Building and Safety Code Violations

Experienced Elevator Accident Attorneys Based in the Chicago Region

Elevators, like other mechanical devices, need to be maintained. This is why elevators are supposed to be compliant with building and safety codes. When they are not, serious accidents can take place, leading to long-term or even fatal injuries. If you or someone close to you has been injured in an elevator accident due to a building or safety code violation, we are ready to help. At Therman Law Offices, our Chicago elevator accident lawyers have the experience and dedication to handle your case. We understand how to hold responsible parties liable for a victim’s injuries and how to get you the compensation that you are entitled to receive.

Establishing Liability for Injuries Caused by Building or Safety Code Violations

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, incidents involving elevator and escalators kill about 30 people and injure about 17,000 people each year throughout the country. Like other states, when it comes to elevators, Illinois has building and safety codes outlined in the Elevator Safety and Regulation Act that must be followed. The purpose of the Act is to provide for the public safety of life and limb and to promote public safety awareness. These codes are in place for a reason and are designed to regulate the installation, repair, and general safety of elevators. Routine inspections are intended to ensure that elevators are up to code.

Elevators that are not up to code can lead to serious accidents and preventable injuries. If this has happened to you or someone in your family, you may be able to recover compensation through a lawsuit against the property owner. Property owners like apartment complexes or office buildings have a duty to ensure that elevators are properly maintained and in safe working order so that people do not get hurt. This includes the obligation to make sure that the elevator is in compliance with all relevant building and safety codes. In addition to the building owner, the company that installed or maintained the elevator may be liable. This may be true if a manufacturing or design defect caused or contributed to the injuries.

Liability in elevator accident cases is not always straightforward to establish. Our attorneys can conduct an exhaustive investigation to determine the exact cause of an accident. If a building code violation was part of the reason, we can help you hold the responsible parties accountable and seek damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, and future medical expenses. The damages in a case will vary depending on the nature and extent of the injuries suffered.

In Illinois, an elevator accident claim must be filed within a certain time frame, known as the statute of limitations. A plaintiff has two years to file a claim for injuries and five years to file a claim for property damage. The clock typically starts running at the time that an injury is suffered, although there are some exceptions to this rule. Failing to file within the appropriate statute of limitations could mean losing your right to compensation altogether.

Discuss Your Elevator Accident Case with a Chicago Lawyer

Property owners have an obligation to make sure that their elevators are in safe working order so that riders are not injured in preventable accidents caused by problems like uneven levels or sudden drops. If you or your loved one has been hurt in an accident caused by a building or safety code violation, you probably are entitled to compensation for your harm. At Therman Law Offices, our dedicated Chicago attorneys have helped numerous victims in Illinois resolve their elevator accident claims, and we can help you as well. We also represent victims in communities such as Schaumburg, Wheaton, Westmont, Oakbrook Terrace, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Lisle, Darien, and Bolingbrook. For more information and a free case evaluation, you can call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.

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