Elevator and Escalator Accident Lawyers in Georgia & South Carolina
Americans take over 18 billion elevator trips per year, and escalators carry an estimated 90 billion riders annually. While generally safe when properly maintained, elevator and escalator malfunctions can cause devastating injuries — from falls and entrapment to crushing injuries and amputations. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that escalators alone cause approximately 10,000 injuries per year, with children and elderly individuals at greatest risk.
At Roden Law, our elevator and escalator accident attorneys represent injury victims throughout Georgia and South Carolina. These cases are technically complex, often involving multiple liable parties — the building owner, the elevator/escalator maintenance company, and the equipment manufacturer. Our attorneys work with engineering experts to determine exactly what went wrong and who is responsible.
Common Elevator Accidents
Our attorneys handle elevator injury cases involving:
- Misleveling: The elevator stops above or below the floor level, creating a trip-and-fall hazard as passengers step into or out of the car
- Door malfunctions: Doors that close too quickly, fail to detect obstructions, or open between floors
- Free-fall and sudden stops: Brake failures, cable issues, or control system malfunctions causing the car to drop or jolt violently
- Entrapment: Being trapped in a stalled elevator, causing physical injuries (from attempts to escape) and psychological trauma
- Shaft falls: Doors opening when the car is not at the landing, allowing passengers to fall into the shaft
- Crushing injuries: Being caught between the elevator car and the shaft wall, or between closing doors
Common Escalator Accidents
Escalator injuries frequently involve:
- Entrapment: Fingers, feet, clothing, or shoes caught in the gap between the step and the side panel (a particular danger for children)
- Sudden stops or reversals: Abrupt escalator stops causing passengers to fall forward in a chain reaction
- Missing or broken handrails: Handrails that stop moving, move at a different speed than the steps, or are missing entirely
- Step defects: Broken, missing, or uneven step treads that catch feet or cause falls
- Comb plate failures: Broken or missing comb plates at the top and bottom of the escalator that catch feet and clothing
Georgia and South Carolina Elevator Safety Regulations
Both states regulate elevator and escalator safety:
- Georgia: O.C.G.A. § 8-2-100 et seq. (Georgia Elevator, Dumbwaiter, and Escalator Safety Act) requires annual inspections, licensed operators and mechanics, and compliance with national safety codes (ASME A17.1). The Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner oversees enforcement.
- South Carolina: South Carolina regulates elevators and escalators through the S.C. Code § 41-18-10 et seq. (Elevator and Amusement Rides Safety Code Act), requiring inspections, licensing, and compliance with ASME standards.
Liability in Elevator and Escalator Cases
Multiple parties may be liable for an elevator or escalator accident:
- Building/property owner: Liable under premises liability (O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1) for failing to maintain safe conditions
- Maintenance/service company: Companies like Otis, Schindler, ThyssenKrupp, and KONE that contract to maintain the equipment and may be liable for negligent maintenance or repair
- Manufacturer: The equipment manufacturer may face product liability claims if a design or manufacturing defect caused the malfunction
- Inspection companies: Third-party inspectors who negligently failed to identify hazardous conditions
Compensation for Elevator and Escalator Injuries
Victims may recover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability (particularly in amputation and crushing injury cases), emotional distress including PTSD, and punitive damages. Wrongful death claims are available for fatal elevator shaft falls and other deadly malfunctions.