If you work or live in a place with multiple floors or have limited mobility, you likely rely on elevators to get you where you need to be. Elevators are a convenience for some and a necessity for others, but no matter what, they need to function safely. When they do not, those inside or attempting to enter can be seriously injured.

Connect with a Schaumburg personal injury lawyer from Therman Law for help if you have been hurt in an elevator accident. We have recovered over $100 million for our clients, and a Schaumburg elevator accident lawyer from our team will put the experience and knowledge that has generated that history into your case.

Types of Elevator Accidents

Complicated systems and equipment are involved in elevator functioning. Malfunctions or defects with any of those elements can lead to frightening injury-causing accidents.

Injuries can happen when:

An elevator jolts to an unexpected stop.
The elevator doors malfunction, closing on riders or opening at the wrong time.
The elevator cart goes into a free fall.
The elevator is mis-leveled and not flush with the floor for safe entry or exit.
Electrical problems cause fires in or around the elevator.
A person falls into an elevator shaft.

These events can happen on construction sites, injuring workers. Renters can also experience elevator accidents in apartment complexes, and employees or clients may have elevator accidents in office buildings.

Elevators are included in most multi-floor structures, from parking garages to hospitals to hotels. Those responsible for their safe upkeep must take care to keep the elevators functioning safely.

Determining Negligence for an Elevator Accident

For a favorable case outcome, you must prove negligence. You have to identify the at-fault party and prove that their carelessness directly caused the accident leading to your injuries and damages.

By investigating your accident carefully, your elevator accident attorney in Schaumburg can determine whom to sue in an elevator accident and fight for maximum compensation available.

Property Owners

Some elevator accident claims are premises liability cases. Property owners must maintain safe premises for guests, and when elevators are part of the property, owners are responsible for keeping them safely operational.

This obligation applies to apartment complex landlords, business complex landlords, business owners, and any other property owner or manager.

Elevator Manufacturers

The company responsible for manufacturing an elevator may be liable for accidents. There could be defects in the product’s design. The elevator could be made with unsafe or inferior materials.

Elevators comprise structural and electrical components, and all components must be built to work safely as part of a unified system.

Elevator Inspection and Maintenance Companies

Property owners must make sure to:

Comply with elevator and escalator inspection regulations established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Hire elevator inspection and maintenance companies to carry out proper inspections and note any needed repairs.
Complete the repairs before opening the elevators back up for use.

According to OSHA, “No elevator or escalator with a defect which affects safety shall be used.” Regulations also require thorough annual inspections and additional monthly inspections. Monthly records must be posted in the elevator cart itself and annual records within the elevator’s vicinity.

Other Case Circumstances

There may be more than one party responsible for an elevator accident. Sometimes, a property owner and elevator manufacturer share blame. The elevator might have a defect, but the property owner failed to organize appropriate inspections. We can help untangle those complicated situations and lead your fight for justice.

You could also experience an elevator accident at work and have grounds to file for both workers’ compensation and a third-party claim against the negligent party.

Therman Law knows all about Illinois workers’ compensation laws, and an experienced Schaumburg elevator accident attorney from our team can help you with both aspects of your case.

A Schaumburg Elevator Accident Lawyer Will Fight to Get You Compensated

Proving negligence requires evidence, and we know how to look for and find convincing documentation and other proof. We will speak to witnesses, check the elevator’s inspection and maintenance history, and interview property owners and managers. Our team also has connections to experts who are able to provide valuable insight into your accident.

Per Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS), victims of most accidents must file an injury claim within a two-year statute of limitations. A fast partnership with an elevator accident lawyer in Schaumburg is the best way to make that happen. Swift access to your case allows us to identify the negligent party and file within that time period.

After calculating your losses, your attorney will send the at-fault party a demand for compensation. Most likely, the other side will respond with a lower offer, and negotiations will continue until the sides agree.

Many injury cases resolve this way. Still, going to court may be necessary if the other side refuses to cooperate, and you can count on us for aggressive, effective trial representation.

Compensation for Elevator Accident Victims

How much compensation you receive depends on the severity of your injuries, the effects of those injuries on your life, and the extent of the at-fault party’s negligence. Though the value of these factors varies from case to case, you can expect us to work for maximum results.

We will fight for damages to cover or acknowledge your:

Related medical costs, including continuing care needs
Income loss, including future lost earnings if applicable
Other expenses incurred by the accident
Physical suffering, disfigurement, and disability
Emotional pain
Reduced quality of life

If a loved one is killed in an elevator accident, our team may still be able to help you recover damages through a wrongful death claim. You may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and other losses.

Therman Law is on Your Side

The team at Therman Law is on your side and ready to fight for justice. Connect with us for a free case review. Once we form a partnership, we will take over the legalities and all investigating and negotiating responsibilities of your case so that you can put your energy into healing.

When you’re in need of an experienced lawyer who’s committed to personalized service, Choose Charlie.