Binghamton’s Dangerous Elevators and Escalators

One Step Away from Disaster

You step into an elevator, press the button, and anticipate a smooth ride. But what if, rather than glide up to your floor, it lurches to a halt? Or worse, plummets to the ground? In a fraction of a second, a quick trip to the mall, a hotel, or an office building turns into a harrowing experience. Busted elevators and escalators result in major injuries, and when they do, someone is accountable. That's why having skilled personal injury lawyers on your side can be the difference between a successful case and a lost one.

If you've been injured due to a broken elevator or escalator, you shouldn't have to go through it all by yourself. We understand at Horn Wright, LLP, how traumatic these accidents are. Medical expenses add up, and you may be unemployed. The last thing you want to do is battle it out in court alone. Our personal injury lawyers are here to ensure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.

How Do You Prove a Building Owner Ignored a Dangerous Elevator?

Property owners in Binghamton have a responsibility to keep their elevators safe. If they ignore warning signs and someone gets hurt, that’s negligence, plain and simple. But proving it isn’t always easy. You’ll need solid evidence.

Key Evidence That Can Prove Negligence in Your Case

To win your case, you’ll need to show that the building owner knew, or should have known, about the problem and didn’t fix it. Here’s what can help:

Maintenance Records – If there are gaps in servicing or ignored repair recommendations, that’s a huge red flag. An elevator in Binghamton’s Government Plaza reportedly skipped maintenance for months before a major malfunction.

Inspection Reports – All New York State elevators are required to be inspected once a year. If a property owner disregarded a failed inspection and continued to operate the elevator, they might be held liable for negligence.

Surveillance Footage – Video footage is a game-saver. At one Binghamton office complex, security footage revealed doors constantly misaligning before someone was finally injured.

Witness Testimony – Co-workers and visitors might have seen the problem months before your fall. Employees at the Oakdale Mall complained about escalator issues for weeks before a nasty fall by someone.

Expert Opinion – Engineers and safety inspectors can dissect exactly what happened. Some of the older buildings in Binghamton still employ antiquated elevator systems that are accidents waiting to happen.

If you can obtain this type of evidence, it may prove that the building owner was aware of the risk but did nothing about it.

Are Binghamton Safety Inspections a Rubber Stamp?

Binghamton does have elevator inspection mandates, but are they actually making individuals safe, or is it simply a box-checking process?

How Inspection Failures Cause Severe Injuries

Some inspectors are not as serious about the job as they should be. When they take shortcuts, hazardous elevators remain in use. Here's where things go wrong:

• Cutting corners on safety tests – Some inspectors fail to thoroughly test brakes or emergency stop systems. In a Binghamton high-rise, a brake malfunction created a harrowing free fall that hurt several individuals.
• Forgetting about old parts – Worn cables, bad sensors, and flimsy door mechanisms result in catastrophes. In 2019, a survey discovered some of the elevators in older city center buildings had their original decades-old cables still intact.
• Ignoring re-inspection – If an elevator doesn't pass a safety inspection, it should be disabled until it passes. But others continue to run anyway. A hotel close to the Greater Binghamton Airport continued to run an elevator weeks after a failed inspection, blaming "administrative delays."

If your failure to pass an inspection contributed to your injury, the mall owner, or even the city, could be at fault. An experienced personal injury lawyer can assist you in figuring out who's liable and in getting you the compensation that you deserve.

Can You Sue for an Elevator Injury in a Binghamton Mall, Hotel, or Business?

Yes. If you were injured because a property owner failed to keep their elevators safe, you can pursue legal action.

When Property Owners Are Liable for Defective Elevators

A property owner may be liable if:

They neglected regular maintenance. New York law mandates regular servicing, but many owners skimp on maintenance in order to save money.

They disregarded a known flaw. At one area apartment building, residents continued to report a malfunctioning elevator. The problem was dismissed until an elderly resident fell and got seriously hurt.

Safety mechanisms weren't functioning. A Binghamton mall shopper broke their wrist when an elevator's emergency stop malfunctioned, producing a sudden jolt.

The lift was overloaded with malfunctioning weight sensors. A few old models don't efficiently pick up weight thresholds, which can cause the elevator to stall or fall at once.

If one or more of these sounds like what happened to you, you may have a winning case on your side.

Who Is Responsible When A Binghamton Elevator Becomes A Trap?

It depends. More than one party could be held accountable, depending on how the trap occurred.

Demystifying Responsibility: Who's Held Accountable?

• Property Owners & Managers – If they neglected to do maintenance or missed safety checks, they are liable. A downtown Binghamton property owner was sued for consistently postponing repairs when they were complained about by tenants.
• Elevator Maintenance Companies – If they performed sloppily in repairs, they might be at fault. A large service firm was sued when it failed to replace a bad pulley system, which soon snapped.
• Manufacturers – If the elevator itself was faulty, then the manufacturer may be liable. In 2020, a malfunctioning door sensor in a Binghamton hospital elevator resulted in several injuries when doors closed suddenly.
• Third-Party Vendors – If a misinstallation or modification was performed improperly, the contractor could be liable. Incorrect installations frequently result in misaligned floors, which are hazardous for tripping.

Finding out who is at fault is the key to receiving the compensation you're entitled to.

From Falls to Crushed Limbs: What Compensation Can You Fight For?

A elevator accident is not only painful, it can also completely disrupt your life. The silver lining? You can potentially recover damages for what you've endured.

The Types of Damages You Can Recover After an Elevator Accident

Medical Bills – Visits to the hospital, surgery, and rehabilitation can add up quickly. Victims of spinal injury may require months of physical therapy to become mobile again.

Lost Wages – If you cannot work, you should not have to lose out financially. A severe spinal injury may mean you lose your career forever.

Pain and Suffering – Physical pain may be one issue, but emotional suffering can be just as heart-wrenching. PTSD occurs frequently in those who survive elevator traumatic accidents.

Punitive Damages – If the neglect was egregious, courts will also award additional money to punish whoever is at fault. Repeat culprits of safety law defiance usually receive such punishments.

Justice is yours for the taking and our injury lawyers are committed to helping you obtain it.

Put Horn Wright, LLP, On Your Team Today

At Horn Wright, LLP, we understand how overwhelming an elevator accident can feel. If you're looking for premium legal counsel, you can retain one of the top law firms in America. We've assisted individuals just like you in pursuing careless property owners and receiving compensation. If you're facing medical expenses, lost wages, and suffering, wait no longer.

Call us today and let's discuss your case. You don’t have to go through this alone. We’re ready to fight for you.