Escalator Accidents - Las Vegas, Nevada

Escalator accidents lawsuits

Escalator accidents can be very dangerous and often require medical treatment that can last months or even years. If you got hurt in an escalator accident, call our office at 702-432-1000 to discuss your case. While no attorney can reverse the very unfortunate event of an accident, we can help you get money to pay for your medical treatment (past and future), lost wages, and any other damages to compensate you for your loss.

Causes of escalator accidents

Wear and tear, malfunctioning parts, or lack of proper maintenance cause escalator accidents. Other factors may include manufacturing defects, operational errors, and, occasionally, poor design of an escalator. Bad lighting and slippery surfaces can also play a role in escalator accidents. Finally, people's clothes, especially shoes or shoelaces that get caught in an escalator, can contribute to or even cause an accident.

Effects of escalator accidents

Escalator accidents are traumatic. Injuries from escalator accidents can result in stitches on the head or a leg, wrongful death, and everything in between. And it is common to have multiple people hurt when an escalator malfunctions.

Where do escalator accidents happen?

Escalator accidents can happen in any big or small building, but most of the time, in high traffic places: department stores, hotels, convention centers, nightclubs, airports, office buildings. It is not unusual to see the escalator accident in public places shortly after the maintenance work was complete, primarily if the repairs were poorly performed.

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Who is liable?

The following parties could be legally liable for an escalator accident:

• Property owner
• Property renter
• Property manager
• Parts manufacturer
• Maintenance company
• The operator of the escalator
• Escalator repair contractors

Escalator accidents: Rare cases

In rare cases, when footwear gets stuck between the escalator steps and causes an accident, the footwear manufacturer could also be liable for an accident. For example, in 2016, after an escalator accident involving a 2-year-old toddler, the victim's parents filed a lawsuit against Crocs Shoe manufacturer for the negligent and inappropriate design of kid's shoes.

The duty of care and negligence

Property owners or property renters have the legal obligation to their customers to maintain an escalator and keep it safe, so the escalator doesn't cause harm to people who use it.

When property owners or the property renters neglect to maintain the escalator making the escalator no longer safe, those parties and any other third-party hired to repair the escalator (repair crew, parts manufacturer, etc.) could be held liable.

How much to expect from escalator accident settlement?

The settlement amount after escalator accidents depends on the facts of the particular accident and how severe the injury is. Some escalator injury lawsuits get seven figures settlements.

If you are looking for more information about liability claims in escalator accidents, call our office at 702-432-1000 and ask to speak with a personal injury attorney.

The initial consultation with an attorney is free.

Does every escalator accident result in a lawsuit?

Not all escalator accidents result in legal claims or get large settlements.

In 2007, a 22-year-old Las Vegas man was killed after falling off the escalator. He had been heavily drinking that night and was surfing the escalator by sliding down the arm rails. His death was ruled as an accidental death.

In the Spring of 2018, a 21-year-old Las Vegas visitor got seriously injured when he fell from an escalator in the Freemont Street Experience shopping complex. The man was intoxicated and tried to slide down an escalator rail shortly after 2 a.m.

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If you were partially at fault

Nevada uses the rule of modified comparative negligence, which means that the plaintiff can collect compensation from all other at-fault parties as long as the plaintiff is less than 51% responsible for the accident.

This modified comparative negligence rule can sometimes prevent some escalator accidents from turning into liability claims.

It is also worth mentioning that circumstances surrounding escalator accidents can significantly impact a case. For instance, an intoxicated patron would have a much stronger liability claim if the escalator was in a Las Vegas nightclub or a Las Vegas pool party. Nightclubs, pool parties, and bars serve considerable amounts of alcohol to various people, so it is more foreseeable that an intoxicated guest could get injured if their escalator is not safe.

Statute of limitations

The statute of limitations for all personal injury claims in Nevada is two (2) years. The escalator accidents fall into this category.

We can help

If you got injured in an escalator accident and you feel the accident is not your fault, call us at 702-432-1000 and ask to speak with a personal injury attorney.

We take all escalator accidents on a contingency basis, which means for you - if we cannot get your settlement money, then we don't get paid, and you don't owe us anything.

The initial consultation is free.

We work with clients in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada.

Last updated on January 31, 2024.

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