Sometimes, injuries happen from sources we would not expect. We know that we can slip on icy pavement or trip on loose material on the sidewalk, but we do not prepare for a sudden pitfall in the sidewalk. Similarly, while we are walking around stores as patrons, we know that reaching up to take items off high shelves must be done carefully so as not to get injured. However, we would not reasonably exert that same level of caution while walking through the automatic doors at the entrance of the store. These automatic doors have the potential to malfunction and cause injury to those walking through them, and the injuries can be particularly worse due to the often unexpected nature of them. Our attorneys at Normandie Law Firm, one of the top-rated law firms in California, often receive calls from clients who have been hurt by automatic doors and want to know the best way forward. They ask us questions like:
- Where can I find an automatic door accident attorney?
- I need an automatic door lawyer in Fresno, California. Who can I call?
- Can I sue a business owner for an automatic door injury?
- Can I sue a property owner for sliding door injuries?
Automatic Door Information
Automatic doors are important 20th century inventions that allowed people to enter and exit buildings without needing to use their hands. This came in handy for those who were laden with grocery bags from grocery stores, personal merchandise from malls and shopping centers, and carrying a lot of luggage at airports. Additionally, it allowed the physically handicapped the ability to more easily access facilities – there were options to remotely open a door with a button marked for handicapped use, but a sliding door meant that button was no longer necessary.
In turn, the automatic glass door allowed businesses to work better in terms of efficiency. More customers could come and go with greater ease, and retail outlets gained patrons. Those working at the hospital could also see an increase in efficiency, as the hurried nature of the medical field meant people needed to get places as quickly as possible – it is much easier to wheel a gurney through a door that opens automatically than one that opens manually, for instance.
Still other locations, such as a school or office building, adopted automatic doors for their ease of use. Now, we see automatic doors everywhere, but with them permeating businesses and buildings, the risk of injuries from malfunctioning doors has increased. If you were injured by an automatic sliding door, one of our attorneys in Fresno can help you sue for injuries stemming from the accident.
Common Injuries from Automatic Doors
An automatic glass door opens by way of a sensor that detects when someone is walking up to it. The door then slides on a track and retreats into the wall or swings open, allowing the person to pass through. If a door malfunctions, it may prematurely close or close at a high rate of speed, leading to injuries.
Doors that slide into the wall or pocket have the potential to catch limbs. This can lead to severe injuries, such as lacerations, torn flesh, crushing injuries, and more. It is important to be aware of how these automatic doors behave and if they are strong enough to drag one of your body parts along. On the other hand, a sliding glass door may not wait to close if someone is blocking the entrance. It may try to forcibly close and lead to other crushing injuries, broken bones, fractures, and other damages. You can very easily lose a finger or toe if a sliding glass door slams shut on you.
Likewise, a door that swings open may not properly slow down, and it can crash into you from behind, causing damage to your ankles and feet, back, neck, and shoulders, as well as possibly make you fall over and sustain further injuries. An automatic glass door that swings in this manner may break and shower you with glass. Even though these events are the rare forms of automatic door injuries, they are still very serious, and an experienced Fresno lawyer can help you earn proper compensation.
Those most commonly injured by automatic doors include the elderly, small children, and customers who have many bags of goods. In essence, the people who are slower or have less active reflexes like the elderly may be injured at a higher rate, as well as individuals who are not paying close attention to their surroundings, such as kids and shoppers.
Reasons for Malfunction
Any number of factors may contribute to an automatic door malfunctioning. The sensors and optics that allow it to detect people entering and exiting may be broken or dirty, and the door may close at the wrong time. The door may have been improperly designed or suffered a manufacturing error that makes it potentially dangerous to have installed. The contracting company that installed the door may have done so in a shoddy manner, letting it pose a hazard. More often than not, the business owner may not have taken proper care of the door or given it the maintenance it needs. As a result, the door can have faulty electronics, may fall off the track, or may need some of its parts replaced.
If you can prove that a business owner was negligent in his care of an automatic door that caused your injury, you may be able to collect financial compensation for your damages.
In order to do this, you must show that the business owner:
- Owed you a duty of care. That is, you were permitted to enter the property as an invitee for mutual benefits with the property owner. Invitees, when it comes to property, are given the highest level of care from the property owner.
- Breached that duty. By behaving negligently towards his property, the property owner can be said to have violated his duty of care. You were inadvertently or purposely placed in a potentially dangerous situation due to his negligence.
- Caused an accident due to that breach. An automatic door that has not been properly inspected and maintained can lead to some kind of an accident, such as slamming shut on you. If the door had been inspected prior to the accident, the property owner may have had knowledge that the accident could happen, and would have had it fixed.
- Allowed the accident to cause real physical injuries. If you were not injured in the accident, your chances of winning your lawsuit are very slim. It is important that you suffered some kind of physical injury.
If all of these points of negligence can be proven, then you have a greater chance of winning your automatic door accident lawsuit. A skilled Fresno attorney can help you receive the maximum compensation for your claim.
Possible Earnings
As a victim of an automatic door accident, you can sue the property owner in a premises liability claim. You have the ability to receive different forms of compensation for your injuries, including:
- Medical Expenses: Your hospital bills can be covered from the accident. This includes surgery, hospitalization, medication, and physical therapy, amongst others. You can earn coverage for both previous treatments and future procedures.
- Lost Wages: An injury may have put you out of work for some time. If so, you can be reimbursed for that lost income, as well as recover wages that you would miss in the future due to further medical procedures or healing time.
- Property Damage: Any belongings you had that were lost or damaged because of the sliding door accident could be reimbursed.
- Pain and Suffering: Emotional damages can be sued for as well. These non-economic damages include fear, anxiety, psychological problems, mental stress, and PTSD. They may develop from the trauma of an accident.
One of our qualified Fresno lawyers is more than willing to help you through your claim.
Why Pick Normandie?
Normandie Law Firm has a team of expert attorneys who have dealt with automatic door injury cases for many years. We are well versed in law and have ample experience presiding over these cases. Our primary goal is to preserve the health and financial security of our clients. As a result, you are treated with empathy and care when you come to Normandie, and we make sure to dedicate ourselves to fighting for your rights in a court of law. You can be sure that you have an experienced attorney working for you, not for himself: bringing you a settlement you’re satisfied with is our intention, and we will not rest until you are covered.
Call our Fresno law firm today to speak to an attorney with experience handling automatic door accident cases. You will receive a free legal consultation about your claim where you can ask any questions you want, and we will give you ample information about your lawsuit, including what we believe we can earn for you.
Further, we offer you a zero fee guarantee – you are not required to pay any out of pocket expenses for our services. Our fees are paid only if we win your case, and they are taken out of the settlement we win for you. This guarantees that your savings remain untouched. If we lose your case, you are off the hook and do not pay us anything.
Contact Normandie Law Firm today to talk to a Fresno lawyer with expertise in automatic door injury claims.
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Automatic Door Personal Injury in San Diego, CA
