Manhattan Elevator Accident Injures Woman
The New York Times reported in an article on October 30, 2008 that Jolanda Joyce, 28, fell down an elevator shaft shortly after midnight. Fortunately for Joyce she was only on the 1st floor and managed to avoid serious injuries after falling an estimated 5 to 10 feet in this elevator accident in Manhattan. Joyce was on the first floor of a Manhattan complex located on 404 East and 105th Street waiting to take the elevators to go upstairs.
Joyce had this to tell the NY1 cable news channel: “I turned around to get my phone from a friend and I opened the elevator door and I took a step and I just fell. There was no elevator there.” Joyce was treated for her injuries from the NY elevator accident at St. Luke’s Hospital.
In order to board this old-fashioned elevator, a person must use a handle on an outside door to open the door, doing so allows people to board. Suspensions were handed to the team who had responded to the initial outage report in the building; this according to Tino Hernandez, chairman of the Housing Authority. Hernandez had only this to say about a preliminary review “revealed that standard procedures may not have been followed.”
New York City’s Buildings Department and the Housing Authority are investigating the Manhattan elevator accident. Hernandez said “NYCHA remains committed to ensuring the safety of elevators in our buildings,” and also requested an independent investigation by the Department of Investigation.
Recently in August, a five year old boy fell 10 floors to his death and earlier this month paramedics were stuck in elevator while en route with a newborn which ultimately died at the hospital. Manhattan borough president Scott M. Stringer said, “This is a total and complete crisis. When I went to the development this morning, what struck me was none of the residents were surprised. They said it happens all the time. Elevator out for a week. People getting stuck. Nobody was surprised.”
Without question, we should all take extra precaution when boarding and getting off an elevator as accidents can happen to anyone. The liability lies on the owner of the premises who are responsible for the upkeep of the building. The experienced NY elevator accident attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapirowill will tell you if you have a case and make the legal process as easy and stress-free as possible.
If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a New York elevator–related accident, contact the New York Elevator Injury Lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro for a free consultation at 212-222-4336. Please take a look at our website to read more about our recent $1.5 Million recovery on behalf of a client who was injured in an elevator accident.
