Cambridge Elevating Recalls Home Elevators

A recall on Cambridge Elevating Elmira, Hybrid, and Heritage home use elevators has been in effect since March 27, 2019. The manufacturer issued the recall because the landing door may unlock, even if the elevator is not present. That means someone can walk into the elevator on the assumption that it’s there and end up falling down the shaft.

The fall hazard may affect elevators from the Elmira, Heritage, and Hybrid series with first and second generation control systems. Production dates for the recalled elevators are from 1/2/2009 to 11/29/2017. These units had retail values ranging from $15,000 to $60,000, and were made available through Cambridge Elevating and authorized dealers such as Seaside Elevator, Western Elevator, and Camwest Elevator & Lifts.

So far, there is at least one known incident of the landing door opening without the presence of the elevator. According to Cambridge Elevating, those who have these elevators in their homes should stop using them immediately and reach out to the company to arrange a free repair service.

Although the manufacturer says they have not been notified of any injuries, it’s possible that people were involved in accidents and failed to report the event. This can happen when people are unaware of their rights and legal options, like filing a product defect injury claim and receiving monetary compensation. If you or someone in your family was harmed by a defective elevator landing door, contact us right away for advice and guidance. If you do get in touch with Cambridge Elevating, do not schedule a repair service or agree to accept any other remedy – not without talking to an elevator injury accident lawyer first.

DTLA Law Group is a personal injury firm with decades of experience in product recalls and defective product accident claims. Our legal team is here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you have any questions or concerns. Don’t hesitate to call or use our contact form if you need information on suing for negligence by an elevator manufacturer or installation company.

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Empty Elevator Shaft Accidents

It’s terrifying to think that you could fall down an empty elevator shaft, but these incidents can happen in all sorts of elevators, whether you are in an office building, an apartment complex, or even your own home. There is no doubt that you can be severely injured in these accidents, even if the fall is from a relatively low height. Anyone who steps into an elevator and falls down the shaft can end up with one or more of the following:

• Brain injury from a concussion or skull fracture
• Hearing and vision loss (often from traumatic brain injury)
• Broken bones
• Fractures in the hip, knee, and other joints
• Shoulder dislocation
• Spinal cord damage
• Rupturing of internal organs
• Ligament and muscle tears
• Deep lacerations resulting in disfigurement and/or infection
• Permanent damage to the nerves
• Paralysis / loss of function in one or more limbs

No accident victim should have to suffer with the costs of recovery on their own when someone else is responsible for the incident. Please reach out to a Cambridge Elevating recall lawsuit attorney, who can help you determine the best course of action.

Proving Liability in a Defective Product Case

All companies that manufacture goods and/or services, including Cambridge Elevating, have a duty of care to protect customers from bodily harm. Of course, a company cannot anticipate every incident of injury, nor are they responsible for every accident involving their products. However, they have a duty to meet the highest standard of quality control and safety during each and every stage of the manufacturing process. In essence, they must take any and all reasonable measures to ensure that the product does not pose a hazard when used as intended by the consumer.

The standard of care by manufacturers involves a wide array of actions, like inspecting and testing the product, ensuring compliance with federal safety regulations, and using high quality materials and components. Even a seemingly minor flaw or shortcut to save time and money can lead to an accident for many people, resulting in devastating physical and emotional harm, including death.

Proving that you suffered injuries or lost a family member as a direct result of manufacturer negligence is extremely challenging. Make sure to contact a law firm that specializes in product defect injury cases if you got hurt because of defects with a Cambridge Elevating home elevator.

Filing a Claim for Monetary Damages

If the harm you suffered resulted from any type of design flaw, mechanical error, mislabeling, and other issues caused during the manufacturing process, you may have ground for a product liability lawsuit. From a lawsuit, you can obtain various form of compensation, such as:

• Medical expenses for immediate and future treatments, surgery, doctor’s visits, physical therapy, etc.
• Lost wages and value of job-related benefits like sick / vacation days
• Future lost wages if your ability to work is significantly impaired
• Cost of damaged or lost property
• Pain and suffering for on-going physical pain and psychological distress
• Punitive damages (additional compensation awarded by juries in cases of gross negligence)

In cases where the victim dies from an elevator accident, family members may have a claim for wrongful death compensation. This type of lawsuit is meant to provide loved ones with funeral expenses, loss of expected savings, cost of medical bills, and other economic and non-economic damages.

Protecting Your Right to File a Product Liability Claim

As a victim of negligence by a manufacturer, you may assume that your right to sue is absolute. However, a successful outcome depends on the actions you take from the moment you are injured. If you fell down in a Cambridge Elevating home elevator, here are some tips on what you should do:

• If you are seriously injured, seek medical treatment above anything else to avoid permanent complications or fatality.
• If you are able to, photograph all visible injuries.
• Make sure to stop using the defective elevator and leave in its original state; do not attempt to make any repairs.
• Seek medical attention to ensure the best possible recovery and establish the harm that occurred because of the accident
• Report the incident to Cambridge Elevating.
• If the company offers to repair the elevator, say no. Also decline any offers to replace the defective elevator or provide you with any type of refund or cash payment. Saying yes can make it difficult for you to proceed with a lawsuit in the future
• Gather all records and documents that can help you in a personal injury claim, such as your medical records, proof of hours or days missed from work, damage to your property, and witness statements.
• Contact an elevator accident lawyer right away, who can advise you on any offers from the company and help you file a claim for the full range of damages you are entitled to.

Time Limit to Seek Compensation from the Manufacturer

Please note that all lawsuits are governed by a time limit, which is known as the statute of limitations. In California, the court system allows 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit against a negligent manufacturer. If you are suing for a loved one’s death, you have 2 years from the decedent’s death to file a lawsuit for wrongful death.

If your case involves exceptional circumstances, it’s possible that the courts will allow for an extension beyond the normal window of 2 years. For example, minors who were injured by the negligence of others have 2 years from when they are legally an adult (18 years old) to initiate a claim for damages. However, it’s worth noting that most people do not meet the qualifications for an extension, and therefore, must take legal action within 24 months of the accident or date of death.

What is the Settlement Value of a Product Liability Case?

The amount you can receive from a product defect accident claim can vary widely, so it’s possible for one victim to settle their case for $10,000 or less, while someone else obtains a jury verdict of several million dollars. However, we would say that elevator accidents tend to result in serious injuries, and there is a high chance of permanent health issues that impact your ability to perform basic tasks. That’s why it’s not unusual to see payments in the range of $500,000 to $1,500,000 in these cases. For elevator accidents where the victim is killed, settlements and verdicts can sometimes reach $10,000,000 and above.

How Long will My Case Take to Settle?

Cases involving minor injuries or clear, indisputable liability by the defendant may be resolved within a matter of weeks. However, 3 to 6 months is a more plausible timeline, and even longer if the victim has injuries that require long-term care. Most lawsuits involving defective elevators take between 6 and 12 months, and those with complex legal issues like split liability and gross negligence can take 18 months or longer. If a case cannot be settled and going to trial is the only option, it will probably take over 3 years before an elevator accident claim is fully resolved.

We strive to reach a settlement with the other party as soon as possible, but it can take considerable time and effort to resolve a recalled product lawsuit. This is particularly true if the claimant has severe injuries, which merit higher levels of compensation (6 to 8 figure range). However, there are many factors that play a role in the case settlement process, and some of these issues – like how long it takes to hear back from the insurance company – are beyond our control.

Contact Our Law Firm Today

As consumers, we have the right to hold manufacturers responsible when a product has significant defects. That includes the right to pursue a claim for monetary damages, which we can assist you with here at Normandie Law Firm. We are a personal injury firm with many years of experience in defective product injury claims. You can expect skilled and effective legal representation that gets results, whether you are the injured party or your loved one died in an elevator accident.

Our commitment to victims is reflected in the Zero Fee Guarantee, a system where you as the client pay $0 to hire a product recall attorney. Once we settle your case or obtain a jury verdict for monetary damages, a portion of your payment is reserved for legal fees. What happens if you don’t receive compensation from a lawsuit against Cambridge Elevating? In that case, you do not owe a single penny, as we don’t get paid unless you do.

Call Normandie Law Firm and schedule a free case review at your earliest convenience. We also provide second opinions on existing claim, completely free of charge. So, you can feel free to contact us no matter where you are with a defective product injury case. We look forward to being a part of your journey to recovery and ensuring that justice is served for you and your loved ones.

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