
What You Should Know About Elevator Accident Laws in Brooklyn, NY
According to figures released by the Department of Buildings (DOB) of New York City, there are more than 4,000 freight elevators and 66,000 passenger elevators in the five boroughs of New York City alone. This data took into account all elevators located within the residential, retail, and commercial properties in New York City. Elevators play a crucial role in transporting people as well as cargo in Brooklyn and thousands of Brooklynites use them every day. However, sometimes elevators are known to malfunction, causing injury or worse, death. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 26 people lose their lives in elevator-related accidents every year in America. On average, 10,200 people suffer injuries in elevator accidents every year and the majority of these accidents are caused by some sort of malfunction in elevator doors, vulnerabilities in passenger safety guidelines, and misalignment in carriages. What causes these accidents? As per the Consumer Watch website, there are several ways an elevator can malfunction, for example, defects in elevatorβs door operation, pulley systems, wiring, or poor maintenance procedures. However, property owners in Brooklyn, NY are legally responsible for taking proper care of their buildings, and thus, the elevators on the building premises. If you or someone you know has suffered injuries in an elevator accident, you may be entitled to damages if the property owner is proved to be negligent in maintaining the elevator. An attorney from the Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff law firm can evaluate the specifics of your accident and find out whether someone else was responsible for your injuries. If it turns out that someone is indeed liable, we can help you receive compensation that you deserve to cover medical bills and other losses related to your injury.