Common Injuries in Elevator Accidents

Chicago Attorneys Advocating for the Rights of Victims

Elevators are a regular part of many people’s daily routines in Illinois and across the country. Many businesses, apartment complexes, and shopping malls use elevators to get people from one floor to another. Unfortunately, elevator accidents are more common than you may think. These accidents can cause serious injuries or even death.

If you or a loved one was injured in an elevator accident, you need to seek the help of a skilled Chicago elevator injury lawyer who can assess the facts of your case. At Therman Law Offices, we are familiar with common injuries in elevator accidents, and we are dedicated to holding negligent parties accountable for the harm that they cause. You can rest assured that we can protect your rights at every step of the way.

Common Injuries in Elevator Accidents in Illinois

Sudden stops, broken cables, power failures, and faulty doors are all factors that can cause or contribute to elevator accidents and resulting injuries. Elevator accidents can cause a number of different types of injuries, including the following examples:

• Arms, hands, legs, or feet being crushed between elevator doors when they unexpectedly shut;
• Head injuries due to sudden elevator stops or unexpected movements;
• Neck injuries due to sudden elevator stops or jolts;
• Back injuries, including paralysis, due to overcrowding accidents in an elevator;
• Broken bones due to slip and fall accidents as people enter or exit an elevator; or
• Burn injuries from electrical or circuit failures.

Property owners have an obligation to make sure that elevators are properly maintained and in safe working order so that people do not get hurt. This duty includes regular inspections and compliance with all relevant regulations. When a victim is injured in an elevator accident, there may be a number of at-fault parties, such as the property owner, the elevator maintenance company, the property management company, or a combination of these parties. Since there may be more than one liable party, a skilled attorney will take the time to determine each and every potential defendant.

Elevator injury cases are complex but are often rooted in the legal principle of negligence. A party is negligent when that party causes an injury or death by failing to adhere to the level of care that a reasonably prudent party would exercise under the same or similar circumstances. In order to hold a defendant accountable for your harm under the theory of negligence, you must establish that the property owner or another responsible party owed you a certain duty of care, the property owner or other defendant breached the duty of care, and the property owner or other defendant’s breach was a direct cause of the accident and your injuries.

If liability is established, injured victims may be able to recover a range of damages. Some of these damages may include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, pain and suffering, disability, and any other losses stemming from the accident. Of course, the exact amount of compensation that a victim receives will vary depending on the nature and extent of the harm suffered. The money typically comes through a settlement agreement, or a jury can award it after a trial if a case reaches that stage. It can be a lump sum amount, or it can be paid in installments over a certain period of time.

Contact a Dedicated Injury Attorney in Chicago to Discuss Your Situation

If you have been hurt in an elevator accident, you may be entitled to compensation. At Therman Law Offices, our seasoned Chicago attorneys have extensive experience in this area of the law and can apply that knowledge to your case. We understand that dealing with injuries after an elevator accident is not only painful but also stressful to your entire family. We represent people who are seeking an injury lawyer in many cities throughout Illinois, including Wheaton, Schaumburg, Norwood Park, Edison Park, Harwood Heights, Norridge, Elmwood Park, Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Rosemont, Elk Grove Village, and Mt. Prospect. For more information on how you can pursue damages for common injuries in elevator accidents, call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.