Escalator Accident Lawyer in Massachusetts

Escalator Accidents in Massachusetts

Escalators provide an efficient means of moving people through multi-level buildings, but they also present significant injury risks when they are improperly maintained, defectively designed, or operated without adequate safety features. Massachusetts requires regular escalator inspections and imposes responsibility on building owners to maintain escalators in safe operating condition. When an escalator malfunction or maintenance failure causes injury, Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey pursues full compensation from every responsible party.

Common Escalator Accident Causes and Injuries

• Sudden stops and reversals that throw riders forward or backward
• Missing or damaged steps that create tripping hazards for boarding or exiting passengers
• Handrail malfunctions including handrails that move faster or slower than the steps
• Entrapment hazards at the comb plate where steps meet the landing
• Clothing and footwear entrapment at the side skirt panels
• Falls caused by excessive gaps between steps or between steps and the side panels
• Falls on wet or slippery landing surfaces at the top or bottom of the escalator

Property Owner Maintenance Obligations

The building owner or property manager is responsible for ensuring that escalators are regularly inspected and maintained in compliance with Massachusetts Department of Public Safety requirements. Current inspection certificates must be posted. Known defects must be repaired before continued use. An escalator that is closed for repair must be made unavailable to the public. Property owners who allow escalators with known defects to remain in service, or who fail to keep maintenance records current, bear direct liability for resulting injuries.

Escalator Manufacturer and Maintenance Company Liability

Escalator maintenance companies that perform substandard maintenance, failing to replace worn steps, failing to lubricate moving components, failing to identify and address mechanical problems during routine service, bear professional liability for injuries caused by that negligence. If a component defect rather than maintenance failure caused the accident, the manufacturer of that component may be liable under product liability law. Attorney Lavey evaluates all three liability levels in every escalator accident case.

Injuries From Escalator Accidents

Escalator accidents can cause severe injuries: falls at the end of an escalator run can cause head injuries, hip fractures, and wrist and arm fractures from bracing; entrapment injuries can cause severe crush and degloving injuries; and sudden stops and reversals cause spinal injuries from the abrupt forces involved. Attorney Lavey works with medical experts to fully document the injuries caused by every escalator accident and ensures that all medical costs and their long-term consequences are included in the damages claim.

Frequently Asked Questions