An MTA worker was injured in an escalator accident in Manhattan earlier this month. The man was working in the financial district when a malfunctioning escalator sent him to the hospital. An eyewitness to this terrible accident called 911 and rescue crews from multiple agencies arrived within minutes. One man was taken out via stretcher in what appeared to be serious condition. Another MTA employee was injured as well but was able to walk to the ambulance himself.
There are thousands of escalators all over New York City. They’re in subway stations, airports, malls, hotels and more. And you never can tell when a malfunction or poor maintenance is going to cause these mechanical machines to breakdown. Thankfully, most of the time safety cutouts work as designed and shut malfunctioning escalators down at the first sign of trouble. However, occasionally those failsafe measures fail and people are seriously injured.
Escalator accidents in New York City have resulted in serious, life-threatening injuries, amputation, disfigurement, and even death. The powerful motors on these moving stairways are strong enough to mangle body parts caught in the mechanism and unless emergency override procedures kick in, there’s no way for victims to stop these devices before it’s too late.
That’s why regular inspections and proper maintenance of these escalators is absolutely essential. Spotting and repairing problems before they cause injury is the only way to ensure a particular escalator is safe. And if an inspector misses a potential hazard or a repair person fails to fix an issue correctly, the very next rider on a faulty escalator could be in serious trouble.
Escalator injuries in New York fall under premises liability law. The building owner and the maintenance company hired to keep the machine in operation can be held financially liable for any physical or emotional injury that a malfunction may cause.
However, to get the compensation you deserve requires speaking with an experienced New York escalator accident attorney. Contact the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 today.