Escalator Accident

South Florida Personal Injury Lawyer Handles Escalator Accidents Nationwide 

Florida Accident Attorney Handles Escalator Injury Cases

If you or a loved one have been injured in an escalator accident in Florida or anywhere else in the nation, it’s best to contact a personal injury lawyer with experience such as our personal injury lawyers. Our South Florida personal injury firm has been representing accident victims for over 43 years and our top priority is serving you during this difficult time. Call now to see if we can assist you with your escalator accident case.

Fall accidents on escalators can happen when a person loses their balance, but most often, are the result of lack of maintenance or inspections which result in malfunctions. For example, a common malfunction is sudden stops or sudden acceleration causing people to fall forward, back or even get thrown off the escalator. Other malfunctions involve loose or missing parts, or side entrapment which occurs with the space between the step and the side of the rail. Excessive spacing can cause shoe laces, shoes, body parts, or clothing to get caught.

In the event of a malfunction, there is an emergency stop button on either side of the escalator that allows the machine to stop. However, if you pushed the button and the escalator didn’t stop, then the business that is required to maintain the escalator, the maintenance company, or the escalator manufacturer may potentially be held liable for your injuries.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, every year there are about 10,000 escalator-related injuries that result in emergency room visits in the U.S. The majority of accidents caused by escalators result in soft tissue injuries/However, most injuries involve multiple body parts, and some require surgery. Unfortunately, some escalator accidents even result in death.

Young children and younger people are especially prone to being involved in an escalator accident. Oftentimes, the injury is due to loose clothing. We know that today, our children, and even our teens and sometimes older kids, tend to not tie their shoes. Sometimes even the material of footwear can cause the shoe to get caught. There have been several accident reports worldwide involving soft sole shoes such as crocs and sandals getting caught in the gap between the step and the side rail.

It’s important for parents to know that other factors are looked at when a child was injured on an escalator. For example, were the parent and/or parents supervising the child while on the escalator? Was the child facing forward on the escalator? Was the child in the center of the escalator? In other words, if the child was not being supervised and was not riding the escalator in the correct manner, then the parents may also be found partially responsible for their child’s injury.

Fortunately, you can take preventative measures to try to avoid an escalator accident from happening to you or a loved one. The following is a short list of steps you can take before and while on an escalator provided by the CPSC:

• Make sure your shoe laces are tied
• Always face forward and hold the handrail
• Stand on the center of the step
• Always hold children’s hands
• Make sure children are not playing or sitting on steps
• Do not bring children on the escalator in strollers, walkers, or carts
• Learn where the emergency shutoff buttons are if you need to stop the escalator

Hiring an Escalator Accident Attorney

At our personal injury firm, the founding attorney, Dan Cytryn, has a track record of results and has achieved more than 10 million dollar verdicts and settlements in his career. Take a look at past client reviews regarding our service and staff.

If you or a loved one have been injured on an escalator at a mall, airport, subway station, or anywhere else call us at (954) 833-1440 for your free consultation. You do not need an appointment to discuss your case. Call us now to find out if we can assist you!