Ventura Elevator & Escalator Accident Lawyer
You’re in a mall or an office building, and you hop on an elevator or escalator just like you’ve done a thousand times before. Only this time, something goes terribly wrong. The next thing you know, you’re injured and your life’s turned upside down. Sounds like a freak accident, right? Sadly, it’s not as rare as you’d think. Elevator and escalator accidents can cause severe injuries or even fatalities. When serious accidents like this happen, property owners and their insurers take one of two approaches: 1) they quickly offer a minimal amount of money to settle any claims you may have and release them from liability, or 2) they blame the victim for the accident and deny they are liable. Either way, you need a smart, skilled personal injury attorney who knows how to handle these claims and get you the care and compensation you need and deserve. You’ll find that help at Zavala Law. Contact our dedicated Ventura elevator & escalator accident lawyer today.
Facts About Elevator & Escalator Accidents
Elevator and escalator accidents are said to be uncommon or even rare, but that’s because nearly 100 billion rides are taken on these devices annually in the U.S. In reality, thousands of people are injured in elevator and escalator accidents every year, and dozens of people tragically die. These numbers might represent a tiny fraction of all rides taken, but if a serious or fatal accident happened to you or a member of your family, it’s far from trivial. When you’re an accident victim, statistics don’t provide any comfort.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says escalator mishaps caused 11,000 injuries in just one year. Most injuries came from falls, with 10% of the accidents caused by hands, feet or shoes getting trapped. Escalator accidents are much more common than elevator accidents. A person is 18 times more likely to be injured on an escalator than an elevator, but elevator accidents do happen, causing catastrophic injuries like amputation injuries. Again, when it happens to you, the fact that it is uncommon or rare doesn’t help you feel better. Holding the owner or manufacturer accountable for their negligence does.
When people think of elevator and escalator accidents, shopping malls, department stores, hotels and casinos, office buildings and apartment buildings come to mind. But residential elevators are an especially dangerous risk for small children, particularly in vacation rentals. When families rent a vacation home with an elevator, it might be the first time they’ve ever encountered an elevator in a residence. They might enjoy the novelty of the experience, unaware of how these machines can pose an entrapment hazard, trapping people between doors or in hazardous gaps. As recently as 2022, the CPSC recalled over 100,000 residential elevators for safety defects. This action happened only after several deaths and permanent disabilities happened to children as young as two, three and seven years old. All property owners with an elevator or escalator on-site have a duty to see they are safe for use.
Common Causes of Elevator and Escalator Accidents
You might be wondering how these accidents even happen in the first place. Common causes of elevator injuries include:
- Doors are set to close too quickly before people have stepped safely on or off
- Doors do not open or close when they should
- The elevator is misaligned, stopping slightly above or below the floor, ending in a trip and fall
- The car stops between floors and gets stuck
- The elevator suddenly drops or jerks up and down rapidly
- Doors open up to an empty elevator shaft with no car to step into
Elevators and escalators are complex mechanisms with many electrical and mechanical moving parts. Most elevator and escalator accidents occur due to mechanical defects or breakdowns. Defective design, manufacture or installation may be the culprit, or the defect could arise after improper maintenance or repairs. Failure to conduct inspections by qualified personnel or perform routine maintenance can turn an elevator or escalator into a death trap.
Who Is Matt Zavala and How Can He Help After an Elevator or Escalator Accident in Ventura County?
Matt Zavala is the lead attorney at Zavala Law, your go-to Ventura personal injury law firm. With a decade of insurance defense experience under his belt, Matt knows the ins and outs of how insurance companies think. He’s not just another attorney; he’s an experienced mediator too. This means Matt can see the big picture and strategize to get you the justice you deserve.
Along with getting results that matter, personal service and accessibility are top priorities at Zavala Law. When you call our office to talk to your attorney, that’s who you’ll get. We take the time to figure out what happened and why and make sure we understand what your needs are. Matt personally explains your options to you and makes recommendations based on his years of legal practice. We’ll keep you informed and updated on the status of your case while we work to get a good outcome for you. You’ll find us busy focusing on your case and focusing on you as well. You’ll always have someone to talk to and guide you through this tough journey.
Contact Zavala Law Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in an elevator or escalator accident in Ventura County, don’t hesitate to reach out to Zavala Law to get the help you need. We offer a free consultation, and we don’t charge any fee until after we have been successful in securing compensation on your behalf. So call 805-429-4292 to get started, and let us fight for your rights and get you the justice you deserve.
