Niagara Falls, New York, Wheelchair Transport Van Injuries Caused By Faulty Fastening Equipment

Veteran Wheelchair Transport Van Injuries Caused By Faulty Fastening Equipment In Niagara Falls, New York

Jed Dietrich, Esq. Founded the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. in 2005 to Fight for Justice for Severely Injured Accident Victims. The Dietrich Legal Team’s Elite Litigators Promise to Demand the Highest Reward for the Harm Suffered in Your Defective Wheelchair Restraint Accident in Niagara Falls, New York.

For those suffering from immobilizing disabilities having a dependable wheelchair transportation provider is not a luxury; it is a necessity. For those wheelchair users that cannot drive themselves and do not have relatives to rely on, ambulettes are often an easy way to get around. With approximately 3.3 million wheelchair users throughout the United States, the wheelchair transport business can be extremely lucrative. As such, with low startup costs, many medical transportation businesses have emerged throughout Niagara Falls, New York. These local companies, like Trans-Aid, are contracted by various senior living communities, nursing homes, schools for children with special needs, and dialysis clinics to provide transportation.

A majority of wheelchair users that rely on non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) services struggle with impaired functionality and health-related issues. Therefore, it is crucial for ambulette providers and their employees to handle all passengers with extreme caution. One of the leading causes of injuries inside ambulettes is improperly secured wheelchair accidents. These tragedies typically result from either incorrect use of tie-downs or malfunctioning wheelchair restraint systems. Many unfastened wheelchair passenger tip-overs occur before the ambulette even moves. Not to mention, sharp turns, sudden stops, and collisions further intensify the risk of wheelchairs flipping over, slamming against the wall, or getting thrown into other passengers. Unfortunately, when attendants fail to perform their duties using reasonable care, passengers are highly vulnerable to suffering crushing injuries, such as herniated discs, broken bones, internal bleeding, subdural hematomas, and even wrongful death. Additionally, many victims are left to cope with depression, anxiety, loss of independence, and severe emotional trauma. 

For almost a quarter of a century, Jed Dietrich, Esq. has spent his life forcefully advocating for victims of devastating accidents. Jed Dietrich, Esq.’s tremendous dedication to providing the finest personal injury representation has led negligent corporations and their insurance companies to compensate at least 44 different clients with a minimum of $1,000,000.00. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s top rated lawyers promise to conduct a thorough investigation of your wheelchair van accident and advance the most effective litigation tactics to obtain the highest compensation for your injuries. If you are still unsure, please read our client reviews. Do not wait any longer to schedule your confidential, complimentary lawsuit assessment and consultation with our battle-tested team. Our leading lawyers are available 24/7 at 716-839-3939 or by completing the online consultation form.

Although accidents that are beyond the control of wheelchair transport providers and their employees can occur, most wheelchair restraint-related injuries could easily be prevented. Unbuckled passengers falling out of their chairs and wheelchairs tipping over are to blame for up to 80 percent of all wheelchair-related injuries treated in emergency rooms throughout the country. This is hardly surprising because unsecured wheelchairs can easily flip over during routine driving conditions. Crucial errors and omissions frequently leave wheelchair users improperly secured within ambulettes. Wheelchairs must be tightly fastened to the floor using tie-down straps to stop the chair from shifting violently during transport. While oversights by attendants often lead to various safety issues, damaged wheelchair restraint systems can also place unsuspecting passengers in danger.

Broken, mismatched, or missing pieces of restraint systems can all compromise the securement of passengers and their chairs. Tie-downs may malfunction due to improper design, manufacturing, installation, or repair. When fasteners are the wrong size, they tend to lack enough tension to secure wheelchairs. Furthermore, normal wear and tear from repeated use and age can weaken straps. Any sudden force, such as the van accelerating or stopping too quickly, could be enough to snap a frayed strap. Consequently, passengers can quickly find themselves pinned to the side of the ambulette because their poorly fitted restraints slipped off. Therefore, it is imperative for attendants to regularly inspect and routinely service all wheelchair restraint systems. When problems with wheelchair fasteners or passenger harnesses are discovered, this equipment must be marked to caution attendants. Restraints that are broken, malfunctioning, or damaged should not be used until they can be repaired by expert mechanics. 

As you can imagine, there are countless accident scenarios involving negligent wheelchair transport attendants and defective restraint systems. To determine the exact cause of your unsecured wheelchair accident, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s seasoned attorneys will need to conduct a thorough investigation. In addition to our vast resources, deep legal expertise, and decades of practice, we have close relationships with some of the best wheelchair transportation experts in the industry. Our first-class experts can advise us on specific design, engineering, and manufacturing issues that might have contributed to your accident. If we establish that a design deficiency or substandard manufacturing led to your injuries, we can pursue a product liability lawsuit against the responsible party. Furthermore, our experts will analyze the wheelchair van provider’s training and protocols. The Dietrich Legal Team’s battle-tested litigators may be able to substantiate a claim based on negligence against the transportation company and its attendants. Negligence can involve performing essential actions irresponsibly as well as failing to take necessary actions. For example, if a tie-down snapped and caused you to suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) because an aid failed to inspect the restraints before fastening your wheelchair.

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his highly qualified team will not allow any responsible parties to escape liability for their mistakes that resulted in your harm. Our Niagara Falls, New York, elite attorneys are zealously committed to using the law to the fullest extent to ensure you are reasonably compensated, which may include damages for present and future hospital bills, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, lost wages, loss of independence, loss of enjoyment, and much more. Our compassionate lawyers are ready to help you navigate through your entire case from start to finish.

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 Niagara Falls, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!