Around 900,000 people all around the country hop on elevators every day, taking a total of 18 billion rides up and down per year to get to their apartments, workplaces, doctors’ offices, shops, etc. With these numbers, it is surprising that elevator accidents do not occur more often than they do (they are far less common in occurrence than car accidents, for example).
Still, when an elevator accident does happen, it can produce devastating, life-altering, and sometimes fatal injuries.
If you sustained injuries in an elevator accident, a Zanes Law elevator accident lawyer in Phoenix will do everything from A to Z to see that you are compensated for your injuries. Call for a free case review today: (866)-499-8989.
The Industrial Commission of Arizona outlines the state’s elevator program, including regulations that must be adhered to concerning elevator safety standards, maintenance, and inspections.
Although elevator safety codes are common across the country, the specific regulations differ from state to state.
Typical areas that property owners must uphold and maintain include:
When an individual sustains injuries in an elevator accident, there is a good possibility that the elevator owner failed to maintain the unit.
Having an elevator accident lawyer in Phoenix who is familiar with Arizona’s specific application of elevator safety regulations can benefit a person who sustained injuries in an elevator accident within the state.
A Zanes Law elevator accident lawyer in Phoenix maintains a strong knowledge of Arizona’s elevator safety regulations. Our firm can couple this local know-how with our deep experience with premises liability law to build a case against a negligent property owner for recovery of your elevator accident damages.
Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) requires that property owners routinely have their property-based elevators inspected. In 2010, the Arizona Elevator Act was amended to permit property owners to use private elevator inspectors for this purpose.
Still, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) does not have to regulate elevators with the same scrutiny they do cars or personal devices. As such, elevators and their components do not undergo parts recalls or federal accident inspections. Also, manufacturers do not have to publicize a defective elevator part but instead are required only to notify owners via a product letter. This probably explains why we rarely read about defective or malfunctioning elevator parts in the news.
Even the smallest defect on a seemingly insignificant part of an elevator can cause the whole unit to malfunction. Combining the malfunction with a possible drop of several or many floors can yield catastrophic results.
Some common defects and malfunctions we have learned of in our time practicing personal injury are as follows:
A good number of elevator accidents occur while a person is doing his or her job. When an elevator repair technician, for example, is electrocuted while repairing the unit’s wiring, he has been injured “on the job.” In these cases, the injuries and damages related to the accident are more than likely covered by the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.
If you are even thinking about trying to collect these benefits, you need to report your injury to your employer immediately. Failure to do so could invalidate your future claims.
If you suffered an elevator accident while performing your work duties, we will help you file and/or appeal your workers’ compensation claim.
The U.S. Labor Department’s Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries produced the following data in its report on elevator accidents:
The Center to Protect Workers’ Rights conducted a study that gathered data within the construction trade. Among the top causes were the following:
Psychologically, an elevator accident can disable a victim from enjoying or experiencing much in life. The trauma can result in an individual’s fear of elevators, a disabling emotion that keeps the person from living in an apartment building, attending work on a high floor that requires an elevator to access it. These effects can ultimately evolve into claustrophobia or a fear of heights, each of which carries their own disabling tendencies.
If you lost a loved one who died from injuries sustained in an elevator accident, you have the right to pursue a wrongful death action. The wrongful death attorneys at Zanes Law can handle this process for you with professionally and compassionately.
We are happy to give you a free consultation, and we will do everything from A to Z to see that you get the compensation you deserve. Call now at (866)-499-8989.
