Elevators are part of daily life in offices, apartment buildings, shopping centers, and hospitals across Pennsylvania. While generally safe, elevator malfunctions and maintenance failures can—and do—cause serious injuries. When that happens, victims may have grounds to file an elevator injury claim and pursue compensation.

This guide outlines your rights, the legal process, and what to do if you or a loved one is hurt in an elevator accident in Pennsylvania.

Common Causes of Elevator Injuries in Pennsylvania

Elevator accidents typically stem from mechanical failures or negligent oversight. Common causes include:

• Sudden stops or drops
  
• Misleveling (elevator not aligning with the floor)
  
• Door malfunctions—closing too quickly or failing to open
  
• Falls into elevator shafts due to missing or defective doors
  
• Electrical failures or power surges
  
• Inadequate maintenance or inspection
  

Injuries from these events may range from sprains and broken bones to spinal cord trauma, brain injuries, or even fatalities.

Who’s Liable for an Elevator Injury?

Determining liability in an elevator injury claim can be complex. Depending on the situation, several parties might be responsible:

• Property owners – Must keep elevators in safe, working condition
  
• Maintenance companies – Hired to inspect, service, or repair the elevator
  
• Manufacturers – If a defective part or design flaw caused the malfunction
  
• Third-party contractors – Such as those performing construction or upgrades
  

Pennsylvania law holds property owners and certain contractors responsible if they knew or should have known about a dangerous condition and failed to fix it in a reasonable timeframe.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim for an Elevator Accident

If you were hurt in an elevator incident, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim seeking compensation for:

• Medical bills and future treatment
  
• Lost wages and reduced earning ability
  
• Pain and suffering
  
• Emotional distress
  
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
  

To succeed, you’ll need to show that someone else’s negligence caused or contributed to your injury. That means documenting what happened, who was involved, and the extent of your damages.

What Evidence Helps Support an Elevator Injury Claim?

Strong evidence can make the difference in a personal injury lawsuit. Here’s what may be helpful:

• Incident reports – Often created by property managers or building staff
  
• Medical records – Including diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis
  
• Surveillance footage – From building security cameras showing the accident
  
• Maintenance records – Detailing inspections, repairs, or known issues
  
• Witness statements – From others in the elevator or nearby
  
• Expert testimony – From engineers or safety professionals
  

An experienced attorney can help gather and preserve evidence before it’s lost or altered.

Elevator Injuries in Pennsylvania Apartment Buildings and Public Facilities

Elevator accidents often occur in residential high-rises, office complexes, or public buildings like hospitals or universities. In Pennsylvania, building owners have a legal duty to ensure elevators meet local safety codes, including:

• Regular inspections
  
• Routine maintenance and repairs
  
• Upgrading outdated or malfunctioning systems
  

When they fail to do so—and someone is injured as a result—owners can be held accountable under state personal injury law.

Elevator Accidents at Work: Can You Still File a Lawsuit?

If your injury occurred while working, your workers’ compensation claim will likely be your primary source of benefits. However, you may still have a separate personal injury claim—called a third-party lawsuit—if someone other than your employer contributed to the elevator failure.

For example:

• A third-party maintenance crew failed to fix a known issue
  
• A manufacturer provided a defective part
  
• A contractor performed unsafe modifications
  

In these cases, you may be able to pursue both workers’ comp and a personal injury lawsuit, allowing for broader financial recovery.

Statute of Limitations for Elevator Injury Lawsuits in Pennsylvania

Under Pennsylvania law, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. This deadline can pass quickly, especially if you’re dealing with extensive injuries or insurance negotiations.

Acting quickly allows your legal team to investigate the accident while evidence is still fresh.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help After an Elevator Injury

Filing an elevator injury claim involves more than just submitting paperwork. Property owners and their insurers may deny responsibility or try to shift the blame. That’s why legal representation matters.

A personal injury attorney can:

• Investigate what went wrong and who is liable
  
• Secure critical evidence, including video and maintenance records
  
• Communicate with insurers on your behalf
  
• Accurately calculate your current and future losses
  
• File a lawsuit if fair compensation isn’t offered
  

At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we’re familiar with building code violations, negligence claims, and how to pursue compensation from reluctant property owners and insurers.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

Every elevator injury claim is different, but victims may be entitled to financial recovery for:

• Hospital bills, therapy, and ongoing care
  
• Lost wages or career setbacks
  
• Emotional trauma, including PTSD or anxiety
  
• Physical pain and loss of mobility
  
• Wrongful death damages, if a family member was fatally injured
  

Whether your injury was minor or life-changing, you deserve to understand your legal options and get help pursuing fair compensation.

Call Brandon J. Broderick For Legal Help

If you or someone you love was injured in an elevator accident in Pennsylvania, don’t wait to get legal advice. These cases often involve building code violations, technical evidence, and multiple layers of liability.

At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we handle serious personal injury claims with focus and determination. Our team works quickly to gather evidence, identify responsible parties, and pursue full compensation for our clients.

Call today for a free consultation—we’ll help you understand your rights and guide you through your next steps.