Elevator Safety In Buffalo, New York

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Distinguished as an American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, and His Battle-Tested Team of Lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., Recognized as an American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Personal Injury Law Firm, Fight to Obtain the Best Result for Victims Seriously Injured in Elevator Accidents in Buffalo, New York and Throughout New York State.

When a passenger enters an elevator, he or she trusts that it will safely transport them to their desired floor. Passengers take for granted that elevators will be properly serviced and maintained, move at reasonable speeds, the doors will open and close properly, and the cab will open level with the floor. While elevators are a convenient way to get from one floor to another, they are not always safe. When building owners, property managers, elevator manufacturers, maintenance companies, or service contractors disregard applicable laws and safety standards, catastrophic accidents can occur. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year, incidents involving elevators and escalators kill approximately 30 and severely injure around 17,000 victims throughout the country. Elevator mishaps accounted for nearly 60% of those serious injuries and 90% of the fatalities.

Anyone who rides on an elevator, regardless of how seldomly, can fall victim to a devastating elevator mishap. Elevator accidents can cause life-changing bodily injuries, emotional trauma, and financial hardship. If you, or a loved one, were injured in an elevator accident, you may be entitled to seek monetary compensation for your injuries. At the Dietrich Law Firm P.C., our veteran team of attorneys understands how to properly and aggressively pursue your case. Most importantly, we are aware of the anxiety and distress that you may be suffering. Our compassionate team is here to help you through this traumatic incident, so you are not forced to deal with unwarranted stress and legal issues alone.

Since 1999, Jed Dietrich, Esq., an acclaimed member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, has exclusively handled serious personal injury and premises liability cases. Throughout the years, Jed Dietrich, Esq. has successfully represented countless elevator accident victims. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s team of elevator accident injury lawyers are highly experienced, aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking. We have the knowledge, skills, and expertise required to obtain the best possible result for your claim. Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. over $175,000,000.00 in verdicts and settlements to compensate his clients for their serious personal injuries. Call us today at 716-839-3939 for your free consultation. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. There is never a fee unless we WIN for you!

There are numerous reasons that elevator mishaps tend to arise. Nevertheless, most accidents are caused by defective elevator parts, inadequate and improper maintenance, or lack of proper safety precautions. The most common types of elevator accidents include:

1. Misleveling: Elevator misleveling can occur when the base of an elevator car fails to stop level with the floor of the building. Misleveling causes the elevator door to open above or below the floor, forming an uneven edge. Unsuspecting passengers trying to enter or exit the elevator can trip and fall onto the ground. Misleveling accidents frequently result in broken arms and wrists, fractured hips, and torn ligaments.

2. Door Strikes: When elevator door sensors break or malfunction, the doors can close on passengers. In severe cases, victims or their clothing can get trapped between the doors as the elevator attempts to go to another floor. This can result in dreadful injuries such as severed limbs, amputations, crush injuries, and broken bones.
3. Abrupt Stops: Malfunctions can cause elevators to stop abruptly and violently throw passengers. Most sudden stops are caused by defective counterweights, switch detection issues, and failed speed-sensing governors. These accidents tend to result in neck and back injuries, broken ankles, torn tendons and ligaments, and traumatic brain injuries.
4. Shaft Falls: When open elevators lack the necessary warnings or guardrails, unsuspecting victims can accidentally fall down the shaft. In some instances, defective doors can expose the shaft before the car aligns with the floor. Depending on the height of the fall, victims lucky enough to survive can suffer gruesome injuries, such as total paralysis and extensive brain damage.

While there are many different causes of elevator accidents, most cases could have easily been prevented with the appropriate level of care.

If you ride in an elevator, it is crucial to do so in a safe manner. Passengers should always board, ride, and exit elevators carefully. Additionally, it is important to report any elevator problems to the responsible building owner or property manager. You can significantly reduce your risk of injury by implementing the following safety precautions, which include:

1. Never riding an elevator during a fire or other emergency;
2. Do not attempt to physically hold elevator doors open;
3. Avoid rushing onto an elevator when the doors are closing;
4. If the elevator doors are stuck, never try to pry them open;
5. Always look before entering or exiting an elevator to ensure that the car is aligned with the floor;
6. Make sure the elevator car is present before passing through the open doors;
7. Use the call or emergency button if any type of crisis arises; and
8. Try to stay calm in the event of an accident.

While every accident is unique, you may be able to recover damages for expenses such as past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation, disfigurement, physical impairment, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of enjoinment. The type of legal claim you may be entitled to file depends considerably on who or what caused the accident and resulting injuries. We will thoroughly investigate the details of your elevator mishap to determine liability, before filing a claim against the building owner, property manager, service company, maintenance contractor, elevator manufacturer, or any other responsible parties. Our goal in every case is to obtain the maximum compensation from all liable parties.

Just because someone is a lawyer does not mean that they are qualified to handle your case. If you, or a loved one, were injured in an elevator accident, it is imperative to have the finest personal injury attorney in Western New York fighting in your corner. Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his highly experienced and elite team attorneys at least $1,000,000.00 or more 44 times to compensate his clients for their serious personal injuries. Practicing law the Dietrich way, we are determined, disciplined, and dedicated to providing the highest level of personal injury service to the people of Buffalo, New York, and beyond. The Dietrich Legal Team will zealously battle to attempt to obtain the compensation that you deserve for the injuries that you suffered. Contact the best of the best at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at 716-839-3939. Our veteran attorneys are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we WIN for you!

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!