Elevators or Escalators: What’s More Dangerous?

You’ve probably seen some scary stories online about people who have gotten their scarves caught in escalators or otherwise suffered serious injuries on the moving stairways. For example, you may recall news footage of the 2021 incident at the MBTA Back Bay station, where dozens of riders were injured when an escalator suddenly reversed direction, causing numerous people to fall backward on top of one another. That incident sent more than nine people to the hospital.

At the same time, you probably haven’t heard much about elevator injuries. But, the actual statistics on elevator and escalator injuries and fatalities might surprise you.

Escalator Injuries and Fatalities

Escalator-Related Deaths

The number of escalator-related deaths in the United States each year is small. One study found that an average of three people per year suffer fatal accidents on or around escalators.

Most escalator-related deaths resulted from falls. The second most common cause of escalator-related deaths is caught-in or caught-between incidents. This type of fatality nearly always occurs when clothing or other articles get caught at the top or bottom of the escalator, or between a stair and the escalator sidewall. 

It’s important to note that many of these deaths were at least in part caused by the rider. For example, nearly one quarter of the escalator deaths reviewed in the study involved someone riding the side rail of the escalator. In other cases, the rider hasn’t done anything wrong, but the accident could have been avoided. For instance, deaths have occurred when a dangling piece of clothing or accessory is caught between the plates on an escalator. This risk is especially high for young children. Taking care to ensure that nothing–including dangling shoelaces–is hanging close to the steps when entering and riding an escalator is a simple precaution that can prevent a potentially catastrophic accident.

Escalator-Related Injuries

While escalator-related deaths are unusual, escalator-related injuries are not. After the MBTA escalator accident described above, a local news station reported that there had been more than 50 prior lawsuits against the MBTA for escalator-related injuries. 

The same study referenced in the fatality section concluded that about 6,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms in a single year for escalator-related injuries, and estimated that 7,300 escalator incidents resulted in hospitalization in another year they analyzed. 

The breakdown of escalator injuries is similar to the breakdown for escalator-related fatalities. About 75% of escalator injuries resulted from falls, and about 20% from entrapment at the top or bottom or between a moving stair and the sidewall. A small percentage were attributable to other causes, including the escalator stopping suddenly or reversing direction.

While falls were the most common cause of escalator-related fatalities, the caught-between injuries tended to be more serious than fall-related injuries overall. About half of these caught-between injuries involved children under the age of five. Most often, they occurred when a child’s hand, shoe, or dangling shoelace got caught in the escalator mechanism.

Elevator Related Fatalities and Injuries

Elevator Related Deaths

While an average of just three people per year are killed in escalator-related incidents, the average annual number of elevator-related fatalities is about 25. About 60% of these deaths involve people working on or near the elevator. More than half of elevator-related deaths involve falls. More than one-third result from caught-between injuries, usually when a passenger is caught in the elevator door.

Elevator Related Injuries

The same study referenced in the escalator accident section concluded that there were 9,800 elevator injuries requiring hospitalization in one year they studied. Two longer-term studies concluded that an average of 2,639 people aged 65 and older suffered elevator-related injuries each year, along with 1,935 children.

Why are there More Elevator Related Injuries and Deaths?

One reason for the gap between escalator and elevator-related fatalities is simply that there are a lot more elevators in the United States than escalators. According to the industry trade organization National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII), there are about 56,000 escalators in the United States, compared with about 900,000 elevators. In Massachusetts, there are more than 35 times as many elevators as escalators. Many states, including Massachusetts, rely on small staffs of inspectors to ensure that the thousands or tens of thousands of elevators in the state are operating safely.

Another reason is the large percentage of elevator-related injuries and deaths that are attributable to people working on or around elevators were elevators under construction. Working on an elevator is more dangerous than working on an escalator, and an open elevator shaft presents a serious danger to anyone in the vicinity.

Who is Responsible for Elevator and Escalator Related Injuries?

Of course, statistics are small comfort to those who are among the relatively small number of people injured in escalator mishaps. That’s especially true when the injuries are serious or a loved one loses their life. Who may be liable for an injury sustained on or around an elevator or escalator depends on the specifics of the event. For example, a worker who is injured while repairing an elevator will most likely be eligible for workers compensation. Whether or not that worker has other recourse that may increase the compensation available will depend in large part on whether there is a third party who may be responsible. One common example would be the elevator manufacturer, if the injury was caused by a product or part defect.

In some circumstances, building management or construction crews may be liable to passengers or bystanders who are injured. For example, a construction crew that left an open elevator shaft unmarked and unobstructed might be liable if somebody fell into that shaft. Similarly, management of a shopping mall might be liable for an escalator injury if the escalator was not being properly maintained, or was being operated at too high a speed.

Eligibility for damages may be reduced, or even eliminated, if the injured person was substantially responsible for their own injury. For example, someone who chose to ride on the side rail of an escalator would likely be found at least partly responsible for their own injuries.

The best way to determine whether you may be entitled to compensation for an elevator or escalator-related injury is to consult an experienced injury attorney. In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, you can schedule a free consultation with Attorney Kevin P. Broderick right now. Just call 978-459-3085 or fill out the contact form on this page.