Defective Elevators

I called Matt after several people recommended him. He was very kind and did a very good job on my son’s case. We are very thankful for the work he did. Most importantly, he was never hard to reach and answered every question we had while going through the process. Matt is the only attorney I will ever call in the future.

- Emily

My husband is a cyclist that did not fair well against an SUV recently. Matt and his team took phenomenal care of us, allowing us not to stress out (too much) about the little things. Matt and his team handled everything with professionalism. We know we made the right call.

- Jane

So glad I hired this firm after my rearend car accident. Matt embodies the skill set and values I was looking for. He treats every case like a mini war, and was a zealous advocate on my behalf. And he did so in the most competent and skillful manner. He listened, was empathetic and understood my legal and nonlegal problems.

- Jared

My 85-year old mom was in a motor vehicle accident with an uninsured motorist. His love, thoroughness and commitment to her case helped us through this accident and her cancer treatment. She underwent successful lobectomy and chemotherapy and is doing exceptionally well. We are immensely grateful.

- Lindy

It was important to me to get the maximum money I could for my broken neck and arm. After getting jerked around for months by State Farm, I interviewed several firms and chose Mr. Wetherington. I’m glad I did. He forced the insurance company to pay twenty times their last offer to me.

- Veronica

It is an honor to share my experience with Mr. Wetherington. He was able to get answers about what happened in my son’s wreck that other attorney’s were not able to do. I am so thankful for the work that he did and he was very thorough in his explanation of why the vehicle had a “defect.”

- Anonymous

My case did not settle. The person that hit me only had minimal policy limits. Fortunately, I had my own insurance, which should have provided more money. My insurance company, Allstate, treated me like garbage. We had to sue them and go all the way to trial, which we won.

- Jane Doe

Matt Wetherington is the attorney who is suing the booting companies. We need to do everything we can as a community to help him succeed. God bless you, Mr. Wetherington!

- Michael

The best! Great people and always friendly.

- Jamal

Georgia Defective Elevator Lawyer

Elevator injuries are rare. However, when a loved one is seriously injured in an elevator, your perspective is permanently changed. Approximately thirty people die in elevator accidents each year. Approximately seventeen thousand people are injured. For these people, the consequences are extreme.

Although data and statistics on elevators injuries are difficult to find, it is clear that home elevators present a very clear and present danger, especially to children. The worst part is that elevator companies are completely aware of the problem but do very little to eliminate that danger.

If you are a loved one has been injured by an elevator accident, contact the elevator accident injury lawyers at the Wetherington Law Firm for help. Read on to learn more about elevator defects and how we can help your family.

Elevator Defects

There are three basic types of elevators:

Manual: Elevators operated by an attendant. These elevators often have double gates and, because they are typically older elevators, they do not typically have the safety features inherent in more modern elevators.
Automatic: Elevators operated by passengers.
Escalators: Electronically powered staircases that are similar to elevators.

Home models of elevators can be both manual and modern. Although manual elevators are being phased out in both commercial and residential buildings because they are more dangerous than automatic elevators.

Although commercial elevators are very safe these days compared to much earlier models, there still have defects that can cause catastrophic injuries. Typically, when elevators fail mechanically, these are the common issues:

Malfunction of the pulley system
Mechanical failure causing the elevator to drop rapidly (free fall)
Open elevator shafts
Faulty doors or other failures protecting entering and exiting passengers
Faulty wiring, control malfunctions, or electrocution
Neglectful repairs or maintenance
Improper inspections
Elevators fails to level itself resulting in an uneven surface between the elevator car and the floor outside its doors
A fire within the building causes entrapment or a wiring malfunction

Residential Elevator Problems

Home elevator designs differ dramatically from commercial elevators. In residential elevators, most designs have two doors. The outer door looks like every other door in your house. The inner door is often an accordion-style door. The problem with this design is that there is a small gap between the two doors that can trap small children, leading to serious injuries and death. Children can easily become caught between the two doors and are crushed when the elevator moves as the child’s body is pinned between the two doors.

Industry standards previously only allowed a four-inch gap between these two doors but was increased to 5 inches. The inner accordion-style doors are flexible and allow ever more space between the two doors.

The saddest part about these design standards is that elevator companies are aware of the issue. Safety measures such as sensors are available but are at an additional cost. Doors can be easily fitted with a device to eliminate this gap.

There are an estimated 125,000 home elevators in use in homes across America. Many are found in vacation homes that are rented to families. Although instructions are provided for renters, small unattended children are often injured or, tragically killed due to these design defects.

Home elevator installation is also a culprit in accidents. Many elevator companies do not require certification or specialized training for the contractors doing the elevator installation.

Elevator companies, such as Schindler, Otis and Abell have had successful personal injury claims filed against them over the years. These cases have proved that these companies could have taken better precautions to prevent injuries and fatalities as a result of these design flaws. It is very clear that child elevator entrapments, injuries and deaths are a consistent issue. More elevator lawsuits holding these companies financially responsible are necessary to put an end to the known design defects.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an elevator accident, you should call an experienced elevator accident lawyer. The elevator accident team at the Wetherington Law firms provides free consultation to review the details of your accident and will fight to ensure you receive the compensation you are due to help you pay for the costs associated with these types of injuries.

Compensation for an Elevator Accident

Since elevator accidents often have such a catastrophic impact on the victim, the related costs can be very expensive. There are many factors and expenses involved in determining damages (the monetary value) for your injury.

The types of damages you can be awarded include:

Medical expenses
Pain management
Assistive devices
Physical Therapy
Lost wages/ Job loss
Lost earning capacity
Assisted living
Home renovation
Disfigurement
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Disability
Embarrassment
Loss of quality of life
Other injuries

For more information on how damages are determined in personal injury cases, see our Damages article. See our series of articles on personal injury law procedures if you are interested in learning more about this legal process.

Who is Responsible for Elevator Accidents?

Every accident is different. Determining responsibility for the accident depends on the individual circumstances of each case. In elevator accidents, the following types of individuals can be found to be responsible for these accidents:

Building owners
Elevator maintenance companies
Elevator design companies
Elevator manufacturing companies
Elevator installation companies

Hiring an Elevator Accident Injury Lawyer

Elevator accidents are typically due to another party’s negligence. Personal injury law is complex. The only way to ensure you receive all the compensation you deserve is by hiring a lawyer to protect your rights.

Insurance company representatives are not your friends. Attempting to deal with an insurance company on your own often has disastrous results. Insurance companies hire skilled negotiators as adjusters who are very good at convincing you that they are on your side and are offering you fair compensation for your injury. This goes for both your own insurance company and the insurance company of the other party involved in your accident. Don’t fall for it.

Anything you say to an insurance company representative can be used against you later. Do not talk directly with the representatives of any insurance companies that may contact you.

Determining who is responsible for accidents is a complicated process. There are often intricate paper trails and complex legal principles involved. And, time is of the essence. Evidence can disappear and there are deadlines to meet in order to file a lawsuit.

The first step is to meet with an experienced elevator accident lawyer to discuss the facts of your case. They will help you determine the range of damages you could receive if your lawsuit is successful. Next, they will begin the process by putting their talented legal team to work. This team will:

Draft a statement of your memory of the accident.
Investigate the details of your accident.
Secure evidence by gathering police reports, ambulance reports, fire department reports, interviews with personnel on the scene, and photographs.
Scrutinize medical records.
Speak with medical experts to determine the seriousness of your injury and the extent of future medical costs.
Hire accident experts to determine the cause of the accident and the responsible party.
Negotiate with insurance company representatives.

Skilled legal assistance will determine the responsible party and pursue your compensation claim so you can focus on healing and moving forward in your life. We maintain the highest standards of care for our clients and do not confuse our clients with complicated legal jargon. Best of all, our representation does not cost you any out-of-pocket money. We only get paid if you receive compensation for your injury.