Burlington Elevator Injury Attorney

Trip-and-fall injuries are the most common injuries related to the use of elevators. These often occur when the elevator fails to stop at the same level as the floor outside the elevator. Occupants begin to enter or exit the elevator as the doors open only to trip because the floor is too high or fall because the floor is too low. The injuries caused by a fall can vary greatly and depend on the distance of the fall. Mild bruising or scratches are common, while greater falls can result in broken wrists, arms, or hips; soft tissue damage; and life-threatening head trauma.

Another common incident is called a door strike. When the elevator sensors are not working properly and the door begins to close on passengers as they are entering or exiting the elevator, the passengers can suffer mild to severe bruising, broken bones, or even amputation. Another danger of elevator doors occurs when the gap between the door and the elevator car is too large. Children or small adults can get their fingers or hands lodged in the gap, and loss of digits is the most common injury when this occurs.

Abrupt stops might not sound dangerous, but passengers may suffer spine injuries as well as injuries to ankles and knees due to the compression experienced in a sudden stop. Sudden stops can also cause passengers to fall or hit the walls of the elevator car, causing contusions to the head and upper body. These incidents are normally attributed to an issue with the counterweights in the elevator, which should be regularly inspected and serviced.

Elevator falls are the most serious events that can occur, and often fatal for passengers. Fortunately, these incidents are rare, but do occur when a stalled elevator is being unloaded in an unsafe or improper manner. Falls can also occur when a passenger attempts to pry open the door when the elevator is moving, which can trigger a mechanical issue and cause the fall. Some people suffer falls into empty elevator shafts as well, which wouldn’t be possible if the doors weren’t open or able to be pried open without proper authorization.