How to sue for being stuck in a lift will involve collecting evidence to prove the liability of the party responsible for the elevator. Getting stuck in a lift can result in various physical and psychological injuries.
If a scenario such as the lift malfunctioning or the doors refusing to open has taken place, you deserve compensation. Our panel of solicitors are ready to help.
At How To Sue, our panel of solicitors have first hand experience of what makes a successful claim. They can help ensure that the claims process is followed when suing for being stuck in a lift. As you will need to collect evidence in order to pursue a claim for being stuck in a lift, our panel can help you do this. Another one of the steps required is to file the claim with the party responsible for the elevator and allow them time to investigate.
We also have a helpful team of advisors who are available for you to call 24/7 to ask any questions before being connected with a solicitor to make a start. Contact us today.
We are here to help you
Here at How To Sue, our expert advisors are on hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week to assess your compensation claim. Should you require free legal advice we can connect you to a specialist solicitor.
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- How To Sue For Being Stuck In A Lift
- Examples Of How Being Stuck In A Lift Could Be Caused By Negligence
- What Injuries Could Be Sued For After Being Stuck In A Lift?
- How Much Stuck In A Lift Compensation Can I Sue For?
- How Can I Support My Claim For Being Stuck In A Lift?
- Why Sue For Being Stuck In A Lift With Our Panel Of Solicitors?
- No Win No Fee Stuck In A Lift Compensation
- Learn More
How To Sue For Being Stuck In A Lift
Yes, it may be possible to claim compensation for being stuck in a lift if you can show that you suffered harm due to another party failing to keep the lift safe and in proper working order. Below is an overview of the laws that may apply, along with examples of who could potentially be responsible.
Who Could Be Responsible For A Lift Malfunction?
Liability will depend on the specific circumstances of the incident, but responsibility may fall on one or more of the following:
Employers
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers are required to take reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of their employees. This can include ensuring that lifts and other equipment are properly maintained, regularly inspected, and repaired where necessary. If a lift is unsafe, appropriate warnings should be provided and it should be taken out of use.
Occupiers (Those in Control of Premises)
In accordance with the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, those responsible for premises that are open to visitors must take reasonable care to ensure their safety. This may involve arranging routine lift inspections, addressing reported faults within a reasonable timeframe, and clearly marking or restricting access to lifts that are out of order.
Lift Maintenance Contractors
Where a third-party contractor is responsible for servicing or maintaining a lift, they may be expected to carry out their work to an appropriate standard. If maintenance is performed incorrectly or faults are not properly addressed, this could contribute to liability if someone is harmed as a result.
Manufacturers
If a lift malfunction is caused by a design or manufacturing defect, responsibility may rest with the manufacturer under product liability laws. Faulty components, such as braking systems or cables, could pose serious safety risks if they fail.
To discuss the incident that caused you to be trapped in an elevator, the injuries or harm that you suffered and how to sue for being stuck in a lift, speak to one of our advisors. They can help assess who is liable for the incident.
Examples Of How Being Stuck In A Lift Could Be Caused By Negligence
Negligence can cause you to get stuck in a lift in a number of different scenarios, some examples of which are given below:
- The maintenance officer in your office building has failed to put up a sign warning that the lift is out of order. Whilst you are using it, it stops abruptly and you fall over, sustaining a wrist injury.
- A lift in a hotel has not had a maintenance check in over a year. Whilst using it to get to your hotel room, it drops suddenly, and you hit your head, suffering a concussion.
- A new lift has been fitted in a shopping centre but risk assessments were not run before allowing customers to enter it. You get stuck for several hours, causing you to suffer severe anxiety.
You can find out how to sue for being stuck in a lift with the details of your claim by calling one of our friendly advisors today.
What Injuries Could Be Sued For Being Stuck In A Lift?
The injuries that you could sue for after being stuck in a lift can include both physical and psychological injuries. Some examples are listed below:
- Broken bone or fractures
- A back injury such as slipped discs
- A head or brain injury
- Psychological injury such as PTSD and claustrophobia
- Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains and strains
To find out how to sue for being stuck in a lift with the injuries that you sustained, call an advisor today.
How Much Stuck In A Lift Compensation Can I Sue For?
How much stuck in a lift compensation that you can sue for will depend on factors, such as the severity of the injuries that you sustained.
For your physical and psychological injuries, you will gain compensation under the head of claim, general damages. General damages are often calculated by legal professionals using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This publication gives suggested compensation amounts to award different types of injuries.
The table below gives figures from the JCG for injuries that may be sustained from being stuck in a lift. Please note that these are just guidelines and therefore you are not guaranteed any of these exact amounts. Also, be aware that the top figure was not taken from the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Suggested Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries | Multiple severe injuries with incurred financial losses, such as care costs, loss of earnings and medical expenses. | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Paralysis | Tetraplegia where there is a lack of awareness and significantly reduced life expectancy. | £396,140 - £493,000 |
| Brain and Head Injury | Very severe where there is a need for full time nursing care. | £344,150 - £493,000 |
| Moderate (i) where there is a personality change and no prospect of employment. | £183,190 - £267,340 | |
| Back Injury | Severe with damage to spinal cord and nerve roots. | £111,150 - £196,450 |
| Pelvis and Hip Injury | Severe, resulting in extensive fractures of the pelvis | £95,680 - £159,770 |
| Psychiatric Injury | Severe with compensation depending on the victim's ability to cope with life. | £66,920 - £141,240 |
| Ankle Injury | Severe injuries necessitating an extensive period of treatment and lengthy period in plaster. | £38,210 - £61,090 |
| Skeletal Injury | Multiple fractures of facial bones | £18,180 - £29,220 |
What If I Incurred Financial Losses After Being Stuck In A Lift?
If you incurred financial losses after being stuck in a lift, you can be compensated for them. This is under special damages. You could be reimbursed for your:
- Loss of earnings from having to take time off work after being stuck in a lift.
- Therapy costs to help cope with anxiety from getting stuck in a lift.
- Medical expenses. For example, if broken bones have required you to purchase painkillers.
- Travel expenses such as public transport tickets after falling due to a lift dropping and breaking your arm. Therefore, you have been left unable to drive.
- Care costs. Examples include child or personal care to help with daily tasks after sustaining a back injury that has lowered your mobility.
Ensure you keep copies of pay slips and receipts to prove that these payments were made.
Find out how to sue for being stuck in a lift for compensation that covers both general and special damages by contacting one of our advisors today.
We are here to help you
Here at How To Sue, our expert advisors are on hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week to assess your compensation claim. Should you require free legal advice we can connect you to a specialist solicitor.
How Can I Support My Claim For Being Stuck In A Lift?
To support your claim for being stuck in a lift, you will need to gather evidence and make your claim within the legal limitation period. Details on what evidence to gather and deadlines are given below.
How To Prove Who Was At Fault For A Stuck Lift
To prove who was at fault for a stuck lift, you will need to gather evidence that proves the negligence of the third party. Evidence can include images of loose wiring that was not repaired. It can also be the last entry in a maintenance log book that shows the significant amount of time since the last risk assessment was run on the elevator. You can find more examples of evidence needed for a personal injury claim in our dedicated guide.
Is There A Time Limit To Claiming For Being Stuck In A Lift?
Yes, there is a time limit of 3 years to begin a claim for being stuck in a lift. This deadline will begin from the date that you got stuck in a lift. You can find out more about the legal limitation period and the exceptions that apply in our dedicated guide.
Contact one of our advisors for tailored advice on how to sue for being stuck in a lift.
Why Sue For Being Stuck In A Lift With Our Panel Of Solicitors?
Suing for being stuck in a lift with our panel of solicitors has proven successful for previous clients. Our panel of solicitors have a dedicated, adaptive approach to handling claims so that the process is as smooth as possible for each client. Some of the services that they offer to ensure this are discussed below:
- Tailored advice so you know exactly what evidence will support your stuck in a lift claim.
- Contacting witnesses who saw you enter the lift for a statement.
- Organising further medical assessments so you receive compensation for both physical and psychological injuries.
- Handling legal documentation and court proceedings for your stuck-in-an-elevator claim.
- Updating you on the progress of your claim and new information that may require more evidence.
To find out more about how to sue for being stuck in a lift with a solicitor on our panel, contact an advisor today.
No Win No Fee Stuck In A Lift Compensation
How to sue for being stuck in a lift with our panel of solicitors will involve you entering a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement. A Conditional Fee Agreement will benefit you because:
- It allows you to begin making your claim without upfront or ongoing payments to your solicitor for their services
- You will not have to worry about paying your solicitor for their work if your claim is unsuccessful
- If your claim is successful, a success fee will be deducted from your compensation and paid to your solicitor. The majority of your compensation is yours to keep as the success fee is taken as a percentage. This is capped at a maximum of 25% by the law.
To discuss the terms of making your claim on a No Win No Fee basis, get in touch with one of our advisors today.
Contact Us
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- Call us on 0800 408 7827
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Learn More
Find more of our useful guides below:
- Find out how to claim knee injury at work compensation
- Learn how to sue for an office accident
- Read about claiming for spine injury compensation
More information that may help you with your claim includes:
- Information on how to request CCTV from inside of the lift.
- Health and Safety Executive guidance on passenger lifts and escalators.
- Find out when to call 999 with guidance from the NHS.
Thank you for reading our guide on how to sue for being stuck in a lift.