What You Should Do After an Elevator Accident in New Jersey

At times, it almost seems as if our county, particularly its seat New Brunswick, is competing with not-so-distant Manhattan in the construction of high-rises and other tall buildings. That is in addition to the existing office buildings, hospitals, parking garages, nursing homes, apartment buildings, condominiums, malls, dorms and more that already dot Middlesex County’s skyline. All of these multi-story buildings necessitate the presence of elevators for those who want to or need to avoid taking the stairs. However, elevators are not without perils, especially for unwary passengers. If you have sustained injuries in an elevator accident, please read on, then contact one of our experienced Middlesex County elevator accident attorneys to learn what you should do after an elevator accident in New Jersey.

What you should do after an elevator accident in New Jersey

You need to document as much evidence as possible. This evidence can be in the form of photographs or videos, witness statements and/or incident reports from first responders. The purpose of this evidence is to illustrate that 1) you were authorized to be in that elevator, 2) you were paying sufficient attention to your surroundings, 3) you wore appropriate clothing, 4) that the dangerous condition was not cordoned off by cones or signage and 5) the dangerous condition was not readily obvious to the average person.

What are the most common causes of elevator accidents in New Jersey?

If only property owners, manufacturers, installers and inspectors took basic safety precautions, most elevator accidents would be prevented. The causes are as follows:

• Misleveling (when an elevator fails to stop at the floor’s level)
• Excessive speed
• Lack of proper maintenance and safety inspections
• Defective doors
• Falls into elevator shafts
• Faulty wiring
• Dangerous design

Who can you hold liable for an elevator accident in New Jersey?

If you’ve sustained injuries in an elevator accident, you can hold the property owners liable for injuries or deaths occurring on their premises, which result from negligent maintenance. In case of design or production defects, you can hold manufacturers liable. And lastly, you can hold installers and inspectors accountable for improper or inadequate procedures. Keep in mind that you usually have two years, from the date of the accident, to file a claim in New Jersey, but each case is different. If you are not sure where you stand, reach out to a skilled Middlesex County personal injury attorney to discuss your next steps.