Fall Caused by Abrupt Stop of Escalator Results in 6-figure Settlement

Signs are often present when getting onto an escalator that state, “For passenger use only” or “No strollers or luggage,” but people often ignore them. The reason for this is that these items can pose a danger to the normal operation of an escalator. An elderly gentleman boarded an escalator at a casino a little bit after a couple had boarded with some luggage-type items, one of which was propped against the handrail. As they approached the bottom and the steps started to flatten out, this propped item slipped down and got wedged under the handrail, then shot out and into the emergency shut-off switch, abruptly stopping the operation of the escalator. Although the elderly gentleman was holding the handrail, this sudden stop caused him to pitch forward and he couldn’t regain his balance. He fell face-first down the escalator, suffering many lacerations to his face and shins. Some bystanders immediately came to his aid, carrying him down to the bottom of the escalator and called security. When emergency services arrived, he also complained of neck pain and was placed in a collar for transport. 

His family retained William Sykes of Claggett & Sykes to represent them in their attempt to recover medical fees and damages. Mr. Sykes came to Focus Graphics to colorize the imaging of his spine, as well as to create an animation showing how the abrupt stopping of the escalator caused the fall and injury. We created a multi-view animation of the fall to show how the damage occurred, and utilized the imaging as an inset to show what happened internally. A comparison of a normal spine was also shown next to the injured spine to highlight the severity of the injury. The case was settled for a high 6-figure amount.

“It has become an integral part of our case process to always create visuals to show at mediation and/or trial, and Focus Graphics is our go-to firm. They are professional and have so many creative ideas to support our clients’ claims and put forward the best visuals for each case. In my opinion, any case can be made better with quality graphics, and Focus Graphics delivers every time. ”

~Will Sykes, Esq., Las Vegas, NV | Claggett & Sykes Law Firm

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