Injuries from elevator accidents can be devastating to your health and wellbeing. If you have been injured in an elevator accident, it is important to understand your legal options for recovery. An experienced personal injury attorney in Newark can help determine who is liable for your injuries.

What Causes Elevator Accidents?

Elevator maintenance is vital for the safe and proper operation of elevators. However, elevator accidents can occur for various reasons:

• Misalignment

If an elevator fails to stop at the same level as the floor, it can result in a slip and fall accident. The shaft of an elevator also has the potential to become a deadly trap for would-be passengers who could fall in if the misalignment was severe.

• Malfunction of Sliding Doors

Elevators have sensors and bumpers to detect when someone enters or leaves. Sometimes the elevator doors malfunction, which often results in disastrous consequences such as a passenger’s body part being trapped in the closing doors as the elevator ascends or descends.

• Open Shafts

Elevator malfunctions are especially dangerous when doors open unexpectedly. People who fail to notice the gaping shaft or are pushed forward by others can sustain serious injuries or death.

• Excessive Speeds and Quick Drops

The high speeds, sudden stops, and jerky movements of elevators can knock passengers off balance. This causes them to collide with the car’s walls or floor, resulting in potentially severe injuries.

Who is Liable for an Elevator Accident?

Elevators can pose a risk for injury if they aren’t maintained properly, which could be grounds for a lawsuit against any party involved under these liability laws.

• Premises Liability

If an injury occurs because of unsafe conditions or improper maintenance, premises liability could apply if the property owner knew about the dangerous conditions and did nothing to fix them.

• Product Liability

Under product liability, if someone is injured by an elevator malfunction, they need to prove the company who designed or manufactured the product acted negligently.

Reach Out to a Newark Personal Injury Attorney for Guidance

As a result of the injuries you suffered, you may want to file a claim for damages against those responsible. A personal injury attorney in Newark will protect your legal rights throughout this process. Work with a law firm you can trust.