Class Action Lawsuit Lawyers
Waupaca Elevator Class Action Lawsuit
One of the most horrifying moments in movies is when the scene depicts a residential elevator free-fall. Unfortunately, this is a reality for some people. A reality that is something of nightmares that can cause lasting trauma and potentially long-term recovery from injuries. Recently, there was an elevator recall of the popular residential elevator brand Waupaca. The goal of this article is to help you understand this recall and what your rights are if you were a victim of an accident caused by these elevators.
Understanding the Waupaca Elevator Recall
Back on October 25th, 2018, there was a recall on over 8,000 residential elevators by Waupaca Elevator Company. The recall was a result of a defect that caused elevators to unexpectedly fall, which could lead to serious and even potentially fatal injuries. This recall covers the Custom Life models 450 and 500, which were sold and installed between the years 1979 and 2008. When Waupaca recalled these elevators, there were reports of elevators free-falling in about 12 occasions. 10 of these incidents resulted in injuries such as sprains, strains, and broken bones.
Waupaca offered owners the opportunity to install a free overspeed braking device as part of the recall. This device was meant to help brake the elevator should a fall occur. Unfortunately, at least one of these devices has failed and the elevator ended up crashing from 3 stories into the ground floor. This means that rather than fix the problem with the elevators, they created a solution that ultimately failed, and the elevators are still at risk for falling. The longer time that it takes for them to resolve this problem, the more people will be put at risk as a result of the defective parts.
If you are a building owner or maintenance person, you should keep an eye out for the serial numbers of the elevator to see if your elevator is part of the recall. It can be hard to find a serious number, but this can be important to get your elevator fixed properly according to the recall instructions from Waupaca. In many cases, the serial number is located on either the front or bottom of the controller box. It can also be found on the powerhead base. The elevator’s powerhead can be found in the closet, machine room, bottom of the hoistway, garage, crawlspace, or attic. If you cannot find the serial number, it can be a better idea to just stop using this elevator until you can determine whether or not your elevator has been impacted by the recall.
If you can see the serial number, the recalled elevators have the following serial numbers:
- 10-1001 through 10-3131
- 10-3132 through 10-8111
- 010-00-8112 through 010-10-8786
- 110-00-1000 through 110-03-1179
If your elevator has one of these serial codes, you should take the proper steps to get the parts for the recall.
Filing a Claim for a Class Action Lawsuit
Elevator safety should be of the highest priority if you own a residential building. If your elevator doesn’t work as it should, this can put people at risk in your building of potentially very serious or even fatal injuries. The harsh reality is that there are over 30 people killed and 17,000 serious injuries every year caused by elevator accidents. The problem with residential elevators is that they are not as regularly inspected as a commercial elevator may be. This is why there are frequent problems that go unaddressed, leading to potentially serious injuries.
If you were injured as a result of an elevator accident, especially in a Waupaca elevator, then you should contact an attorney so that they can file a claim for you.
How a Class Action Lawsuit Lawyer Can Help
If you were injured because of a Waupaca elevator, you do have rights. They knew about the defective parts in their elevators, but have chosen not to find a permanent solution for it even several years later. You can be compensated for not only the repairs to the elevator but also for any injuries or other damages that may have been the result of your elevator accident. Even if you had your elevator fixed, you may still be entitled to damages if the repairs were not sufficient enough to prevent another issue.
You should contact a lawyer as soon as possible after your elevator accident to make sure that you get the best outcome possible for your case. The sooner that you can get an attorney in on your case, the sooner that you can get the compensation that you deserve. The lawyer will look over your case to determine whether or not you have a case for this lawsuit. If you do, they will start moving forward and filing a claim against Waupaca to hold them accountable for their defective elevators as well as the defective solutions that were supposed to fix the problem.
You may be tempted to be a part of a class action lawsuit independently, without requiring the services of a lawyer. The problem is that if you are not familiar with the process of filing a class action lawsuit claim or another claim, then you may not be as successful as you should be with your case. Hiring a lawyer that has knowledge and experience in dealing with class action lawsuits can be the best investment in your case. They know the process and will help you get the best outcomes possible.
Conclusion
The Injury Firm has a team of lawyers that can be essential for you as you fight for the compensation that you deserve. Our team has the knowledge and experience that is important to ensure that you get the best possible outcomes for your case. Our team takes a careful approach to class action lawsuits, making sure that we have all of the documentation required to move forward with the case. If you were injured as a result of an elevator accident in a Waupaca elevator, contact us today to see what we can do for you.
