Premises Liability Lawyer in California: Understanding Elevator or Escalator Accidents

Elevator and escalators are mechanical marvels, but when they do not operate properly, they can cause devastating injuries. The reasons for improper operation or any kind of accident involving an elevator or escalator are many. 

How Does an Elevator or Escalator Accident in Los Angeles Become a Premise Liability Claim?

Premise liability claims are personal injury claims where the injured party was injured on another person or entity's property due to the failure of that property or business owner to take care of the premises as directed by law.

Property owners are responsible for taking the necessary steps and following the required laws to keep their elevators and escalators safe for use by others. Relevant laws include laws covering things like the initial approval for installation and continued inspections after installation to ensure proper maintenance. 

When an elevator or escalator is not properly maintained or fails an inspection, any injury from an accident could be the fault of the property owner through a premises liability claim. Premises liability laws seek to hold property owners responsible for a failure to keep their property, such as an elevator or escalator, safe and free of dangerous conditions.

Who is At Fault for Elevator or Escalator Accidents in California?

Elevator and escalator accidents commonly occur in large buildings, such as government buildings, shopping malls, hotels, large apartment buildings, and office buildings. For that reason, injury claims from these accidents can be complex due to the high stakes and the possibility of multiple at-fault parties.

Property owners are typically required to meet the applicable duty of care for their property to keep any guests or customers safe. Specifically, this duty of care means that the building owners and government agencies where an elevator or escalator exists must keep said structures safe and adequately maintained to prevent injuries.

However, property owners are not the only potentially liable party in an elevator or escalator accident. Parties who lease the space (e.g., business owners) or parties who are responsible for the installation or maintenance of the elevator or escalator could also be at fault. In sum, any of the following may be responsible by causing or contributing to the accident:

  • The injured party
  • Property owner
  • Property management
  • Business owner
  • Elevator manufacturer
  • Maintenance company

For example, failures to complete the state-required inspections or provide the proper repairs and maintenance of an elevator or escalator could establish a breach of the relevant duty of care and subject a property owner and/or a third party to liability for accidents. 

Common California Elevator Malfunctions & Accidents

Elevators include many complicated parts and machinery that can fail, especially with negligent installation, maintenance, or inspection. Any slight malfunction in one of the many parts of an elevator could result in a significant accident. But also, accidents are caused by human-error, too. Multiple factors can contribute to an accident, and that's why it's critical to identify all the pieces that led or contributed to the accident.

Common causes associated with elevator accidents include:

  • Door malfunctions
  • Installation issues
  • Maintenance issues
  • Passenger issues
  • Door entrapment
  • Clothing entanglements
  • Misleveling
  • Car entrapment
  • Slippery surfaces
  • Inadequate safety rails
  • Improper rope maintenance
  • Defective overspeed governor, a device used to stop an elevator in the event it starts traveling beyond an acceptable speed

Common California Escalator Malfunctions & Accidents

Escalator malfunctions and accidents are also commonly caused by both technical and human error. Common causes associated with escalator accidents include:

  • Installation issues
  • Maintenance issues
  • Missing steps
  • Falls
  • Crowd panic
  • Unexpected speed
  • Unexpected direction changes

Is a Premise Liability Attorney in Los Angeles Necessary for an Elevator or Escalator Accident?

Although a premises liability attorney is not required to pursue a claim involving damages from an elevator or escalator accident, such claims are often complex and difficult for non-lawyers to successfully complete. You could get a quick settlement, but that settlement may not represent full and fair compensation. In a worse case scenario, you could experience the responsible party claim that another party is liable, and the latter party claim the same.

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