With proper installation and maintenance, elevators and escalators should not be any more dangerous than going up or down a set of non-moving stairs. Unfortunately, not every property owner is as diligent about keeping their equipment in as good shape as they should, and that sometimes leads to serious malfunctions in these machines, which can cause devastating injuries to the people using them.
Elevator or escalator accidents in Reno happen occasionally; if you were recently injured in this type of incident, you may have grounds to take legal action against (and demand civil compensation from) more than one negligent person. That said, premises liability claims can be challenging to pursue, even under the most favorable circumstances, so seek the help of a slip and fall lawyer from Shook & Stone to give your case the best chance of success.
Holding the Right People Accountable for Injuries
All property owners in Nevada have a legal duty of care that requires them to fix hazardous conditions on their property and warn lawful visitors of any hazards they know about but have yet to fix. In some cases, they must even inspect their property regularly to discover new hazards reasonably soon after they appear. As a result, in Reno, the party most directly to blame for an escalator or elevator accident is generally the owner of the building where that escalator or elevator is installed, as they are directly responsible for ensuring that the machine is safe and in working order.
In some situations, though, the fault for this sort of accident may lie partially, or even primarily, with a third party other than the landowner—for example, a service technician who failed to do their job properly and allowed a faulty elevator or escalator to go without important repairs. Likewise, if an elevator or escalator malfunctions specifically because of a flaw in its design or manufacturing, liability for an ensuing injury might lie mainly with the company that made and sold the machine in the first place.
Getting Paid Fairly for All Compensable Losses
Regardless of who specifically is at fault for an injury caused by a dangerous escalator or elevator in Reno, as the injured person, you can seek restitution through a civil lawsuit or settlement demand for every negative effect your injury will ever have on you. This can include both economic and non-economic forms of harm, such as:
- Short-term and long-term medical bills
- Physical pain and suffering
- Various expenses stemming from personal property damage/loss
- Emotional and psychological trauma
- Lost working capacity or work income
- Lost enjoyment of life and other effects of permanent disability/disfigurement
Guidance from our seasoned attorneys at Shook & Stone can be crucial, not just to identify all the losses you can seek recovery for in your unique situation, but also to assign each of them a fair financial value during settlement negotiations or a civil court trial.
Contact a Reno Attorney for Help After an Elevator or Escalator Accident
Falling or getting hurt in any other way on an elevator or escalator can be a frightening and debilitating experience. On top of that, filing a lawsuit over this sort of accident can be difficult on many levels, especially if this is your first time trying to pursue civil compensation for the effects of another person’s misconduct.
At Shook & Stone, we know exactly how harmful elevator and escalator accidents in Reno can be, and we also know exactly how to build strong civil claims over injuries like yours. Call today to arrange a free initial consultation to discuss your options.
