An elevator is a highly useful installation in any commercial property and allows for the easy change between floors. It is also far safer than many people think and accidents and problems very rarely go wrong. However in some unfortunate rare cases things do go wrong and this is where an elevator expert witness comes in.If there is an accident with an elevator and someone is injured then often an attempted court case might follow. This can be because the injured party is trying to sue the owner of the property, or it can be a legal enquiry. In either situation both parties can benefit from an elevator expert witness. They will be elevator engineers who understand the workings and the operation of the elevator. This then means that they can look at the accident and use forensic techniques to determine the cause of the accident and thus find blame.

If you suspect that your accident might have been the result of negligence on the part of the business then it is not fair that you should suffer and that you should lose out on profit etc as a result. You should then look into hiring elevator accident investigation in order to forensically inspect the reason that the elevator broke down and where the blame lies if indeed it was anyone’s fault. If you get elevator accident investigation and find that the company is at fault then you might want to use an elevator expert witness or speak to an elevator consultant. Using an elevator expert witness you might wish to take the company to court and this way you can get some compensation for your injuries and for the time that you lost. At the same time this will ensure that other people do not suffer the same fate as you will have drawn attention to the matter.

In the case of a potential lawsuit then it won’t look as though it was your negligence that caused the problem and as such you can avoid a law suit. The same engineers who worked no your maintenance can act as an elevator expert witness in a court of law, and if your elevator expert witness defends you by saying you took the necessary steps to maintain your elevator then you can avoid blame and financial punishment.Regular elevator engineering will mean the elevator is also less likely to break down while you are not at serious risk (I.e. inside the elevator) meanwhile. A broken down elevator is of course a problem even if you are not inside it as it will mean you are unable to use it. If a lack of elevator engineering leaves you without your lift then you will have to take the stairs and will have no disabled access which can be a big problem if you have a disabled member of staff or a disabled client. Without an elevator for them to access your building this can be very embarrassing for your company and can reflect badly on your business. Meanwhile if you have received a large delivery, or some furniture, then without a working elevator you will be forced to get them up the stairs without your elevator.

When choosing an expert witness, most people will agree it is vitally important to select the right one from the outset. First and foremost, an elevator/escalator expert witness must have hands-on field experience installing, adjusting, maintaining, repairing and trouble-shooting a wide range of vertical transportation equipment. An added bonus would be if the expert also had experience in supervising and assisting the work of other field technicians, particularly in the area of trouble-shooting difficult field problems. A thorough and complete understanding of the ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, evidenced by QEI (Qualified Elevator Inspector) certification from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, is essential. Complete knowledge of a multitude of other safety codes and regulations, applicable to vertical transportation, are also required. Thirdly, a long history of specialization in the field of elevator and escalator accident investigation is a significant benefit due to the tremendous amount and value of technical knowledge gained through the investigative process, which is not otherwise available through any other means. Due to the nature of litigation arising from elevator and escalator accidents, advanced degrees are not necessary for an experienced elevator and escalator expert to provide an accurate technical analysis of most all situations. Formal education is important, however, especially the knowledge and experience required to become a licensed elevator technician and obtain QEI certification. The ideal elevator expert witness will be proficient in all three areas – hands-on experience, knowledge of codes and regulations, and experience in investigating elevator accidents.