First steps after an elevator-door injury
What to Do After an Elevator-Door Injury
30-second answer
Get medical care and identify the exact elevator, floor, and time. When safe and lawful, photograph the posted permit. Save available original video, witness details, the incident number, and medical records. Do not test or block the doors.
Reviewed by Arta Wildeboer, California attorney (Bar #286995) · Updated
Do this now
- 1Get appropriate medical care and accurately describe the contact, fall, body parts involved, and symptoms.
- 2Record the address, elevator bank, car or conveyance number, floor, direction, date, time, and what the doors did.
- 3Report the incident and save the recipient's name, role, date, time, and incident or security-report number.
- 4Identify witnesses and camera locations. Save original files you lawfully possess, and ask the appropriate record holder to preserve footage from before and after the contact.
- 5When safe and lawful, photograph the posted permit. Save medical records, damaged-item photos, insurance messages, and any shutdown or repair notice you lawfully receive.
Avoid this
- Do not recreate the incident, stop the doors with an object, or enter a restricted equipment area.
- Do not remove a component, label, permit, or building record, and do not interfere with necessary safety work.
- Do not guess about door sensors, maintenance, fault, or medical prognosis in an incident or insurance statement.
Save these
- Building address, elevator bank, car number, floor, direction, date, and time
- Photo of the posted operating permit and conveyance number
- Original elevator, lobby, hallway, security, phone, or wearable-camera files
- Witness names, contact information, and each witness's own account
- Incident, security, medical-response, shutdown, or work-order numbers
- Maintenance-company, property-manager, owner, and insurer communications
- Medical records, bills, restrictions, injury photos, and a factual symptom timeline
- Photos and receipts for damaged mobility equipment or personal property
Common questions
Should I test the doors to show what happened?
No. Do not recreate the incident or interfere with the elevator. Record what you observed and preserve available video, witnesses, permit information, and incident records.
What if the elevator was repaired right away?
Do not block appropriate safety work. Save who reported the condition, who responded, when the shutdown and repair occurred, and any notice or record you lawfully receive.
Does a current permit prove the elevator was safe?
A permit is relevant, but it does not answer every question about the doors at the time of the incident. The device identity, service history, video, witnesses, and later work may also matter.
Who may have the records?
The owner, property manager, security provider, elevator company, insurer, regulator, or another contractor may hold different records. Their roles and legal responsibility depend on the facts.
What if I do not know the elevator number?
Save the building, elevator bank, floor, direction, date, time, and nearby landmarks. A photograph of the posted permit may show the conveyance number without requiring access to a restricted area.
Want more detail?
Read the full explanation
Elevator Door Injury in California: Evidence to PreserveOfficial resources
Questions about your situation?
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