New Jersey Escalator Accident Lawyers

This is the most common type of escalator accident, and often leads to severe injury. Though many factors can cause a person to lose their balance and fall, many accidents occur due to alcohol intoxication or improper use of the escalator. Misuse of an escalator includes sitting on the handrail, trying to run in the opposite direction the escalator is moving, leaning over the sides, not having a firm grip, and so on. The elderly are also more prone to slipping. Typically, falls occur between the escalator itself and the adjacent wall. A property owner, design engineer, architect or other responsible party may be liable for failing to provide sufficient guards.

This is the second most frequent escalator accident, and occurs when there is excess space between what is known as the skirt and step. Any item that is caught in that space – a finger, a shoe, an article of clothing – can get caught in the mechanism and result in catastrophic injury. This usually occurs when a person is standing too close to the sides, which is why it is so important to stand in the center of the step. Children sometimes get curious and can stick their fingers into the gap, which may result in amputation. Though rare, there have even been instances when an article of clothing becomes stuck, and causes the individual to choke to death.

These entrapments occur at either the very top or bottom of the escalators, when body parts or shoes become wedged in the moving stair and the stationary comb plate. These incidents are very common among children, and can result in loss of body parts or disfigurement. Missing comb teeth can increase the risk of entrapment. It’s important to always step over the comb when entering and exiting the escalator, because even an intact comb plate can consume a shoe. It is also important to try to avoid wearing foam or plastic shoes, such as flip-flops and Crocs, on escalators.

Like the other types of entrapments, handrail injuries occur when clothing or body parts get trapped between the moving handrail and its guide. Injuries can range from minor, involving pain from pinching, to very serious. Entrapment can also occur at the handrail brush, creating severe injuries. Small children are more prone to this, as they sometimes “follow” the rail around the curved newel and get their hand sucked in. There have even been cases where a child has been “cartwheeled” over the end of the escalator and flung onto the floor.

These accidents are not very common, but when they occur, they usually cause the most severe injuries or death. If a step breaks or falls out of the return strand, there is a tremendous risk of blunt-force trauma to anyone who may be caught in the middle of it. Though newer models have been designed in an attempt to reduce these risks, not all existing escalators have been upgraded for safety. Misaligned steps can lead to the formation of protruding metal fragmentation, which can produce deadly results.

There have been instances when an escalator suddenly changes direction without warning. In 2005, over 70 children were hurt when an escalator in a theater suddenly stopped and shifted backwards. This can lead to fall injuries and overcrowding, but it can also lead to panic and stampedes, with patrons jumping off the escalator mid-ride. If too many people try to hastily run on or off the escalator when it is stopped, it can cause the stairs to buckle, which, in a worst-case scenario, can lead to a collapse.