A terrifying escalator accident in Manhattan left an elderly man fighting for his life earlier this month. The 80-year old was descending an escalator at a movie theater in Midtown Manhattan when, somehow, his leg became stuck between two steps of the escalator. Firefighters rushed to the scene and had to partially dismantle the escalator to get the victim out.
Until he was extricated from being trapped in the escalator, he went through an absolutely agonizing ordeal and was in a great deal of pain. The man’s foot was mangled in the machinery. He was rushed to a nearby hospital suffering from injuries that were classified as “serious.”
Escalator accidents in New York City involving adults don’t happen by accident. Eyewitnesses stated to media outlets that they saw the escalator “bounce” an instant before the man’s foot became trapped. A proper investigation will determine if this malfunction was due to a mechanical failure or a maintenance issue. These are the questions that investigators will no doubt be asking as they try to piece together the reason behind this latest escalator failure.
Under New York City premises liability law, the owners of buildings and escalator maintenance companies have a responsibility to reasonably ensure that escalators or elevators are in proper working order. That includes maintaining a schedule of regular inspections and maintenance as well as blocking off malfunctioning machinery until it is fixed in order to prevent injuries to innocent victims.
In this case, the AMC movie theater, elevator maintenance company or perhaps the owner of the building could potentially be held financially liable for the victim’s medical expenses and pain and suffering for the injuries sustained by the elderly gentleman.
If you’ve been injured while riding an elevator or moving sidewalk in an office or public building, you need an experienced New York City escalator accident attorney on your side. Contact the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel to schedule your free consultation. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 today.