Elevators and escalators are everywhere in Conshohocken and the greater Philadelphia area, from the office towers along Fayette Street and the shops at Plymouth Meeting Mall to SEPTA stations and high-rise buildings near the Schuylkill Expressway. Most people ride them without a second thought. But when a property owner or maintenance company fails to keep this equipment safe, the results can be devastating. If you or someone you love was hurt in an elevator or escalator accident in Conshohocken, PA, you have legal rights, and Philadelphia Адвокат по травмам MyPhillyLawyer is here to help you understand them. Our principal office is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Оглавление

• Насколько опасны несчастные случаи в лифтах и на эскалаторах в Пенсильвании?
• Pennsylvania Law Requires Regular Elevator and Escalator Inspections
• Who Can Be Held Liable After an Elevator or Escalator Accident in Conshohocken?
• What Compensation Can You Recover After an Elevator or Escalator Accident?
• How Long Do You Have to File an Elevator Accident Claim in Pennsylvania?
• FAQs About Conshohocken PA Elevator and Escalator Accident Claims

Насколько опасны несчастные случаи в лифтах и на эскалаторах в Пенсильвании?

These accidents happen more often than most people realize. Incidents involving elevators and escalators kill about 30 and seriously injure about 17,000 people each year in the United States, according to data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. That is not a small number.

Elevators cause almost 90% of the deaths and 60% of serious injuries. So while escalator accidents draw a lot of attention, elevator malfunctions are actually the bigger danger. Think about how many elevators you pass through in a single week in Conshohocken, whether at an office building near the Conshohocken train station, a parking garage on Fayette Street, or a hotel along the I-76 corridor.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that 75% of escalator injuries resulted from falls, 20% from entrapment at the bottom or top of an escalator or between a moving stair and escalator sidewall, and 5% from other causes. Entrapment injuries are especially serious, and children are particularly at risk. About half of the approximately 1,000 sidewall-entrapment injuries each year involve children under age five.

Common elevator injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and soft tissue damage. These are the same catastrophic injury types that can affect your ability to work, care for your family, and enjoy your life. The injury you suffer in a few seconds can take months or years to recover from, and some injuries are permanent.

The key point is this: most of these accidents are preventable. When they happen because a property owner or maintenance company cut corners, Pennsylvania law gives you the right to hold them accountable.

Pennsylvania Law Requires Regular Elevator and Escalator Inspections

Pennsylvania takes elevator and escalator safety seriously, and state law sets clear obligations for building owners. Under Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code, the Department of Labor and Industry has sole jurisdiction over elevator and escalator safety throughout the state, including in the Philadelphia region, governed by 34 Pa. Code Chapter 405 and Chapter 7.

Under 34 Pa. Code § 405.7, a construction code official or a third-party agency must conduct periodic inspections at intervals not exceeding six months for electric elevators, hydraulic elevators, and escalators. That is a strict schedule, and failing to meet it is a violation of Pennsylvania law.

An elevator or lifting device may not be operated unless the Department issues a certificate of operation, which is only issued after the equipment passes inspection. The certificate of operation must be posted in the elevator car or attached to the controller in the machine room. If you ever ride an elevator and do not see that certificate posted, that is a warning sign.

When an approved inspector finds a violation that creates a dangerous condition, the inspector must immediately notify the building owner and advise them to place the elevator out of service. The inspector then notifies the local elevator inspector so a seal can be placed on the elevator, and no elevator may be operated after being placed out of service until the violations are corrected and approved by the Department.

When a building owner ignores these rules and someone gets hurt, that failure to comply with 34 Pa. Code Chapter 405 becomes powerful evidence of negligence in your personal injury claim.

Who Can Be Held Liable After an Elevator or Escalator Accident in Conshohocken?

Liability in these cases rarely falls on just one party. Multiple defendants can share responsibility, and Pennsylvania law addresses exactly how that works.

Potential liable parties include the building owner, the property management company, the elevator maintenance contractor, the manufacturer of the elevator or escalator, and even a tenant who controls the space where the equipment is located. In Conshohocken, that could mean a corporate landlord managing office space near the Schuylkill River, a national retail chain at a shopping center, or a hotel operator along the I-276 corridor.

Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rule, found at 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102, governs how fault is divided among multiple parties. Under this statute, each defendant is liable for their proportionate share of fault. However, if a single defendant is found to be at least 60% responsible for your injuries, that defendant faces joint and several liability, meaning they can be held responsible for the full amount of damages awarded.

This matters in elevator and escalator cases because the facts often point to multiple failures. A manufacturer may have produced a defective component. A maintenance company may have skipped required inspections. A building owner may have received violation notices and done nothing. Each of those failures can be assigned a percentage of fault, and your attorney’s job is to make sure all of it is accounted for.

You also need to know that Pennsylvania’s comparative fault rule bars your recovery entirely if you are found more than 50% at fault for your own injuries. That is why having an experienced attorney on your side matters from the very start.

What Compensation Can You Recover After an Elevator or Escalator Accident?

Pennsylvania personal injury law allows injured victims to pursue compensation for the full range of harm they have suffered. This includes both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages cover the financial losses you can document. Medical bills, hospital stays, surgery costs, physical therapy, prescription medications, and future medical care all fall into this category. If your injuries kept you out of work, you can claim lost wages. If your earning capacity is permanently reduced, that future income loss is also recoverable.

Non-economic damages cover the human costs that are harder to put a number on. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact your injuries have had on your relationships are all compensable under Pennsylvania law. For serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or amputations, these non-economic damages can be substantial.

In cases involving a wrongful death, Pennsylvania’s Wrongful Death Act at 42 Pa. C.S. § 8301 allows surviving family members to recover economic damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, and the financial support the deceased would have provided. These cases are among the most serious our firm handles, and we approach them with the care and attention they deserve.

If you were injured while on the job in an elevator or escalator accident, you may also have a workers’ compensation claim under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, 77 P.S. § 1 et seq. Workers’ compensation and a personal injury lawsuit can sometimes both apply, depending on the circumstances. An attorney can help you understand which paths are available to you.

How Long Do You Have to File an Elevator Accident Claim in Pennsylvania?

Time limits are real and they are strict. Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524, Pennsylvania gives most personal injury victims two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Miss that deadline and your claim is almost certainly gone, no matter how strong the evidence is.

Two years may feel like plenty of time, but it goes faster than you think. Evidence needs to be preserved quickly. Inspection records, maintenance logs, surveillance footage, and witness accounts can all disappear or become harder to obtain as time passes. In a building in Conshohocken or anywhere in Montgomery County, that surveillance footage may be overwritten within days or weeks.

There are limited exceptions to the two-year rule. If the injured person is a minor, the clock may not start running until they turn 18. If a government entity owns or operates the property where the accident occurred, special notice requirements and shorter deadlines may apply, so acting fast is even more critical in those situations.

The bottom line is this: do not wait. The sooner you contact MyPhillyLawyer, the sooner we can start protecting your rights and building your case. Call us at (215) 227-2727 or Toll Free: 866-352-4572 to speak with our team today. There is no cost to have a conversation about what happened to you.

FAQs About Conshohocken PA Elevator and Escalator Accident Claims

What should I do immediately after an elevator or escalator accident in Conshohocken?

Seek medical attention first, even if you feel like your injuries are minor. Some injuries, like traumatic brain injuries or internal damage, do not show obvious symptoms right away. After getting care, report the accident to the building manager or property owner and ask for a written incident report. If you can, take photos of the equipment, the area where the accident happened, and any visible injuries. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Do not sign anything from the property owner or their insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Call MyPhillyLawyer at (215) 227-2727 to discuss your next steps.

Can I sue if the elevator or escalator was recently inspected?

Yes. A recent inspection does not automatically protect a property owner from liability. Inspections can miss defects, and problems can develop between inspection cycles. If the equipment was improperly maintained, if a known defect was not repaired, or if the inspection itself was not conducted properly under 34 Pa. Code Chapter 405, you may still have a strong claim. The inspection record is one piece of evidence among many, and an attorney can help you evaluate the full picture.

What if I was partially at fault for the elevator or escalator accident?

Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102. As long as your share of fault is 50% or less, you can still recover compensation. Your total award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a jury finds you were 20% at fault and awards $100,000, you would receive $80,000. Only if your fault exceeds 50% are you completely barred from recovering. Do not assume that being partially at fault means you have no case. Talk to an attorney first.

Who pays for my medical bills while my elevator accident case is pending?

This depends on your situation. If you have health insurance, that typically covers your treatment while your claim is resolved. If the accident happened at work, workers’ compensation under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, 77 P.S. § 1 et seq., may cover medical costs from the start. In some cases, a personal injury protection policy may also apply. Your attorney can help you identify all available coverage and make sure your medical care does not fall through the cracks while your case moves forward.

How does MyPhillyLawyer handle elevator and escalator accident cases?

MyPhillyLawyer handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We investigate the accident, gather inspection records and maintenance logs, consult with engineering experts when needed, and build a case aimed at holding the responsible parties fully accountable. We serve clients in Conshohocken, throughout Montgomery County, and across the Philadelphia region. To get started, call us at (215) 227-2727 or Toll Free: 866-352-4572.

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