A horrific elevator accident in New York cost a lift technician his arm late last month. The unnamed individual was working on the elevator at an office building located in The Financial District on May 26th when people in the building heard a crash then “bloodcurdling” screams. Minutes later EMTs from the FDNY were seen rushing the man out of the building with bandages around the remainder of his arm and what appeared to be a large bucket of ice containing the severed limb.
The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital in serious condition. One co-worker told media outlets that the victim was “fine” and that he was undergoing surgery to hopefully reattached the arm. It appears that the man was part of a maintenance team employed by Centennial Elevator Industries working on the elevators inside the 37-story building at 50 Broadway. One person attending classes on the 8th floor of the building told reporters that the elevators were newly installed and it was likely workers were there to make adjustments to the lift.
Somehow the victim accidentally got his arm caught in the elevator’s cable wheel housed in the machinery room. When the car shifted and the cable wheel turned the tremendous pressure severed his arm below the elbow.
Even if surgeons were able to successfully reattach the man’s arm, it will be months before he can regain any use of the limb. Sadly, it would likely never be the same. He may suffer long term effects such as nerve damage, chronic pain, and even psychological trauma. If a party other than the worker’s employer contributed to this accident, those parties may be responsible for the pain and suffering of the worker’s injuries, unpaid medical expenses and lost income.
If you’ve been injured in any kind of elevator accident, having a qualified New York City elevator accident attorney on your side may be your best option for getting the compensation you deserve. The experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel can help. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for a free consultation.