Personal injury lawyers are often contacted by potential clients after being injured by a defective automatic door. Many public and private buildings have automatic doors at their entrances and even inside the buildings. They are commonplace in shopping malls, grocery stores, medical buildings and hospitals, office buildings, airports and major retail stores. When a malfunction occurs, the result may be an automatic door injury with serious consequences.
Automatic doors serve many useful purposes. They provide convenience for entry and exit and offer energy savings. They also help with the flow of traffic inside and outside a store and make it easier for customers, especially those carrying large items. Automatic doors also provide access for people in wheelchairs and others with physical limitations.
While convenient and customer-friendly, these doors are very heavy and often close quickly. When they strike a person, injuries are often serious. A defective or malfunctioning door poses a significant risk of harm to the public, especially senior citizens and children.
- Automatic doors in public spaces are convenient but can cause severe injuries if defective. Seniors and children are at high risk.
- Property owners have legal obligations to ensure safety. Failure to do so may lead to liability lawsuits if injuries occur.
- Common causes of injury include faulty installation, lack of maintenance and sensor issues. Regular inspections are crucial.
- Liability may extend to property owners, contractors, tenants and manufacturers, emphasizing the importance of proper door upkeep.
Legal Duty of Property Owners
Under state laws, property owners and businesses must make their premises safe for invitees and guests. When they fail to do so and someone is injured, it can give rise to a premises liability lawsuit. To obtain a successful outcome, the injured party’s attorney must establish a defect in the doors that caused the injury.
Proving Knowledge of a Defect
In many states, the injured party must also show that the defendant knew or should have known about the defect before the incident. This may be shown through:
- Prior similar incidents involving the same doors
- Complaints from customers or staff about door malfunctions
Further, many state laws require property owners to regularly inspect their premises for harmful defects. This includes inspections and testing of automatic doors. Businesses should also schedule regular maintenance and keep logs noting the date, time and individual who inspected the doors.
Common Causes of Automatic Door Injuries
An automatic door injury or sliding door accident can occur for several reasons. These commonly include:
- Improper installation of the doors
- Lack of proper maintenance
- Malfunctioning or misaligned sensors
- Doors that close too quickly due to improper timing
When sensors are missing, broken or not properly aligned, doors may close prematurely and strike someone entering or exiting a building.
Who May Be Held Liable
Cases can be filed against the owner of the property and often the tenant. If the injury was caused by defective parts, a claim can also be made against the door manufacturer. Also, if an outside contractor was hired by the business for maintenance of the doors, that company is also a potential defendant.
Recoverable Damages in Automatic Door Injury Cases
An automatic door injury may give rise to compensation for physical pain and suffering, disability, loss of enjoyment of life and other non-economic damages. Recoverable damages may also include medical expenses and lost wages.
In the event of an untimely death, surviving family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek compensation for the loss of a loved one.
