Anyone
with a fear of lifts will already have gone through all the possible things
that can go wrong with one of the world’s greatest and most convenient
inventions. Yet, despite the knowledge of the damage a broken lift can cause,
millions of people use them each day, and many do so out of necessity.
Lifts in
public places need to meet certain health and safety requirements, and adequate
notices should be placed in full view if the lift is not in working order.
However, despite the abundance of legislation in place to protect the public
from lift failures and faults, each day, many people in the UK suffer injury
due to the negligence of others.
London
Fire brigade were so fed up of having to attend what they term “non-urgent” callouts
that they decided to compile a list of the worst lifts in the south of England.
This is understandable when you learn that in the last year alone, LFB were
called out on a staggering 4909 occasions on non-urgent calls.
Time and time
again people were getting locked in lifts, and although were not in immediate
physical danger, were forced to call the fire services for assistance. This
help costs UK tax payers thousands of pounds each year. Lift owners can be
fined around £300 if the fire brigade is called out needlessly because owners
have failed to maintain their lifts. Besides the financial implications of
dealing with a faulty lift, the impact on the emotional welfare of a passenger
must also be taken into consideration.
Dangerous lifts
If you would like to take extra precautions and want to know precisely where the UK’s most dangerous lifts are located, this is the article for you! We have rounded up the main bunch of culprits that are renowned for wreaking havoc on those using them, so read on and ride them at your peril.
1. Earlsdown
House in Barking – 22 callouts over a year
2. Windmill
Court in Brent fared a little better (but not much) with 16 callouts for
on-emergency help in the past year
3. Odette
Duval House in Aldgate teeters in third with 14 callouts
4. Quince
House in Hounslow was visited by the fire brigade 12 times over the past year
According
to reports, there have been some improvements, with callouts falling 54% since
2008, but it is evident that lift owners need to be taking their
responsibilities more seriously.
What can I do if I have been injured in a lift?
If it can be shown that injuries sustained were the cause of another person’s negligence you could make a claim for compensation. Lift owners are responsible for the upkeep of lifts and also for ensuring there are visible signs warning of any potential dangers such as open lift shafts or broken doors. Should you believe you are entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation, call us on 08000 430 430 today and find out just how much you may be entitled to.
Why make a claim?
Prolonged
hospital care can be expensive for many reasons: you may require additional
treatment and medications and you may also be out of pocket due to being unable
to work. Making a personal injury solicitors claim can also make a lift owner take action
to ensure their lifts are safe for future use.
For a free initial consultation, call us on 08000 430 430 and speak to one of our friendly legal advisers. To request a call-back, simply pop your details into the online form and we will call you back the same working day.
