Premises Liability: Lawyer Dies After Falling From Escalator
On behalf of Jeremy Geller of Trapp & Geller posted in Premises Liability on Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
Illinois readers may be interested in a case of a tragic death that occurred at a Metro Station in another state. The surviving family of a 35-year-old attorney filed a premises liability lawsuit claiming wrongful death against the Metropolitan Area Transit Authority of the state. Negligence and survival action were also added to the lawsuit.
Court documents claim that the man fell from a Metro escalator in October of 2013. He apparently lost his balance while going up the escalator at a Metro Station and fell a short distance. While he was trying to get up, he reportedly fell a further eight feet and suffered debilitating injuries.
The victim’s parents allege that the incident, along with their son’s pain and suffering and ultimate death, was recorded on surveillance cameras and witnessed by multiple Metro employees. However, nobody allegedly attempted to respond to the man’s condition. His body was discovered four days later, by which time he had already succumbed to his critical injuries and suffered a painful death.
The owners and management of any premises in Illinois and other states on which the public is allowed to enter are responsible for the safety of those on their property. Any conditions that pose safety risks must be rectified, and although this case may not have involved a hazard caused by negligent maintenance, actions could have been taken by those who were monitoring surveillance footage to help the man. The loss of a loved one due to the negligence of property owners or their employees entitles surviving families to pursue compensation for end-of-life expenses and other documented financial losses. Premises liability and wrongful deaths claims must be filed in a civil court, and experienced premises liability attorneys are available to provide guidance prior to and throughout the legal proceedings.
Source: USA Today, “Lawsuit filed for $25M after attorney fell at D.C. metro, not found for 4 days“, Lindsay Deutsch, June 9, 2015