The holiday season is coming and it is that time of the year for shopping in crowded malls. When it comes to shopping and traveling, November and December are without a doubt the busiest months of the year. With so much excitement going around, people tend to forget about elevator and escalator safety while moving through the crowds. You should keep in mind that you can prevent most accidents by following simple tips for escalator and elevator safety.
Guidelines to Keep You Safe on Elevators
There are certain guidelines that you should keep in mind while you are boarding and riding elevators, including:
- Always board the elevator after passengers have cleared.
- Watch your step – the floor and the elevator car may not be perfectly level.
- Be careful and stand clear of the elevator doors – keep your carry-ons and clothing from the opening.
- Always make sure that you firmly hold children and pets. If your pet is on a leash, make sure that it is on the same side of the door so that the door does not close on the leash.
- When the car arrives, let passengers who are nearest to the door enter first.
- If you need the door held open, push the “door open” button and hold it, or ask someone to do it for you.
- If you need to get into a car, never try to stop the door from closing – wait for the next car to come.
- Once you are on-board the car, press the button for your floor quickly and move to the back so that you make room for other passengers.
- If available, hold the rail or stand against the wall – it will help in preventing you from falling.
- Pay attention to the floor announcements and indications when they are provided.
- When the elevator stops, but the doors refuse to open, simply push the “door open” button.
If you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, keep in mind that there are several safety devices in all elevators. One of these devices is the brakes, which will stop the elevator car if there is something wrong and it is unable to operate properly.
Who is Potentially Liable for Elevator Accidents?
The nature of the elevator accident plays a role in determining the liable party for the accident. Individuals who may be held liable for elevator accidents include:
- The owner of the building where the elevator is located
- Manufacturers of the elevator
- Designers of the elevator
- Any elevator maintenance firm that the owners hire to repair or inspect the elevator
- Companies who install the elevator
- Attendants who have the responsibility of operating a manual operator
If you or a loved one has been injured in an elevator accident, you should call up a personal injury attorney at the well-known Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff Law firm at 212-344-1000. You can discuss the facts of your case for free. The first meeting is free. What do you have to say? RMFW Law only takes a percentage of the final amount if you win or settle and much of the time our settlement is like winning. You pay us nothing up front. RMFW Law accepts the risk; if we lose you owe us nothing. But we plan on winning. We have been down this road before!
