Elevator & Escalator Accident Lawyers in Wilkes-Barre & Northeastern PA

In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there may be exceptions. It's best to consult an elevator accident lawyer promptly to understand the specific deadline for your case. Lawsuits for accidents in Luzerne County are filed in the Court of Common Pleas in Wilkes-Barre; Lackawanna County cases are filed in Scranton.

Pennsylvania follows the modified comparative negligence rule. This means you may still recover damages as long as you were 50% or less responsible for the accident. Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. An escalator accident lawyer can assess how this rule might affect your claim.

At PA Attorney Source, we handle elevator and escalator accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront costs or attorney fees. We only get paid if we secure compensation for you.

Important evidence includes maintenance records for the elevator/escalator, inspection certificates, surveillance footage of the incident, witness statements, photographs of the accident scene and your injuries, detailed medical records, and expert testimony regarding safety violations, elevator malfunctions, or mechanical failures.

The timeline for an elevator or escalator accident case varies depending on its complexity, the severity of injuries, the clarity of liability (e.g., clear building owner negligence in an elevator accident), and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial. Some cases settle in a few months, while others, especially those requiring litigation, may take 1-2 years or longer. Your attorney will work to resolve your case as efficiently as possible without shortchanging your compensation.

Usually more than one party. The building owner or property manager is responsible for keeping the equipment safe — and Pennsylvania courts hold elevator and escalator operators to a heightened duty of care, similar to a common carrier. The maintenance company under contract is responsible for the service it performed or skipped, and the manufacturer can be liable for a defective component. Each of these defendants carries its own insurance, which is why we identify every responsible party before presenting a demand.

Yes. Elevators and escalators in Pennsylvania are subject to certification and inspection requirements administered through the state Department of Labor & Industry, and the current certificate is typically posted in or near the equipment. Those certification records — together with the maintenance contractor's service logs and prior violation or shutdown history — are often the heart of the case. We obtain them early, because a missed inspection or a string of unresolved service calls tells the jury exactly why the accident happened.

You likely have two claims. Workers' compensation pays medical bills and partial wages through your employer regardless of fault — but it never pays for pain and suffering. Because the building owner, the elevator maintenance company and the equipment manufacturer are not your employer, you can also bring a full third-party lawsuit against them for all of your damages. This matters for warehouse, hospital and office workers who use freight elevators daily. We coordinate both claims, including the workers' comp insurer's repayment right, so nothing is left behind.