Reports have surfaced that the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) knew of safety violations prior to a fatal elevator accident in New York that claimed the life of 84-year old Olegario Pabon last year. In fact, some are criticizing the agency for not shutting the elevators in that building down.
Mr. Pabon was entering the elevator at Boston Road Plaza on Christmas Eve in 2015 when the lift “drifted upward.” His arm and leg were caught in the elevator causing him to fall out of the car. Mr. Pabon was rushed to the hospital where he struggled for three days before succumbing to his injuries.
The NYCHA had been notified that the lift involved was malfunctioning an hour and a half prior to the fatal elevator accident in New York. In fact, video taken just prior to the accident shows the elevator car rising upward seemingly by itself.
This revelation comes as the DOI Commissioner Mark Peters released a report detailing his agency’s investigation into this tragic elevator accident. The report reveals that safety devices installed on the elevator were not functioning properly and the elevator should have been taken out of service.
Peter’s went on to say that there were “numerous weaknesses in NYCHA’s systems for promptly communicating about and responding to elevator problems in its more than 3,000 elevators in NYCHA public housing developments . . .”
The DOI investigation also revealed the NYCHA failed to comply with New York City elevator safety regulations which require detailed records of annual inspections of all elevators. Since the accident the NYCHA has been working with the DOI to implement several changes in their inspection and reporting routine.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in any of the 80,000 elevators in the metropolitan area, you may be entitled to an award for pain and suffering for your injuries and your lost time from work. Contact an expert New York City elevator accident attorney at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel. Call for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122.