Going Up?

What Queens Residents Should

Know About Elevator Tragedies

From Jamaica to Elmhurst to Flushing to Springfield Gardens, for Queens, New York residents riding elevators is a daily occurrence. According to government sources, the NYC Department  of Buildings in is in charge of overseeing and inspecting more than 58,000 elevators citywide. Elevator safety and awareness has played an important role in New York because no matter who you are and where you’re headed, chances are you’ll need a lift on an elevator eventually.

Tragic and often fatal elevator injuries are entirely too common to be ignored. The 2011 case of 41 year old Suzanne Hart, an advertising director who was fatally crushed between an elevator and a shaft wall, has done a lot to raise awareness but elevator accidents still pose a threat to New York City’s approximately 8.5 million residents and its daily throng of workers and tourists. If you are one of the many who has sustained an injury on an elevator in Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, or Staten Island a qualified injury attorney (who also maintains a Manhattan office) could help you to obtain the maximum compensation for your pain and  suffering, lost wages and permanent disability.

The Case of Suzanne Hart

According to ConsumerWatch.com, approximately 27 fatalities and 10,000 injuries occur annually in elevator accidents. Suzanne Hart was one of the 27 whose life was lost in an elevator tragedy. The incident took place in Manhattan on Madison Avenue in December of 2011. According to the New York Times, The 41 year old Brooklyn resident was wedged between the shaft wall and the enclosure. The elevator reportedly rose unexpectedly with the advertising executive caught between the doors. The elevator was allegedly inspected in June of that same year, raising the issue as to whether the elevator inspection was flawed.

Elevator Maintenance in Queens and the Other Boroughs of New York City

New York City is the most populated city in the entire nation. As such, architects have the tendency to build upward as a way of saving space. Skyscrapers and towers are a way of life in New York City and taking the stairs is not often an option. The average New York City elevator travels from floor to floor approximately 500 times in a single day and with 58,000 plus elevators running simultaneously, the average number of daily elevator rides in New York City is 29 million per day. Elevators should be properly inspected, but even when such measures are taken the general public still runs the risk of being victimized due to a malfunction caused by negligence of the building owner, property manager or elevator maintenance company.

The Complexity of Elevator Cases

Determining blameworthy parties in elevator tragedies requires a thorough investigation of everyone involved. A knowledgeable elevator injury attorney has the experience and legal knowledge that is necessary when sorting through these complicated details. If you have been injured in an elevator accident or if one of your loved one was injured or killed, it is best to contact a lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights. If you suspect that one of the elevators you frequent is problematic, it is best to contact the NYC Department of Buildings and request an immediate inspection even if an inspection has been performed recently.

For further information about elevator accident cases in any of the five boroughs of New York City, please call me toll free at (877) CALL-LAW® (225-5529) or (212) 714-0988 for a free consultation.