According to the New York City official building codes, elevators must be inspected and tested twice a year. This is most commonly the responsibility of the property owner or manager. But when the person responsible for elevator upkeep fails to comply, accidents may happen. In most cases, an elevator malfunction results in fear and stress, but no real injury. However, some elevator accidents may cause real or even fatal harm. If you were injured in an elevator accident in NYC, you need a Queens lawyer to take on your case! With the legal expertise of attorneys like Shaevitz & Shaevitz, you can receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Types Of Elevator Accidents
Typically, an elevator accident involves a sudden loss of movement or control of the elevator. But some accidents are more dangerous than others.
Common types of elevator accidents include:
- The elevator door malfunctions
- The elevator suddenly stops or accelerates
- The power to the elevator cuts out
- The elevator door opens to an empty shaft
While relatively uncommon, these accidents can be dangerous when they do occur. Without the safety net of handrails or seatbelts like an escalator or a car would have, elevator accidents leave clients like you unprotected.
Why Hire A Queens Elevator Accident Lawyer
In order to be eligible for a personal injury accident claim, your injuries need to be a direct result of a property owner or manager’s negligence. To determine their duty of care towards you as a guest and the breach of their duty, you’ll want an elevator accident lawyer on your side.
We begin with a free consultation. There, we will listen to your story and consider your case. If you’re eligible to receive compensation for your injuries, we will help you make a case and represent it.
To build your case, we’ll need to collect a variety of evidence. Making official incident reports, medical records linking your injury to the accident, and witness statements are all ways that you can help in the creation of your case. But for some records, you’ll need an experienced lawyer by your side.
At Shaevitz & Shaevitz, we may collect important evidence such as:
- Security camera footage from the incident
- Years’ worth of maintenance logs and records that show any disparity in elevator maintenance
- Documents regarding prior code violations or patterns of neglect
- Previous complaints about the function or safety of the elevator
- Proof of testing on the elevator from the past 5 years
With this information, we will build a case that proves the negligence of the property owner or manager and represents your interests.
How To File An Elevator Accident Claim
If you were in an elevator accident that resulted in your injury, you may be entitled to compensation.
The way to receive payout is typically through the manager or property owners’ insurance, but we urge you to avoid any contact with insurance agents.
These insurance companies often use tactics that aim to minimize your ultimate compensation. Through conversation alone, they may be able to trick you into admitting fault for your injuries when you don’t mean to!
Instead, let us speak with the insurance agents on your behalf. We have experience recognizing these tactics and protecting your compensation. Then we will help you file your claim with the insurance company of the manager or property owner.
Most elevator accident cases are settled through negotiations, meaning that they don’t need to go to court. But if the insurance agency refuses to provide you with fair compensation, we are ready and willing to go to court on your behalf!
Trust a Queens Elevator Accident Lawyer With Your Case
In an elevator accident in New York City? Contact a Queens elevator accident lawyer like those at Shaevitz & Shaevitz! We handle a variety of personal injury cases, including elevator accidents, and have extensive experience in handling cases like yours. We will put our expertise to work to secure the maximum possible financial recovery in your case.
Book a free legal consultation with Shaevitz & Shaevitz today to learn what your injuries may be worth.
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