Kansas City Escalator Injury Lawyer

If you or someone you love recently suffered harm while using an escalator, you may be able to recover damages for your injuries, pain, and suffering. The attorneys at Dickerson Oxton, LLC defend the rights of injured parties throughout the greater Kansas City and Missouri area. Contact us to schedule a free and strategic review of your legal options with a Kansas City escalator injury lawyer today.

 

We use escalators routinely, but most of us don’t think about the inherent dangers they pose. A recent study found that there are around 10,000 injuries caused by escalators in the United States each year.

 

Escalators are large, specialized pieces of machinery that require careful maintenance and regular inspection. However, there are no federal regulations that dictate how to maintain or assure the safety of escalators. This responsibility falls on the state, and one nationally certified escalator safety inspector stated that people use escalators thinking they’re regularly checked, but they’re often not.

Common Types of Escalator Injuries

While escalator deaths are rare, they often lead to serious and debilitating injuries. Examples of injuries include amputation, maiming, and other catastrophic scenarios. About 20% of escalator injuries result from entrapment of clothing or shoes, which can lead to crushing injuries. Falls from escalators commonly occur if the treads stop suddenly.

Determining Liability in an Escalator Accident

When an escalator’s malfunction leads to a person’s injury or death, the first step in gaining compensation is determining the person or parties responsible. Any or all of the following entities may be responsible for an elevator injury:

  • The escalator’s owner. First, it’s essential to find out if the owner of the escalator took proper care in maintaining the equipment to ensure its safety. Property owners must ensure the safety of their premises by conducting safety checks, tending to maintenance, and more. If he or she did not take proper care to foresee or fix a dangerous condition, then he or she could be responsible for any damages that result.
  • The escalator’s manufacturer. Property owners are not the only people responsible for an escalator’s safety. In some cases, an escalator injury may arise from an inherent design flaw or foreseeable malfunction. In this case, the manufacturer of the unit may be liable for your injuries.
  • Any other third party. Often, property owners contract out escalator maintenance to a third party. If this company negligently completes safety checks or repairs, it may be held legally responsible for any damages.

Escalator accidents often involve multiple parties and as such require a thorough examination of the root cause of an accident. Unfortunately, time is money, so a property owner may rush through these investigations in order to minimize unit downtime. That’s why it’s essential to contact a Kansas City premises liability attorney as soon as possible. The lawyers at Dickerson Oxton, LLC are familiar with Missouri regulations and can help hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence.

Contact a Skilled Kansas City Escalator Injury Attorney Today

Recuperating from an escalator injury may take time and money the victim doesn’t have. A personal injury claim can help provide compensation for the full extent of your damages, including:

  • Current and future medical expenses, including rehabilitation help.
  • Lost wages and any loss in earning capacity.
  • Non-financial losses such as physical and emotional pain, suffering, or loss in partnership or consortium.

Escalator injuries can be devastating, and poor engineering or neglectful maintenance shouldn’t be something victims have to pay for their entire lives. Talk to our team if you need help. We offer free consultations and our services are on a contingency-fee basis, so you only pay if we win a settlement or court judgment.

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