A fatal elevator accident in New York City last December claimed the life of a supermarket employee. The woman was loading produce into the unit in the basement of a supermarket on 43rd Street when the machine malfunctioned and moved suddenly. The victim was trapped partially inside the lift and suffered severe head trauma. She died at the scene of the accident and wasn’t discovered by other employees until several minutes after the accident.
An investigation into this tragic elevator fatality in New York uncovered some disturbing facts. Firstly, the elevator was unregistered—meaning officials couldn’t inspect it for safety violations because they didn’t even know it existed. Secondly, the elevator was illegally—and improperly—installed. Thirdly, this shoddy craftsmanship led directly to the victim’s death.
The Department of Buildings immediately issued citations to the owner of the property but that won’t help the surviving family members of the victim deal with the emotional and financial impact of such a tragic loss.
In similar cases, the victim’s surviving dependents (spouses, children, etc.) have successfully pursued compensation through wrongful death lawsuits against the owner of the building and elevator maintenance company. The claims would be for pain and suffering for the period of time the victim survived after the accident and for the amount of money she would have contributed to her household for the term of her work life expectancy. Such legal action will help the struggling families make up for the loss of income that they would need for rent, food, schooling and other living expenses. The loss of their loved one is tragic enough, much less not being able to provide for the young ones for everyday expenses.
If you’ve been injured by a faulty elevator, you cannot go this alone. You need the help of an experienced and skilled elevator accident attorney in New York City. This claim requires expert investigation and thorough knowledge of the law. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation today.