A Lesson in Justice? Auto Insurance Adjuster Injured in Fall Down Elevator Shaft

Some of us in the pro-justice community might call this poetic justice, but a fall nearly cost an auto insurance adjuster his life. Good fortune was on his side; he survived, sustaining serious leg and pelvic injuries in the process.

This was a most unusual accident; the adjuster fell down the shaft of an elevator and sustained some pretty nasty leg fractures. The fall was three stories and, obviously, could have been fatal.

This accident happened in a very strange manner. The adjuster, a client and his dog were coming out of the elevator when the dog’s leash got jammed in the elevator doors. The adjuster attempted to open the doors to free the dog; he succeeded in doing that, but the elevator had descended and the unfortunate adjuster fell through the open door, plummeting three stories. He landed on the top of the elevator and began to call for help.

Luckily the building manager heard the man’s calls; he called rescue personnel to extract the man from the elevator shaft. The adjuster was transported to medical care at the closest hospital to have his injuries assessed and bones either set manually or surgically.

This personal injury case could have a variety of different conclusions, but suffice it to say, that if the insurance adjuster did choose to file a personal injury lawsuit, he would need to address the question of negligence. How did the dog’s leash become entangled in the elevator door? When that happened, should the elevator "sensed" that fact and not descended? Should the doors have popped open when they "felt" the leash? Since the elevator had descended, should there have been a mechanism to prevent the doors from opening? Answers will certainly be provided, because a likely lawsuit will provide a forum for a full investigation of the facts and circumstances of in this weird case.

In circumstances like this, it is best to discuss the case with a qualified personal injury attorney who will be able to assess negligence and the viability of the case. Should it be one that the attorney feels could go to court to recover damages for the man’s broken bones

In my experience as a lawyer and as the leading provider of lawsuit funding services, it is clear that an adjuster’s job is to attempt to resolve personal injury cases for as little money as possible. He seeks to poke holes in the case, to discredit the plaintiff, to minimize the impact of the injuries, to contest liability and damages. I cannot help but wonder how many broken leg cases this gentleman has handled only to minimize the injuries, critcize the treatment, and call the plaintiff a malingerer. They say to get a true understanding of someone else’s circumstance, you must walk a mile in his shoes. WIth two broken legs, our adjuster friend cannot walk a mile, but I am certain he will never ignore someone’s pain and suffering complaints again.