Las Vegas Attorneys - Escalator and Elevator Injuries
Benson & Bingham > Areas of Practice > Elevator/Escalator Accidents

Escalators often malfunction causing a sudden stop jolting passengers.  The dangers of passengers who gleefully fail to hold on tightly are very high. Even those who do hold on can be thrown forward causing major injuries. The manufacturer or another 3rd party maintenance company often maintains the escalators.  When an accident arises, litigation often involves all three parties:  the hotel/ property owners, the manufacturer (Schindler, Otis, Schumacher), and the maintenance company.   As technology increases, the escalators and people movers rely more on computer systems to regulate traffic, speed, and emergency stops.  Our firm has experience handling these types of cases. 

Escalator attorneys are a rare breed.  We have handled cases involving major casinos and the airport where baggage can add a larger “rock slide” on an escalator.  Knee, ankle, head, arm and hand injuries are most common, however, any body part can be injured.  Older passengers have died riding elevators from sudden head trauma.  With minor children, shoelaces must be watched carefully as the escalator can literally suck in a shoestring causing horrific lower extremity injuries.  Sudden stop buttons can be accidentally depressed causing all aboard to suddenly crash.

Elevator mishaps cause the elevator to stop suddenly and/or stop on the wrong level.  Most elevators have emergency brake systems in the event of catastrophic failure: e.g. cable or hydraulic failure.

Benson and Bingham have handled many cases involving sudden stops, and elevator trap cases where the occupants may need rescue.  Given the complexity of the elevator and escalator systems, the maintenance is often handled by the manufacturer.  Aside from computer failure, lack of mechanical maintenance can lead to mal-function. If you or a loved one has been injured by one of these movers, call the experienced Las Vegas escalator and elevator attorneys at Benson and Bingham.