevator company’s insurer. Please visit the website to learn more about this particular law office.
