Child Who Lost Part of Hand From Injury at Event Center Gets Justice

Dallas Family Reaches Settlement After Child’s Hand Disfigured by Escalator at Indoor Child Amusement Facility

A Dallas family got justice after their child’s index and middle fingers were caught in a descending escalator grate at a local indoor child amusement facility, thanks to a settlement secured by our experienced child injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm.

The child’s hand was disfigured from the incident, and the settlement secured by our team will help the family cover the child’s current and future medical expenses, as well as the parents’ lost wages while taking care of the child and other damages the family experienced.

How This Escalator Injury Could Have Been Prevented

The child’s escalator injury was 100% preventable. In fact, the child’s hand would still be intact and healthy if the family-oriented event center had followed safety protocols months before the incident. In this case, the escalator had been inspected less than six months before the child was hurt. Despite the discovery of malfunctions with the escalator, the all-in-one event center allowed the escalator to operate without fixing the known issue or properly posting signage to warn visitors about the dangers that the escalator posed.

These companies have a responsibility to keep children and families safe. Dangerous escalator incidents and child injuries can happen when indoor family event centers like the one, in this case, do not have adequate staff on hand to properly supervise children and families on the premises.

Shockingly, an investigation by a Dallas news station found many problems with elevator and escalator safety programs in Texas. The main problem: The state has no dedicated inspectors, so it relies on independent contractors to conduct inspections across the state. A person only pays a $50 state fee and completes a three-day class to become an inspector. That is not very comforting to learn. In fact, it is now understandable how these inspectors can miss important safety issues because it only takes three days for them to become qualified in this important line of work. Additionally, it's important to note that even with the state-wide issue of potentially inexperienced inspectors, the previously conducted inspection had concluded that there were malfunctions; yet, the event center continued to allow guests to use the escalator, even though they knew the potential dangers it posed. 

How The Button Law Firm Can Help After an Injury Caused by an Escalator  

Because escalator injuries fall under a complex part of Texas law called premises liability, it is advantageous to consult with our compassionate and knowledgeable lawyers at The Button Law Firm. We know what it entails to get justice from a negligent property owner and will fight on your behalf while you or your child are healing after an escalator injury. All of our attorneys at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident, especially one involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 214-699-4409 or fill out a contact form below for a free consultation.