Monday, December 31, 2012. You can find elevators in nearly every building in New York City. People who step into an elevator assume they have been maintained properly and are safe to use. Sadly, that is not always the case, and injuries sustained in an elevator accident can be devastating and even deadly.
An elderly man was involved in an elevator accident recently and taken to the hospital in critical condition after firefighters were able to free him. The accident happened around 5 p.m. in Harlem. The 85-year-old man became trapped between the first and second floors of the building. His body was reportedly inside the elevator and his feet were hanging outside. Unfortunately, it appears that there have been problems with the building’s elevators before. A resident in the building says that the elevators often require repairs. People in New York City should be able to expect that the elevators they use on a daily basis are safe. When people suffer injuries as a result of a property owner’s negligence, they may be able to pursue legal action. A successful premises liability lawsuit may alleviate financial burdens as a result of costly medical services. Compensation may even be obtained to make up for lost wages when people are unable to work because of their injuries. Property owners must do all that they can to protect people from serious accidents in New York City and beyond. When areas of a building are unsafe, property owners must be sure innocent bystanders are properly warned. If not, they may be held responsible for their negligence. Source: WABC-TV, “Elderly man critical after being trapped in elevator,” Dec. 31, 2012