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A woman who suffered “severe injuries” when an elevator at the Palms Casino Resort dropped 22 stories is filing a lawsuit against the casino and the elevator firm for negligence, according to The Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Rebecca Keith Wood was a guest at the property on May 5, 2023, when the incident took place, resulting in injuries to her “bodily limbs, organs, and nervous systems,” as stated in a complaint lodged in Clark County District Court. According to the lawsuit, these conditions could be “chronic and debilitating.”
The lawsuit does not specify how Wood acquired her injuries or the severity of those injuries.
Wood contends that the Otis Elevator Company and Palms Place condominiums failed to properly maintain and inspect the elevators. Additionally, she claims that the Palms had an obligation to inform guests regarding the “hazardous” condition of the elevators.
Wood is seeking monetary compensation exceeding $15,000 for both general and specific damages, along with legal fees.
Freefalls Uncommon
Elevator freefalls are extremely uncommon because of various safety systems established to avert these occurrences. Typically, they are hung by several cables, each capable of holding the elevator's maximum weight, and feature safety brakes that activate if the elevator descends too rapidly.
Parts like cables, pulleys, or braking systems can malfunction from wear or manufacturing flaws. Mistakes in the elevator's electronic control systems might also result in unexpected movements or abrupt descents.
Companies need to guarantee that all amenities, like elevators, are secure for visitors and should conduct frequent inspections.
In the United States, incidents involving elevators and escalators lead to about 30 fatalities and 17,000 injuries each year, as reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The majority of incidents involve maintenance personnel instead of travelers.
$2M Harvey's Lawsuit
In July 2014, John Deatherage found himself in an elevator at Harveys Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino when it unexpectedly plummeted and came to a jarring halt. Deatherage felt a pressure of two times his body weight pressing on him, resulting in lasting harm to his spine. He needed to have fusion surgery on his back, accumulating $142K in medical expenses.
He later initiated legal action against Schindler Elevator Company, the company accountable for the elevator’s upkeep. In July 2018, a jury determined that Schindler Elevator Company was negligent and granted Deatherage $2 million in compensatory damages.
