California Escalator Accident Lawyers
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Our Experienced California Escalator Accident Lawyers Are Turning Injured Victims Into Victors
Escalators and elevators are modern tools of vertical mobility that have transformed the way we get around in the modern world. We all use them whether at work or while shopping. However, many people take them for granted, and carelessness often leads to accidents. The California escalator accident lawyers at Arash Law will help you seek compensation if you get injured in such an unfortunate event. Call (888) 488-1391 as soon as you can to schedule a free consultation with our legal team.
Most of the time, freak accidents involving escalators are a result of negligence, such as when the escalator is not properly maintained. Under personal injury law, victims who sustained injuries can be eligible for significant monetary compensation from the negligent party. Additionally, if someone dies, the surviving family members may be qualified to pursue a wrongful death case. The types of damages to recover vary, and you will need legal expertise to ensure you aren’t taken advantage of.
Arash Khorsandi, Esq. and his team of personal injury lawyers at Arash Law have an unmatched winning track record, recovering over $500 Million in settlements and awards for Californians. Legal battles are fierce, but our team is always at the forefront, ensuring injured victims receive the justice they are owed. If an escalator accident injured you or someone you love, our escalator accident lawyers in California can help.
How Can Our California Escalator Accident Lawyers Help Win Your Case?
Escalators have become so integral in how we move that accidents involving this machinery seem unthinkable. The sad reality is they do occur frequently. The premises liability lawyers at Arash Law have handled the fallout of numerous escalator accident cases for years. We have helped accident victims recover financial reparation for their losses. Let us help you, too.
Our escalator accident attorneys in California can effectively relieve your burden of dealing with the complicated claims process by:
- Preserving Vital Evidence. Your lawyer will collect and guard the evidence needed to support your claim. This can include inspection logs, the history of maintenance and repairs, load testing records, and other vital documentation that can help prove the negligence of another person or organization.
- Providing Legal Expertise. The escalator accident lawyers California trusts are well-versed in industry norms. They know how to advocate for specific laws to obtain compensation and address the issues that may impede your claim.
- Recovering Full Damages. Your attorney’s goal is to recover the compensation you are entitled to receive. The award covers your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other types of damages.
- Negotiating With Insurance Companies. You don’t have to deal with insurance providers and their unfair tactics alone. Your attorneys will handle all communication with them, negotiating aggressively to maximize your settlement.
- Bringing Your Case To Court. While it’s better to resolve the case out of court, it’s always possible to reach an impasse. In case no one agrees on an outcome, your attorneys won’t hesitate to represent you in court until the insurer offers your rightful compensation.
- Offering Contingency-Based Services. Our California escalator accident lawyers allow clients to enjoy legal services with no upfront costs. Handling cases on a contingency fee agreement, we only get paid when we win your case.
Why Is It Necessary to Hire California Lawyers Specializing in Escalator Accidents?
Hiring a legal representative after an escalator accident is extremely beneficial, as they will guide you on what to do and who to contact for investigations. Experts like forensic engineers are needed to investigate personal injury cases involving escalators. They will reconstruct the incident and assess whether another customer, the store owner, the operator, or the maintenance company was negligent.
Collecting evidence is crucial in any injury claim or lawsuit. Therefore, the analysis should be carried out as soon as possible after the escalator accident to preserve evidence of the condition of the mechanisms and equipment. This is also why anyone injured in an escalator accident in California must hire attorneys as soon as they can. It’s hard to keep up with all this while you’re busy recovering. But having a lawyer ensures you’re up-to-date with the status of your case, aside from having your rights safeguarded throughout the legal process.
As a victim of such unexpected accidents, you can always take advantage of our free initial consultation. Contact our office and let our escalator accident lawyers in California pivot the trajectory of your case toward a successful outcome.
$1,500,000.00
Settlement in a Wrongful Death Motor Vehicle Accident – largest Wrongful Death Settlement in Monterey County in 2020 – Top 20 Wrongful Death Settlement in California for 2020;
– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
What Should You Do after an Escalator Accident?
People have become so complacent that they forget accidents can still happen on escalators. Young children and toddlers, in particular, are vulnerable. But anyone can be a victim if they just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Because of this, it’s vital to know what to do if you ever find yourself in an escalator accident.
Below are steps you should take in the event of an accident on an escalator:
Remain calm and call for help.
You may feel frightened and confused after an accident, and that’s normal. Things can easily get confusing, but it remains critical to maintain your composure. Make every effort to evaluate your options and assess whether you or anyone else sustained any injuries.
Ask for help by calling 911, guards, mall personnel, or nearby bystanders. Panicking will not help your situation; it’ll make you forget what happened when providing authorities with an accurate report later on. Take a deep breath and stay composed through the whole situation.
Get medical attention, even if you feel fine.
Depending on the circumstances, accidents on escalators can result in severe or even fatal injuries. From broken bones and concussions to more serious head injuries, anyone who falls down the escalator or between its steps must get medical help right away. Leaving these injuries untreated can be fatal. There is no time to waste when it comes to your health. Besides, all your medical records will later serve as vital evidence in your claim.
Inform the management or the property owner.
After ensuring your well-being immediately after the accident, you must report the event to the management or property owner. Depending on how severe the escalator accident was, they need to be informed about what happened and take appropriate action right away, such as having the escalator inspected or calling for repairs.
Document and record everything
Following an escalator accident, find time to record everything. This includes obtaining the contact details of any witnesses and taking photos and videos of the escalator in question, as well as your injuries. Having this documentation is essential to constructing a compelling case against the party at fault. It might be challenging for you to get the compensation you deserve without it.
Speak to California escalator accident lawyers.
Like any other accident resulting in personal injuries, it is critical that you speak with our attorneys specializing in escalator accidents in California to know how you can move forward with legal action. Any injuries and losses you sustained in an escalator accident make you eligible for compensation. The legal team at Arash Law can determine how viable your case is in a free consultation and assist you in recovering the maximum compensation possible.
Escalator Accidents Can Happen in Many Ways
Accidents involving escalators can happen in a number of ways. One of the most frequent incidents is the unexpected stop that can throw a passenger forward or backward and send them plummeting down the steps. Things can also happen in and around the entry and exit platforms when getting on or off the escalator. People occasionally fall through or get trapped between railing gaps.
Clothes, shoelaces, or limbs can be caught in the escalator’s landing grids, steps, skirt, or handrail, resulting in injuries. As you’re trapped and flung to the ground, fractures, dislocations, facial and head injuries, and other severe damage can happen. Malfunctions and a lack of proper maintenance and inspection can also cause incidents involving slips and falls on escalators.
On September 26, 2021, nine people were hospitalized after an escalator malfunctioned and suddenly reversed at high speed in Boston, MA, causing many people to tumble backward and pile up on top of each other. This is just one incident showing how dangerous escalator accidents can be.
It is critical to determine the potential cause of the injury-causing incident. Given that the equipment must adhere to both State and Federal occupational health and safety requirements, the investigation may entail looking through the necessary, routine maintenance documents and learning about any previous issues.
Proper Escalator Inspection and Maintenance Prevent Accidents
Most of us may not realize that escalators require routine maintenance and inspection, even though we use them every day. In California, the installation of escalators (along with elevators) has higher inspection and maintenance standards than in other countries.
Every two years, these machines are required to undergo and pass an inspection. The owner or operator that fails inspection should shut the machine down until they make the necessary repairs or carry out a new inspection. Fortunately, California law requires a copy of the passed inspection form to be made available to the public. This way, you can confirm, through your escalator accident lawyers in California, that the machine’s certification is up to date.
Regardless, a malfunction can happen anytime. Faulty doors, broken steps, electrical failure, and pulley system failure are some examples of mechanical problems that might arise during operation. Any of these problems could lead to an injury-causing accident.
What Causes Escalator Accidents?
The convenience of escalators makes it hard for us to comprehend how hazardous they can be. Aside from incidents resulting in personal injuries, fatal escalator accidents disrupt the lives of those affected in the most unexpected way.
Because they are large, powerful pieces of equipment, malfunctions in escalators can have severe consequences. Those who are unfortunate enough to be at the wrong place at the wrong time suffer injuries victims due to:
- Damaged or missing teeth on the escalator track, which causes tripping or falling that leads to entrapment;
- Handrail that is poorly constructed or defective, resulting in entrapment involving clothes, hair, or limb;
- Missing or faulty steps that cause tripping, slipping, and falling;
- Not enough signages or warnings of a hazard or repair;
- The gap between the escalator steps and side walls is wider than the maximum allowed, increasing the risk of entrapment involving objects like shoelaces or clothing;
- Inadequate or poorly done repairs, maintenance, or inspections.
Determining Liability in California Escalator Accidents
The process of identifying the at-fault party and establishing their liability depends on several factors. Our escalator accident lawyers will look at every angle of your case to accurately find out the parties responsible for injuring you.
The Owner Or Operator
Premises liability law generally applies to escalator accidents caused by malfunctioning machinery. This implies that the machine’s owner is in charge of keeping it safe. If they neglect to do so, they risk being held accountable for any injuries that result from an accident.
Although the owner or operator is usually held accountable, they are not always to blame. Escalator accidents can still happen even if they have met all the legal requirements and properly maintained the property.
The Manufacturer
In some cases, the fault lies elsewhere, as the accident could be due to the elevator’s installation, production, or maintenance. If a component caused the elevator to malfunction and break down, the manufacturer might be held accountable through a product defect case.
Liability may also arise if a particular component has a track record of malfunctioning in comparable devices. The manufacturer is assumed to be aware of this danger. You have the right to bring legal action against the manufacturer for causing the harm you endured.
The Installer
In cases where the escalator malfunctions due to improper installation, your lawyer can hold the installer liable. The escalator could be placed incorrectly or in a way that deviates from building codes. They are directly accountable since they are explicitly hired due to their competence in installing the machines.
The Maintenance Company
If the escalator malfunctions and causes an incident because it’s not receiving adequate proper maintenance checks, the maintenance company can be held accountable. Licensed inspectors are expected to perform routine inspections, taking note of any worn components and suggesting fixes. They might be accountable if they neglect any one of these responsibilities and an accident occurs. You can pursue legal action against them if this is the case.
Anyone who is negligent and causes your injuries will be held liable for it. However, deciding who’s responsible is not as straightforward as pinpointing anyone. We need to study the details of your case and work closely with you to determine the manner in which you were injured. The California escalator accident lawyers, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq. at Arash Law, are seasoned with combined decades of experience to do just that.
Common Injuries in an Escalator Accident
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Bruises, cuts, and lacerations
- Sprains and strains
- Bone fractures
- Crushed fingers and limbs
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Electric shock
- Wrongful death
Children are particularly vulnerable to injury in escalators that malfunction or lack the necessary safety features. They will run, play, and fidget, even if they’re supervised. The operator company must consider this and ensure the risk of such behavior is mitigated.
Due to your injuries, you might need to stay in the hospital for a while. You might be required to have a series of invasive and extensive medical procedures. You will incur significant expenses due to your injuries and inability to work for weeks or months. It’s hard to fight for the financial recovery you deserve when insurance companies do not have your best interests. Let Arash Law’s escalator accident attorneys in California advocate for your fair compensation.
Available Compensation to Recover in California Escalator Accidents
- Economic damages are tangible losses that can be measured, including
- Present and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs and ongoing care
- Lost income
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Non-economic damages are subjective losses that are non-monetary, including
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and other mental health issues
- Psychological distress
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death damages are recovered in the event of a loved one’s death, aside from the economic and non-economic damages:
- Funeral or burial expenses
- Loss of pension
- Loss of inheritance
The reputable California escalator accident attorneys at Arash Law will vigorously fight for your right to the highest possible settlement, regardless of the extent of your injuries.
The Statute Of Limitations For Personal Injury Claims In California
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is two years from the date of the incident. However, this deadline may be substantially shortened to only six months when bringing legal action against a government agency. While certain exceptions exist that can extend this timeframe, taking immediate action is critical to avoid having your rights to compensation forfeited. Ensuring you don’t miss the deadline can add another burden when you’re focusing on getting better. Our escalator accident lawyers in California will guarantee that your claim is submitted accurately and on time, increasing your chances of a favorable outcome.
Preventing Escalator Accidents And Injuries
To reduce the number of injuries and fatalities brought on by escalator incidents, employers, owners, or operators of escalators are encouraged to observe the following safety guidelines and best practices strictly:
- Employers or operators should guarantee workers’ safety by providing workplace training and protective procedures, such as locking out and turning off electrical circuits and mechanical equipment when the machine is being fixed or taken out of commission.
- Employers or operators should ensure that escalator maintenance and repairs are performed only by competent personnel.
- Employers or operators should ensure that there is sufficient maintenance and inspection program.
- Employers or operators should ensure there are no obstructions that could trap clothing, hands, or feet at the top or bottom of escalators.
- Employers or operators should make sure that all guidelines are adhered to and all necessary permits are secured.
Safety Tips For Escalator Users
For everyday users of escalators, the following safety tips and suggestions are helpful in avoiding the risk of escalator accidents and catastrophic personal injuries:
- Make sure the laces on your shoes are tied properly.
- Never let a child play or sit on the escalator; instead, always hold their hand.
- The safest spot to stand on an escalator is in the middle.
- Exit the escalator safely by stepping off at the end and avoiding the edges of the steps where entrapment usually happens.
- Do not bring a stroller or walker with a child inside on the escalator.
- Keep your hands always on the handrail while facing forward.
While these safety tips help prevent serious injuries during escalator accidents, they might not be able to avoid accidents resulting from poor design or manufacturing flaws. Never take a chance, and always be aware of the potential risks and hazards.
But when the unexpected happens, you can turn to the award-winning escalator accident lawyers California has to offer. At Arash Law, we turn injured victims of accidents into victors.
Escalator Accident Statistics
An average of 12,000 persons are served by each of the estimated 35,000 escalators in the United States annually. Every year, escalators in the United States carry 105 billion passengers. Most of these escalators are found in public, commercial, and retail spaces like hospitals and airports.
Almost every single- and multi-story structure uses escalators. They help move large numbers of people quickly from floor to floor, even with far more capacity and frequency than elevators.
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) documented 24 non-work-related passenger escalator deaths in the United States between 1992 and 2003, an average of roughly two deaths annually.
- At the top or bottom of the escalator, or between the step and the escalator’s side wall, riders’ clothing became entangled, resulting in eight of these fatalities.
- Falls resulted in sixteen of these deaths, several of which included severe head injuries. According to CPSC estimates, of the 6000 escalator injuries that occur annually in the U.S., falls account for 75% of the injuries.
- Entrapment accounts for 20% of the injuries, and other causes account for the remaining 5%.
- Children under the age of five are more likely to sustain “caught in” injuries, which are generally more serious.
Call the Top-Rated Escalator Accident Lawyers California Trusts for Expert Advice Today!
Arash Khorsandi, Esq. and his esteemed team at Arash Law believe that for justice to triumph, every person must have a dependable and trustworthy advocate who will go above and beyond to protect their rights. Our escalator accident attorneys take great satisfaction in their ability to offer clients that level of support. Their case outcomes and client testimonials validate this strongly.
At Arash Law, we prioritize our client’s needs above all else and commit to fighting for justice on their behalf. Our main goal is to secure the maximum amount of compensation they are due and give them the closure they require. We will pursue your escalator accident case until the liable parties’s insurance pays you for your damages. We will reach this settlement through negotiation or going to trial if need be.
Fill out our “Do I Have A Case?” form or give us a call at (888) 488-1391 to arrange a free consultation with our California lawyers handling escalator accident cases. We’ll discuss in detail how our firm can assist you.
Consult with us anywhere in California. Our offices are conveniently located throughout the state, including Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Fresno, Oakland, Riverside, Kern County, Orange County, and Stanislaus County.
