Philadelphia Escalator Injury Lawyers
Every day in America millions of people will travel on more than 34,000 escalators and unfortunately many will suffer serious injuries or death in an escalator accident. Many people think escalators are safer than elevators. However, they may be surprised to learn that accidents are at least 15 times more likely on escalators than elevators.
As an experienced Pennsylvania premises liability lawyer who has handled many escalator and elevator accidents, I can assure you that the majority of the time, escalators and moving walkways are safe. However, many design defects, manufacturing defects, maintenance defects, and operational defects can be the cause of catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. The major problem with escalator and elevator injuries and deaths is related to the actual design. Many times victims fall over handrails, attempt to ride by sitting on a handrail, or the accident is caused by a piece of clothing or a shoe becoming wedged in gaps of the moving escalator parts. Experts and manufacturers recognize the necessity of raising the bar of escalator design and maintenance as escalators become higher with greater voids and gaps.
Most escalator injuries or deaths occur between two groups of people: children 5-years-old or younger, and senior citizens 65-years-old and older. As the United States population continues to live longer, escalator injuries will continue to affect the elderly population with greater frequency.
Believe it or not, escalators are manufactured under a set of voluntary standards and guidelines developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Consumer groups and consumer safety activists have petitioned the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for federal regulations aimed at addressing entrapment dangers of escalators. Unlike Europe or China where the government has taken active steps with regard to escalator and elevator design and operation, United States federal or state codes do not address elevator deficiencies at all. Many times, unfortunately, when accidents happen involving an escalator, they are quickly dispensed with no report filed with state Departments of Public Safety.
The Philadelphia escalator fall attorneys of Reiff & Bily understand that escalator accidents are common and can occur in many ways. These accidents often involve slip and falls on and off the escalator; improper warning; shoes or laces being pulled under the stairs; scarves or purse straps or other dangling objects being pulled into the operating mechanisms; failure to properly maintain, causing a rough ride; and rapid acceleration and deceleration as well as stops; and failure to provide emergency shutoff switch in the event of an emergency. Over 75% of escalator accidents are the result of escalator defects and malfunction. Our experienced escalator investigators and accident reconstructionists have been able to determine that accidents were caused by broken or missing steps, missing teeth along the trackway, loose or missing screws or bolts, damaged comb plates, wear defects, electrical wiring issues, and general malfunction.
Most local authorities require annual public escalator inspections. However, there is no federal authority to regulate escalators as there are with other products that can cause serious death or injury such as airplanes, automobiles, or personal equipment used for household purposes. Generally if an escalator is identified as having a design defect, the public does not learn about it as the manufacturer is only required to send out a product letter by certified mail to equipment owners.
If you or a loved one has fallen victim to an escalator injury, it is important to contact an experienced premises liability, slip and fall, or escalator accident attorney so that an independent, detailed, and comprehensive investigation into the accident can be performed. The experienced Pennsylvania slip and fall accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily have successfully represented the interests of tens of thousands of injured victims and their families since 1979. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
