Elevator & Escalator Accident Lawyer in San Diego

Did You Suffer a Serious Injury or Lose a Loved One in an Elevator or Escalator Accident?

According to federal data provided by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 17,000 people are seriously injured in elevator accidents every year, and another 30 are killed. A considerable number of these happen to people working in or around elevators and escalators.

If you were injured or lost a loved one in an accident involving a dangerous elevator or escalator, call (619) 215-1488 or contact us online for a free consultation. Our attorneys handle cases in San Diego and throughout all of Southern California.

The Dangers Of Elevator & Escalator Accidents

According to the CPSC’s data, elevator accidents affected workers more often than passengers, while escalator accidents affected passengers more often than workers.

According to the data, approximately 75 percent of escalator injuries were caused by falls, approximately 20 percent were caused by the victim’s clothing or body part becoming caught at the top or bottom of the escalator, and approximately five percent were caused by other factors, including sudden stops or changes in direction.

One of the most concerning statistics was that about half of the injuries involving victims or their clothing becoming caught in the escalator involved children under five years old, most often when their hands or a loose article of clothing became caught.

In elevator accidents, more than 55 percent of all deaths of workers working around or in elevator shafts were caused by falls, more than 36 percent were caused when workers were caught in or between objects, and more than seven percent were caused by other factors, including being struck by an object and collapsing elevators.

Preventing Elevator And Escalator Injuries

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released a number of tips and safety practices to decrease the number of injuries and deaths caused by elevator and escalator accidents.

• Ensure that workplace training and protective practices adequately ensure the safety of workers, including:
  • Providing those working in or near elevator shafts with fall protection gear;
  • Putting in place a “permit-required” “confined-space” program for elevator shafts; and
  • Locking out and de-energizing mechanical equipment and electrical circuits when elevators and escalators are being repaired or are out of service.
• Ensure that employers have an adequate maintenance and inspection program in place;
• Employers should only hire qualified workers to perform the necessary elevator and escalator maintenance and repair;
• Ensure that there are no hazards at the top or bottom of escalators that could trap hands, feet, or clothing;
• Treat elevator shafts as confined spaces, and ensure that all necessary permits are secured and requirements for these types of spaces are followed.

Hire Legal Representation You Can Rely On

If you were seriously injured or lost a loved one, contact our San Diego elevator and escalator accident attorneys at The McClellan Law Firm today. Our firm is backed by more than 40 years of experience and over 140 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million each, which means you can rest assured that your case is in good hands.

Give us a call at (619) 215-1488 to learn more about what we can do to help.