Escalators and elevators are located in hotels, resorts, shopping centers, and parking garages around Myrtle Beach. Mechanical malfunctions can lead to serious injuries, but the cause of an accident may not be obvious to victims. A Myrtle Beach escalator and elevator accident lawyer at Axelrod & Associates, P.A., can help explain what happened and how poor maintenance, defective parts, and unsafe operation contributed to the incident.
We can review the facts in the early stages of a case, so clients know what to document and how to preserve their rights.
The attorneys at our firm have more than 100 years of combined experience handling complex premises liability and mechanical failure cases. We can review maintenance logs, inspection records, and manufacturer recommendations to establish how the escalator or elevator malfunctioned.
With local offices in Myrtle Beach and Little River, our attorneys are also familiar with the building codes, construction practices, and property management standards in the area. Our clients work directly with the lawyer assigned to their cases, and there are no fees for the initial consultation.
Elevators and escalators can experience various types of malfunctions that may be caused by worn-out parts, software issues, missed checks, or incomplete repairs. Escalators may stop suddenly, have misaligned steps, or experience gaps where clothing or footwear can get caught. Elevators may have leveling issues, door malfunctions, and sudden jolts between floors.
Minor defects in escalators and elevators become more dangerous when heavy equipment is carrying people in crowded areas. Maintenance companies, property owners, and equipment manufacturers all have individual responsibilities that influence the level of safety. Examining who controlled the equipment and how they managed maintenance can help identify who may be liable after a malfunction causes an injury.
If the matter is serious, your counsel should be exceptional.
Hotels, resorts, and shopping centers in Myrtle Beach have higher-than-average foot traffic, especially during tourism season. This activity places heavy and consistent use on elevators and escalators. Hotels along Ocean Boulevard, shopping centers near Broadway at the Beach, and multi-level garages near Coastal Grand Mall all rely on equipment designed to be used frequently.
That high volume of visitors degrades mechanical systems quickly, and many older buildings in coastal areas also have equipment that requires special care. Seasonal staffing changes may also affect how quickly problems are addressed. A local attorney will be familiar with these unique patterns. They can explain what happened and why the equipment was vulnerable at the time of the incident.
Accident statistics can help show why investigating a case early can be so important. CDC and NIOSH data indicate that around 30 individuals are killed each year as a result of elevator and escalator incidents across the United States.
The same statistics highlight over a 30% increase in the number of injuries that were serious enough to require hospital treatment among the general public from 2007 to 2017. Another CDC study identified 145 deaths among construction workers from 2011 to 2016 after elevator-related incidents.
These statistics can demonstrate how frequently mechanical malfunctions and oversights can lead to serious injuries, which is why it is important to secure evidence before it disappears.
Escalator and elevator cases can rest on documentation that is controlled by property managers or maintenance contractors. Details that can help victims prove what happened can vanish in a short time after the incident is cleaned up.
Early information gathering can help establish what happened. A well-documented record allows professionals and insurers to determine how the malfunction occurred. Helpful evidence may include the following:
Yes, a property owner can be responsible for mechanical failures, but typically only if the property owner did not maintain the equipment, skipped required inspections, or used expired parts.
Hotels, resorts, and shopping centers are required to adhere to maintenance schedules and retain detailed repair logs. When those duties are neglected or performed poorly, the owner or managing company may be held responsible for injuries related to the mechanical failure.
It’s possible for an escalator or an elevator to look and sound normal immediately before it fails. Electrical issues, worn treads, faulty sensors, or misaligned leveling plates may not be obvious to riders. Accident investigators often review maintenance logs, inspection histories, and technician notes to identify underlying problems. Repair records can also be used to establish how long an issue existed and whether it should have been caught and repaired earlier.
An incident report is a way of creating a contemporaneous written record of the events. You should always ask for a copy of the report before you leave the property. Employee summaries may be cursory, so photographing the scene and writing your own notes preserves important details. Retain a copy of both documents for accuracy later when an insurer or investigator inquires about the incident.
Escalator and elevator accidents can leave vacationers and residents with pain, medical questions, and concerns about why the equipment malfunctioned. Examining the cause of the failure and whether property owners or maintenance crews followed safety procedures and regulations will often determine liability.
The attorneys with Axelrod & Associates, P.A., review maintenance logs, talk with witnesses, and review inspection history to develop a detailed understanding of what went wrong. We go over each stage of the process, so our clients understand what evidence to keep and how the legal process unfolds.
If you have questions, you can contact our firm for a consultation and retain an escalator and elevator accident lawyer.
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The staff at Axelrod&Associates is far none the best on the grand strand.they have taken care of 5 different cases for me and they went way above my expectations. Heather,Kelly ,Stuart and notably the best paralegal in the business…”Jenna” are so professional and most of all….caring. A million thanks to everyone there.
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Our attorneys handle a wide range of legal concerns ranging from personal injury, to traffic tickets to criminal charges to on-the-job injuries, to divorce and custody matters, to social security and veterans administration disability claims.
4701 Oleander Drive, Suite A
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-484-3983
1550 N. Oak St.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-390-9090
1510 Ebenezer Road
Rock Hill, SC 29732
803-956-1224
3700 Golf Colony Ln
Little River, SC 29566
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