Property owners in New York, and elsewhere, have a responsibility to ensure people’s safety when they are on their premises. This includes maintaining their buildings, elevators and sidewalks to ensure that dangerous conditions do not exist. Failing to do so could contribute to causing accidents, which may result in serious injuries or death.
One New York family entered into the New Year grieving the loss of a young man who was killed in an elevator accident. He was on his way to a New Year’s Eve party in the building. According to reports, there are a number of complaints about the building’s elevators on file with the Department of Buildings. The 25-year-old man was crushed when his body became lodged between the elevator and the third floor of the building.
The man’s last act was reportedly to save a 43-year-old woman who lives in the building. When the faulty elevator suddenly plunged down, he pushed the woman out. In doing so, however, he became stuck as the elevator dropped farther down. The woman’s son-in-law attempted to pull the man out, but was not able to due to the weight of the elevator. Emergency responders arrived on the scene within minutes, however, they were not able to save the man’s life.
When the negligence of building owners leads to accidents, people may suffer serious injuries or death. This often leads to undue medical expenses or funerary costs, as well as a lost source of income for some families. Depending on the circumstances, the property owner may be held liable for these, and other resulting damages. Thus, those who have experienced situations such as this may benefit from consulting with an attorney to understand their rights.
Source: New York Post, “Elevator hero wished woman ‘Happy New Year’ before being crushed to death,” Lorena Mongelli, Kevin Sheehan and Lia Eustachewich, Jan. 1, 2016