Chicago Elevator Accident Attorney

Many working components of an elevator can be dangerous when malfunctioning or improperly maintained. Property owners, manufacturers, and operators are expected to maintain elevators to be safe for the general public. When this doesn’t happen, passengers may suffer injuries.

If you were injured in an elevator accident in Chicago, you may be eligible for financial compensation. The Chicago elevator accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers are here to help with your case.

Common Causes of Elevator Accidents

Improperly maintained or broken elevators can cause an accident. Some of the most common causes of elevator accidents include the following:

• Misleveling
• Defective elevator doors
• Faulty electrical wiring
• Failure to inspect the elevator
• Improper speed
• Elevator drops
• Overloaded elevator
• Poor maintenance
• Defective elevator parts
• Lack of required safety features

Common Injuries in Chicago Elevator Accident Claims

Common elevator injuries include the following:

• Fractured or broken bones
• Bodily amputations
• Soft tissue injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

When elevator accidents occur, passengers are often left with serious injuries, leading to expensive medical expenses and lost wages. Suffering any of these injuries in an elevator crash may make you eligible to seek compensation for these damages.

Liability for Elevator Accident Injuries

Certain elevator safety precautions are in place to protect passengers. Improperly maintained or faulty elevators can make a person liable when injuries occur. Any of the following parties may be responsible for an elevator accident.

Property Owner

The property or building owner may be responsible following an accident for failing to make timely repairs or allowing visitors to use an elevator despite safety risks.

Under the Elevator Safety Act, Illinois requires property owners to register their conveyance with the state, which ensures it is included in the regular inspection schedule [1]. Additionally, the state requires annual elevator inspections, which can help prevent known issues from causing injury [2].

Illinois created the Elevator Safety Division to reduce elevator accidents, which registers and inspects elevators throughout the state and creates and enforces laws related to elevator accidents.

Illinois requires the State Fire Marshal or inspectors to report all elevator accidents or incidents to the state. This means the state should have proof of all elevator-related injuries. This building owner may be responsible if they fail to report an incident promptly.

Elevator Maintenance Company

The property owner may outsource maintenance and repairs to a third-party company. If the company fails to maintain the elevator car or doors properly, and severe injuries occur, they could be held liable. Improper maintenance of elevator shafts or electrical components could also lead to liability.

Elevator Operator

Some commercial environments have elevator operators, who are employees who control the elevator and ensure it is operated safely. The elevator operator could be held legally liable if they use the elevator in an unsafe way.

Elevator Manufacturer

The elevator manufacturer can also be liable when an accident occurs. Faulty parts or the design of elevator doors could lead to a product liability case. Our liability attorneys can help those injured by faulty designs explore their legal options.ent visits yearly [4]. It’s also important to note the full extent of injuries isn’t always immediately apparent.

Compensation for Elevator Accident Injury Claims

Chicago residents injured in an elevator accident may be subject to economic and non-economic damages.

Economic

Economic damages in an elevator accident include the financial costs or consequences and may include the following:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Rehab costs
• Lost earning capacity
• Temporary or permanent disability

Non-Economic

Non-economic damages are the psychological or emotional consequences of an elevator accident and may include the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment
• Loss of consortium
• Disfigurement

Why You Need a Chicago Elevator Accident Lawyer

Navigating elevator accidents isn’t always easy. In many elevator accident cases, it’s not always easy to identify fault, and doing so may require a more in-depth investigation. Working with a Chicago elevator accident lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you seek justice and recover the compensation you rightfully deserve

Investigating Your Claim

Investigating your claim is the first step in an elevator accident lawsuit. This involves collecting important information, like maintenance and inspection records, registration records, and witness statements. Our Chicago elevator accident lawyers will help build your case based on the evidence.

Establishing Value of Damages

It’s also important to establish the value of your damages. Doing so can help determine how well any settlement offers you may receive cover your damages.

Negotiation With Insurance

Many elevator incidents are settled outside of court, and a settlement can help both parties save money and time. However, the first offer you receive from the insurance company may not always appropriately cover your medical bills or other expenses.

Your elevator accident lawyer should negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, ensuring your costs are covered.

Representation In Court

If the insurance company is unwilling to offer full and fair compensation, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit to recover damages. If your case goes to trial, you will need an experienced Chicago elevator accident lawyer on your side.

How to Prove Negligence for an Escalator Accident Claim

Illinois law requires proof of negligence in personal injury claims. Proving negligence includes the following:

How to Prove Negligence for Elevator Accident Claims in Chicago

Proving negligence is an integral part of an elevator accident case. Before collecting compensation for serious injuries, we must prove who is responsible. Illinois laws require the following elements to establish negligence:

• Duty of care: Demonstrating a duty of care is the first step in proving negligence in elevator incidents. A property owner, maintenance company, or elevator operator all have a legal responsibility to ensure safe use.
• Breach of duty of care: There must also be proof the responsible party breached that duty of care, usually through negligence.
• Causation: Negligence cases also require proof that the wrongdoing of the liable party directly caused the injuries suffered.
• Actual damages: Finally, there must be actual damages that can be compensated. Many elevator accidents lead to compensable injuries.

You Have a Limited Time to File an Elevator Accident Claim

Those injured in an elevator accident have just two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Filing outside of this timeline can make your case ineligible for legal action.

Illinois sets a two-year time limit on most civil cases. However, there can be variations, so contacting a liability attorney can help keep you on track.

Contact a Chicago Elevator Accident Attorney Today!

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers helps injured elevator passengers recover compensation for their damages. Whether the property owners, employees, or designers are to blame, we’ll fight for your rights. Our Chicago elevator accident attorneys have successfully helped injured victims recover the funds they need to cover medical care and lost wages.

We offer a free consultation, so there’s no risk to exploring your legal options. We also charge a contingency fee, meaning you don’t pay anything unless we win your case. Contact our team today by calling (888) 424-5757 or filling out our contact form.

Specific Cases We Handle

• Chicago Ethylene Oxide Cancer Lawsuit
• Chicago Falling Merchandise Lawyer
• Chicago Hotel Accident Lawyer
• Illinois Hunting Accident Lawyer
• Chicago Smoke Alarm Failure Fatality Lawyer

Our downtown office, near the Richard J. Daley Center, Dirkson United States Courthouse, and the Chicago Workers’ Compensation Commission, offers convenient access from Aurora, Joliet, and Waukegan via I-90, I-94, and I-290.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

225 W Wacker Dr #1660
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (847) 835-8895

We also serve clients from Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Schaumburg, Rockford and throughout Illinois.

Resources: [1] Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, [2] Office of Illinois State Fire Marshal

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.