A terrifying escalator accident in New York City last year sent dozens of people to the hospital. Riders coming out of the 5th Avenue/53rd Street subway station in February scrambled to get clear as the escalator they were on began to literally fall to pieces ahead of them. Some didn’t make it out of harm’s way. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries and all the victims have since recovered.
Now, a year-long investigation into the root cause of this escalator accident in Midtown Manhattan has finally concluded and the results are likely not what the City of New York and New York City Transit Authority wanted to hear. Pawing through months of reports and maintenance logs, investigators found that the escalator failed simply because workers had been routinely ignoring necessary maintenance tasks.
The MTA’s Office of the Inspector General released the report earlier this week and it’s scathing. In it, investigators state that inspectors canceled or failed to complete three separate inspections over the course of nine months. Without necessary intervention, the guide track that keeps the individual steps of the escalator in line failed and the device began to break apart. Sadly, this isn’t the only escalator that workers failed to routinely inspect.
Indeed, in a report released by the City’s comptroller, data shows that almost 80% of the subway system’s escalators and elevators missed at least one scheduled maintenance visit.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a malfunctioning subway elevator or escalator, the City of New York and New York City Transit Authority could be liable for the financial impact of your injuries. An experienced escalator accident lawyer in New York City can help you get the compensation you deserve for pain and suffering, lost time from work and out-of-pocket expenses. Contact the experienced legal team at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel today. Call 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for a free consultation without any further delay.