Elevator Accidents
Elevator Accident and Injury Lawyers in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia
When an injury occurs from an elevator accident, you should consider retaining an elevator accident lawyer. The dangers of elevators are often overlooked because elevators are so frequently seen in apartment buildings, office buildings, and hotels all around the United States, including Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, about twenty-seven people are killed in elevator accidents each year. Although that number is pretty low, people sustain injuries from elevators every day. Almost every year a malfunctioning or misaligned elevator injures around 10,200 people.
Although state and local governments are generally diligent about requiring buildings with public elevators to have routine inspections, elevators are not regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the way that cars or equipment are. This means that neither elevators nor elevator parts can be subject to parts recalls or federal inspections after accidents. Because elevators are not regulated by the CPSC, there is very little public information about elevator defects. If you need the personal injury lawyers Washington DC has come to rely on, contact Cohen & Cohen immediately.
Neither the press nor the public is made aware of design defects within elevators because under the current legislation, only elevator owners need to be notified by the manufacturer when defects show themselves. In general, there are six frequently appearing defects and malfunctions that often lead to injuries or fatalities from elevators. The first is faulty doors; the elevator system may open the doors when the shaft is open, causing a person to fall down the elevator shaft. The second is malfunction within the pulley system, which causes the elevator to drop suddenly. The third is defects or problems that occur from incomplete repairs, failure to inspect the elevator system correctly, or incomplete or faulty repair maintenance. The next frequently appearing defect is faulty wiring, which has the potential to cause electrocution. The fifth problem is wiring malfunction due to overheating or leaking sprinklers. The final problem frequently seen in association with elevator-related injuries is when the elevator is unbalanced or the elevator fails to meet the floor. If you have further questions about personal injury. check out our personal injury FAQ.
Our Elevator Accident Attorneys Are Standing By To Assess Your Case
If you or someone in your family has recently sustained an injury from a faulty elevator in Maryland, Washington, D.C. or Virginia, call the elevator attorneys at Cohen & Cohen to have your case assessed. Elevator accidents happen despite the precautions taken by the elevator operators and the individuals using the elevator. However, if you were seriously injured by a faulty elevator, you should not have to deal with the medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering alone.
Let Cohen & Cohen’s trusted elevator attorneys help you claim the financial compensation you deserve and help you get back on your feet. If or when we find you have a legitimate claim, we will work around the clock in a time-conscious and financially sensible way to make sure that you or your family member gets the compensation you deserve. Elevator injury is a complicated member of the personal injury family and the laws surrounding it can be fairly intricate. Don’t risk wasting your time and money by trying to interpret elevator injury law by yourself, let Cohen & Cohen take the stress away.
