Many Residential Home Elevators Recalled

TheU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissionhas announced a voluntary recall of certain home and residential elevators. Due to the extreme safety risks that elevators pose to children, you may be entitled to compensation if your child suffered an injury as a result of using a residential home elevator.  

What Are Residential Elevators? 

Residential elevators are found in homes with multiple floor levels. Home elevators easily provide transportation from floor to floor, but unlike commercial elevators, there are gaps beneath the floor when the elevator lifts. These gaps create an opportunity for injury. 

These elevators are especially attractive to children who often find them exciting to ride on. While parents may believe these elevators are harmless, you should know the real danger these elevators pose in the lives of your children. 

Tragically, children have lost their lives due to the manufacturer’s failure to warn users about the real risks of home elevator use. Our experienced personal injury attorneys seek to prevent further harm and to hold these manufacturers responsible for their continued neglect.

For a free legal consultation, call (725) 900-9000

How Does Injury Occur? 

To enter the home elevators, there are often two doors: an inner elevator door and an outer elevator door. This creates a space between the doors just enough for a child to crawl in. 

The dual elevator doors create a safety hazard for small children. When commercial elevators open, there is no space to allow a child to crawl into. In home elevators, children may easily get stuck between the doors, crushing them, or underneath the elevator lifts. 

Some Children Have Died as a Result of Using These Elevators

Unfortunately, there have been many tragic accidents involving residential elevatorsover the last decade, with over 41 deaths reported between 2018 and 2021. Given the large space between the elevator doors, children can easily be injured when they enter the gaps. While manufacturers are aware of these risks, they simply prefer a profit. 

Not all accidents result in death. However, when a child is trapped for even a few seconds, he or she may suffer extensive lifelong damage requiring continuous treatment. In some cases, children may suffer lasting and debilitating results such as paralyzation, entitling victims to not only present damages but future and long-term damage when their children do not make a full recovery. 

Have There Been Any Recalls? 

Yes.The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled several additional brands of home elevators, which includes:

• Cambridge Elevating
• Custom Elevator
• Residential Elevator
• Inclinator
• Savaria
• Bella 
• Otis 

We expect this number will grow as injuries increase. If your loved one has been injured, contact us today. We fight for you and we fight for what is right.  

Without warnings, labels, or an outline of the risks, this leaves room for major injuries and catastrophic results. These manufacturers have failed to warn and use due care. 

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Can These Elevators Be Fixed? 

Yes.By implementing safety guards to fill the spacious gaps, many lives can be saved. 

The current safety guards are pieces of plastic that can be inserted underneath and between the doors of the elevators. Inserting these pieces will minimize gaps. However, instead of implementing these guards, manufacturers continue to ignore the safety concerns posed by the use of their elevators, and the number of injuries continues to rise. 

Here, at Van Law firm, we are ready and equipped to help you. 

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How Can I Take Action? 

Our personal injury attorneys are experienced in wrongful death actions, personal injury cases, and class action lawsuits. We want to help you! For decades, manufacturers’ work has gone unchecked while they were aware of the risks and potentially hazardous defects of their products. 

With our experience and training, we are prepared to take your case to trial. Many children have suffered long-term injuries as a result of home elevator use. Rather than address this issue, manufacturers have simply ignored it while the innocent lives of our children are lost. 

Contact a Lawyer Today to Help You

We understand the emotional and physical toll that this may have on you or a loved one’s life. Contact Van Law Firm today to discuss your potential claim.