Escalator Accident Lawyer Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Escalators across the country provide more than 90 billion rides a year. Malls, shopping centers, airports, train stations, subways and office buildings have escalators that help move thousands of people a day. Riding an escalator is not considered risky, but nearly 40,000 people older than 65 were injured while riding an escalator from 1991 to 2005. That is an average of 2,660 injured people a year. More than 2,500 people were hospitalized, sustaining fractures. Statistically, the rate of injury in escalator accidents is rising. The reason for that could be an increasing exposure and faster moving escalators. Out of the total number of the reported escalator injuries, 85 percent constituted slips and falls, and the rate for women was almost twice as high as that for men.

More than 80 percent of escalator accidents may be preventable. There are 20 times more elevators than escalators, yet the number of escalator accidents equals that of the elevator accidents meaning that people are almost 20 times more likely to have an accident riding an escalator compared to an elevator. To be safe while riding an escalator, people need to make sure their shoelaces are tied before they step on the escalator. If a person uses a walker or has a stroller, it is prudent to take an elevator instead. It is also important to be careful stepping on and off an escalator. Sometimes, however, people get injured due to the negligence of another. If you have been in an escalator accident and sustained injuries, consult with a Pennsylvania escalator accident attorney. The Lassen Law Firm, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers, will help you get compensation for your injuries.

Escalator Accident Causes

Many escalator accidents occur when a person riding it slips and falls or when people's feet and shoes get entrapped. If the stairs are wet or slippery, it is easy to trip on a fast-moving escalator. In addition, many accidents happen when the stairs are moving too fast, not giving riders sufficient time to exit. Sometimes the cause of the accident is a mechanical defect and worn, damaged and faulty equipment. If an escalator collapses, it can pull a rider into its machinery causing severe injuries and even death.

Inspection of the escalator may be difficult due to its design. Escalator rollers are not easily accessible. This means that less effective techniques are often employed in lieu of physical inspection. As a consequence, reliability is reduced, and the potential for accidents is greatly increased. In some escalator accident cases, the escalator "ingested" riders' shoes and pains causing them to fall. If a person falls right at the exit of the escalator, the rider behind is likely to fall too. This can lead to many people piling up on top of each other.

Who is Liable for Your Injuries?

The answer to this question depends on the cause of the escalator accident. If an escalator-related accident is attributable to the fault or negligence of the building owners and managers whose responsibility is to make sure that all escalators are properly maintained and always safe for use by tenants, employees and visitors, then the injured party can file a personal injury claim against the owners and the managing companies. Under Pennsylvania law, any negligence by passengers will be considered contributory, and will reduce the money damages of the injured party. If contributory negligence is greater than the negligence of the person causing/responsible for the accident, the injured party may be prevented from recovering any money damages. In the event that an escalator accident was caused by a manufacturing defect or a design defect, the manufacturer and any party responsible for the manufacture, design and installation of the faulty escalator or its parts may be held liable for damages.

In most escalator accident cases, the primary liability falls on the building owners who should have made the utmost diligence in securing the safety of the escalator installed in its establishment or premises. If you have been injured while riding an escalator and want to recover money damages for your losses, contact the Lassen Law Firm, Philadelphia escalator accident lawyers, for your free consultation. To establish the primary liability of the building owners, operators or managers, you need the help of an expert escalator accident attorney who has experience litigating escalator accident cases. The Lassen Law Firm has helped hundreds of injured people get compensation for their injuries. Call the Lassen Law Firm now to see how we can help.

Personal Injury Lawyer Pennsylvania

If you have been injured in an escalator accident, help is available. The Lassen Law Firm, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers, will gladly discuss your escalator injury case with you. We are one of Pennsylvania top personal injury firms who has been helping people sustaining various types of personal injury receive financial recovery. Our dedication to getting you the highest settlement is what sets us apart from other firms. We fight aggressively for our clients' rights and leave no stone unturned to achieve the best result. Most of the personal injury cases the Lassen Law Firm handles settle in preparation for trial. We are a team of experienced trial lawyers who will gladly take your personal injury case to court and litigate it before a jury. Our willingness to take several alternative venues in achieving the best result is what our clients value the most.

Most escalator accidents fall under premises liability area of law, meaning that the owners of the premises where the escalator is located are liable for the injuries sustained by customers, invitees, guests and sometimes trespassers. Often, escalator accidents may be caused due to a mechanical defect in the escalator itself. In such a case, product liability law governs. Proper investigation in the cause of the accident and the circumstances surrounding it is necessary in order to determine how to handle an escalator accident case to achieve the highest recovery. At the Lassen Law Firm, we are a team of legal experts in various areas of personal injury law. If you have our attorney work on your side, you may rest assured that we will get you the highest compensation available under the law. Call the Lassen Law Firm now for your free initial compensation.

The Lassen Law Firm only deducts a 29% contingency fee, not the standard 45% like other firms. We serve ALL of Pennsylvania. We can sign you up over the phone and start working on your case today.

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Authored by: Christian Lassen