Las Vegas Elevator Accident Lawyer
While you’re missing work, sorting through medical bills, and managing your recovery, the property owner, maintenance company, and their insurance adjusters are already building their defense.
Every day that passes, evidence disappears. Surveillance footage gets overwritten. Maintenance records go missing. Witnesses forget details. Early representation can make a significant impact in cases like yours.
Elevator accident lawyer George T. Bochanis has represented injured people throughout Las Vegas and Nevada for more than 35 years. Our law firm investigates injury claims involving negligent maintenance, unsafe property conditions, and defective elevator systems.
“In many elevator injury cases, the most important evidence disappears quickly unless steps are taken to preserve it.”
~ Attorney George T. Bochanis
Call George Bochanis Injury Law Offices at (702) 388-2005 for a free consultation with an experienced Las Vegas elevator accident lawyer.
Why Hire George Bochanis Injury Law Offices?
Elevator accident claims often involve multiple companies, disputed maintenance histories, and evidence controlled by the property owner. Proving what happened may require reviewing inspection records, surveillance footage, service contracts, incident reports, and maintenance logs before that evidence disappears or changes.
George T. Bochanis has represented personal injury victims in Nevada for more than 35 years. He has maintained an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell since 2000 and has built a reputation for handling complex injury cases involving unsafe property conditions and disputed liability.
Our firm conducts independent investigations, works with qualified experts when necessary, and handles communication with insurance companies and corporate representatives, so clients can focus on recovery.
Steps to Take After an Elevator Accident in Las Vegas
After receiving medical treatment for your elevator accident injuries, the actions you take may affect your recovery and your ability to pursue compensation. Preserving evidence, following your doctor’s recommendations, and documenting your losses can help strengthen your personal injury claim.
Preserve Evidence Related to the Elevator Accident
If possible, preserve photographs of the elevator, warning signs, visible hazards, and your injuries. You should also keep copies of incident reports, medical records, receipts, witness contact information, and any communication with the property owner or insurance company. This evidence may help establish how the elevator accident occurred and who may be liable for your injuries.
Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Recommendations
Following your doctor’s treatment plan is important after an elevator accident. Missing appointments or failing to follow medical recommendations may not only affect your recovery, but could also allow insurance companies to question the severity of your injuries.
Document How the Injuries Affect Your Daily Life
Keeping notes about your pain levels, physical limitations, missed work, and daily challenges may help demonstrate how the elevator accident has affected your life. This documentation may become important when seeking compensation for pain and suffering or lost income.
Avoid Discussing the Accident With Insurance Companies Alone
Insurance companies may attempt to minimize payouts or dispute the severity of your injuries after an elevator accident. Before providing recorded statements or accepting a settlement offer, speaking with an attorney may help protect your legal rights.
Speak With an Elevator Accident Lawyer
An elevator accident attorney can investigate the cause of the accident, preserve evidence, identify liable parties, and handle communications with insurance companies on your behalf. Early legal guidance may help protect your ability to pursue compensation after a serious elevator accident.
- Surveillance footage from the property
- Elevator maintenance records
- Photographs of the elevator or warning signs
- Witness statements from passengers or employees
- Incident reports completed after the accident
- Medical records documenting your injuries
Preserving evidence after an elevator accident may help strengthen your personal injury claim.
Who Can Be Held Liable for an Elevator Accident?
Our Las Vegas elevator accident lawyer can help you determine who to sue after an elevator accident. Liable parties might include:
Property Owners
Property owners generally have a duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for guests and visitors. If they fail to repair dangerous elevator conditions or warn guests about known hazards, they may be held liable for injuries caused by the accident.
Property Managers
Many Las Vegas hotels, casinos, and resorts, apartment buildings, and office properties are operated by third-party management companies. Property managers may share responsibility for elevator inspections, maintenance, and overall building safety.
Manufacturers
If defective elevator components or manufacturing defects contributed to the accident, the elevator manufacturer or parts manufacturer may potentially be held liable for injuries resulting from the malfunction.
Maintenance Companies
Elevator maintenance providers may be held responsible if they failed to properly inspect, maintain, or repair dangerous elevator conditions. Poor maintenance practices may increase the risk of elevator malfunctions and serious injuries.
What Causes Elevator Accidents?
Elevator accidents can happen for many reasons, particularly when elevators are not properly maintained, inspected, or repaired. Understanding the common causes of elevator accidents may help identify liability after a serious injury.
Improper Maintenance
Many elevator injury claims involve missed inspections, delayed repairs, or maintenance issues that were documented before the incident occurred. Failure to inspect or repair worn components may increase the risk of malfunctions that lead to serious injuries.
Defective Elevator Parts
Defective elevator components or manufacturing defects may cause elevators to malfunction unexpectedly. Faulty doors, cables, sensors, or braking systems can place passengers at risk of serious harm.
Sudden Drops or Stops
Elevators that suddenly drop, jerk, or stop unexpectedly may cause passengers to suffer falls, head injuries, broken bones, and other serious injuries.
Door Malfunctions
Elevator doors that close too quickly or fail to detect passengers properly can lead to crush injuries, fractures, and other injuries.
Elevator Misleveling
Misleveling occurs when the elevator does not align properly with the floor, creating a tripping hazard for passengers entering or exiting the elevator.
Inadequate Warning Signs
When elevators are under maintenance or experiencing mechanical problems, property owners should provide clear warnings and restrict access when necessary.
What Do You Need to Prove in an Elevator Accident Lawsuit?
Whether your elevator accident was caused by a negligent property owner or manager, a manufacturing defect, or inadequate maintenance, four elements need to be proved for your injury case to be valid.
- Duty of Care: Your lawyer will need to show that the defendant owed you a duty of care. For example, property owners and managers are expected to maintain their properties and ensure the safety of their guests.
- Breach of Duty of Care: Your attorney will also need to show that the defendant breached the duty of care owed, and therefore was negligent. In a premises liability case, for example, maybe the property owner failed to warn guests that the elevator was not operating properly.
- The Breach Caused Your Injury: It is important to save any evidence relating to your accident and subsequent injuries, because you will need to prove that your injuries were caused by the property owner’s negligence.
- You Suffered Damages: Proving that you suffered injuries and losses due to your accident is essential in a premises liability case. If you didn’t suffer any physical, emotional, or financial losses, after all, there is nothing to recover in a personal injury claim.
What Compensation Can You Recover After an Elevator Accident?
If you suffered injuries in an elevator accident caused by another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover compensation for both financial and non-financial losses. The value of your claim often depends on the severity of your injuries, the impact on your daily life, and the long-term medical care you may require.
Compensation available after an elevator accident may include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
An elevator accident lawyer can review your injuries, medical records, and financial losses to help determine the compensation that may be available in your case.
Common Elevator Accident Injuries
Falls, sudden stops, door malfunctions, and misleveling incidents can leave injured people facing surgeries, rehabilitation, and extended time away from work. Common injuries include:
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries occur when an individual suffers a violent blow or jolt to the head. For example, a fall caused by the sudden start or stop of an elevator can cause a TBI. These types of injuries can cause long-term complications, permanent disability, or death.
Broken Bones
Depending on the location of the break, a broken bone can lead to compromised mobility and cause severe pain and discomfort, taking months (or longer) to heal. Some victims suffer such severe breaks that they never fully recover.
Amputations
Amputations can occur if a body part gets trapped in the doors of an elevator. These types of injuries cause severe trauma to the body and can, in some cases, lead to death. Additionally, if the amputee survives the injury, it can lead to life-long complications.
Burn Injuries
In the event of electrical failure or fire, individuals can experience burn injuries in elevator accidents. These injuries can range from mild to severe, and depending on the severity of the burn, could take a long time to heal. In some cases, burn injuries cause permanent nerve damage and scarring.
Wrongful Death
In some cases involving elevator accidents, wrongful death may occur. In the event of a wrongful death, the individual’s surviving family may be able to obtain compensation.
FAQs About Elevator Accidents in Las Vegas
The timeline for resolving an elevator accident claim depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, the availability of evidence, and whether liability is disputed. Some claims settle through negotiations with insurance companies, while more complex cases may require litigation before compensation is recovered.
There are various factors that influence the amount of compensation you receive. The severity of your injuries, the cost of medical care associated with your injuries, the nature of the accident, and whether you share any of the fault associated with the accident all affect the amount of compensation you can recover.
Although you are not legally required to hire an attorney after an elevator accident, legal representation may help protect your rights throughout the claims process. An elevator accident lawyer can investigate the accident, preserve evidence, identify liable parties, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
Nevada follows a comparative negligence rule in personal injury cases. You may still recover compensation after an elevator accident if you were partially at fault, although your financial recovery may be reduced based on your percentage of responsibility.
Call an Elevator Accident Lawyer
A serious elevator accident can leave you facing painful injuries, expensive medical treatment, lost income, and uncertainty about your future. Having experienced legal representation may help protect your rights and improve your ability to recover compensation after an accident.
At George Bochanis Injury Law Offices, we represent injury victims throughout Las Vegas after serious elevator accidents involving unsafe property conditions, negligent maintenance, and defective elevator systems. Our legal team is prepared to investigate your accident and pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
Call 702-388-2005 today for a free consultation with an experienced Las Vegas elevator accident lawyer.