Tenants at Hunter’s Point South Commons, a 38-story high-rise near the waterfront in Long Island City, Queens, say they are worried about frequent elevator malfunctions there and describe it as a “ticking time bomb” that poses the serious risk of an elevator accident. According to a CBS News report, tenants say elevator disruptions are nothing new and include issues such as skipped floors, faulty doors and a disabled call button. One resident told CBS that she and her husband were stuck in an elevator for over an hour. Another resident recalled an elevator lurching between floors saying her life flashed before her eyes when that happened.
CBS News New York first reported on elevator issues at the building in the summer of 2024 when residents were forced to wait in long lines just to get to their apartments. Reportedly similar conditions have returned with tenants on the upper floors saying they’ve been relying on one operable elevator for over a week. The property owner said in a statement to CBS that they have started a project to modernize all elevators in the building and that the first two newly refurbished elevators will begin operating later this month. The city’s Department of Buildings has already issued a violation and ordered the owner to make repairs.
What Steps Can Tenants Take in NYC?
In New York City, tenants have specific rights when dealing with malfunctioning elevators, especially in multi-story buildings. Elevators are considered an essential service, and property owners and managers are legally required to maintain them in safe working condition under the New York City Housing Maintenance Code.
If your building’s elevator is not working properly, the first step is to notify your building owner or property manager in writing and keep a record of the complaint. If repairs are not made promptly, you can file a complaint with NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) by calling 311 or submitting a request online. HPD will inspect the building and issue violations if necessary.
You may also contact the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), which oversees elevator safety and inspections. For ongoing issues, tenants can consider taking legal action in housing court, including filing an “HP action” to compel repairs or seeking rent reductions for loss of services. Documenting outages, taking photos and coordinating with other tenants can strengthen your case. These steps help ensure property owners/managers are held accountable and that building conditions remain safe and livable.
What to Do If You’ve Been Injured in an Elevator Accident
If you have been injured in an elevator accident in New York City, taking the right steps quickly can be critical First, seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor. Prompt care not only ensures proper treatment but also helps establish your injuries and documents the treatment that you received after the accident.
Next, report the incident to the building owner, manager, or superintendent and request that an official report be filed. If possible, document the scene by taking photos and videos of the elevator, any visible hazards and your injuries. Collect contact information from witnesses who may have seen what happened. You should also report the incident to the New York City Department of Buildings, which regulates elevator safety and can investigate potential violations. Keeping records of maintenance issues or prior complaints can help establish negligence (carelessness).
Avoid discussing fault with building staff or insurance companies before understanding your rights. Promptly consult a personal injury attorney, who can help determine whether the property owner, manager maintenance company or another party is to be held liable. Finally, keep all medical bills, receipts and records of missed work.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in an elevator/escalator accident or suffered injuries as a result of negligence (carelessness) on the part of property owners and/or property managers, elevator maintenance companies, etc., the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company, or their lawyers, investigators, or adjusters.
For over 54 years, our skilled attorneys have established a proven track record of assisting injured victims. Our law firm recovered $3,000,000 for a man who fell and suffered two broken legs when he walked into an open elevator shaft. In an interview by the Canadian television station Global News after a fatal escalator accident in Montreal, Mr. Kenneth A. Wilhelm stated that the installation of emergency stop buttons that are easily located and run the entire length of the escalator stairs may go a long way in preventing escalator accident injuries and fatalities. Our law firm helped a client secure $1,750,000 in a case where she suffered an ankle injury requiring surgery when the elevator she was in fell four floors due to negligence (carelessness) on the part of the elevator maintenance company. In addition, we got the workers’ compensation insurance company to pay a $150,000 lump sum for future medical benefits. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning, paraplegia cases and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/elevator-malfunctions-hunters-point-south-commons/