Escalators make it simple to travel from one floor to another in Tulsa’s multi-level department stores, airports, and government buildings. However, they can occasionally be the cause of serious physical harm.
An escalator can suddenly stop, throwing riders forward and causing them to lose balance. Shoes, clothing or hair can become caught in the tracks and cause serious escalator related injuries in Oklahoma or even death.
If the platform or handrails of the device are slippery or wet, passengers can lose their grip and fall, causing broken bones, lacerations, and other escalator related injuries in Oklahoma.
Will the Owner Pay for Escalator Related Injuries in Oklahoma?
A property owner can be found liable under a premises liable or negligence theory. In order to successfully sue the owner for escalator related injuries in Oklahoma, one or more of the following situations must be proven:
- The escalator is being improperly maintained due to the property owner’s negligence,
- No caution signs have been placed around a defective escalator,
- Barriers have not been arranged to prohibit entrance to a non-functioning escalator, or
- The property owner has failed to provide a safe alternative, such as an elevator, for customers such as the elderly, disabled, or parents with small children or strollers who cannot safely ride escalators.
Since 2006, the Oklahoma Labor Department has required owners of buildings containing escalators to have annual inspections to ensure that all escalators being used by the public meet minimum standards of operation. This is part of an official effort to minimize the number of escalator related injuries in Oklahoma.
Will the Manufacturer Compensate Me for My Injuries?
The manufacturer of an escalator may also be found liable for injuries to a victim of a malfunctioning escalator.
If the manufacturer of an escalator or a manufacturer of escalator parts knowingly puts defective parts or defective escalators on the market and knew or should have known that someone could be eventually be harmed from those defective products, then they may be found liable.
Will a Negligent Mechanic, Inspector, or Contractor Compensate Me for My Injuries?
All Oklahoma mechanics, inspectors and contractors working with escalators must be licensed by the state. However, being licensed by the state of Oklahoma does not mean that a mechanic, inspector or contractor servicing or installing an escalator will always perform the job correctly 100 percent of the time.
Mechanics, inspectors, and contractors have a standard of care to act as a reasonable person in the profession when performing the job. If a duty of care is breached, resulting in escalator related injuries in Oklahoma, the victim may be entitled to compensation.
My Escalator Injury Claim
If you have suffered physical injuries due to a fall that happened while riding an escalator, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. This could apply whether the source of your injury was the premises owner, the manufacturer, the installer, or a service provider.
An experienced Tulsa escalator injury attorney can determine the proper defendants to file a claim against. Also, he can determine whether to pursue a settlement or to take the claim to trial.
Low-cost Consultation: Tulsa Personal Injury Attorney
To find out if you might be entitled to compensation for escalator related injuries in Oklahoma, contact the Tulsa personal injury attorney at the Personal Injury Law Office of Tulsa today.
For a low-cost, no-obligation consultation, call (918) 924-5528 or send your question using the email form on this page.
