On April 5, 2018, an escalator failed at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. 7 unfortunate individuals were injured in the incident, and some or all of them were transported to nearby hospitals.
According to CBS Philly, the injuries were “minor” and the injured are all expected to survive.
Not all escalator accidents end without a serious injury, and, not all injuries occur when there is a major failure. In fact, in many cases only 1 person is injured on an escalator.
Who is liable for my escalator injury?
Property owners are responsible for ensuring the safe operation of escalators on their premises. Other parties who could be liable may include the manufacturer, maintenance company or other business in the space with the escalator. In some cases there are multiple responsible parties.
Inadequate maintenance
Over 10,000 people are injured on escalators every year. In some cases, those injuries are caused by inadequate or negligent maintenance. For example: the step chain which drives the steps up or down could be under-lubricated or over-lubricated. When there isn’t enough lube, stairs can jerk, causing people to fall. When there’s too much lubrication, an oil slick may appear which people could slip on.
Other problems could include a lack of warning signs, handrail problems and problems with the entry and exit plates.
Contact a personal injury lawyer
If you were seriously injured at a business, mall, hotel or airport in or around Philadelphia or New Jersey, contact a premises liability attorney for a free and confidential consultation and case evaluation.