Why Are Elevator Accidents So Common in Texas?

In the U.S., passenger elevators make roughly 18 billion trips a year. In most cases, these trips go without a hitch, but when elevator accidents do occur, they can be deadly.

According to some reports, elevators kill as many as 30 people and injure up to 17,000 others every single year in the U.S. Though elevator accident statistics are rare, especially for certain states, there’s been an alarming trend of these incidents occurring in Texas—especially in Dallas and Fort Worth—in recent years.

So, what’s the reason for elevator accidents in Texas? Are they really more common here than in other states? And if so, why? In this article, we take a closer look at real-life elevator accidents in Texas history, as well as how they happened and why these incidents continue to occur.

Real Cases of Elevator Accidents in Texas

In 2003, a surgical resident at Christus St. Joseph’s hospital in Dallas, Texas, was killed by a malfunctioning elevator. Thirty-five-year-old Hitoshi Nikaidoh became pinned when the elevator doors closed suddenly, trapping his body as the elevator car began to move up. Nikaidoh was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering major injuries, including decapitation. A nurse, who witnessed the incident, was trapped in the elevator with the head as emergency personnel worked to free her.

In 2019, a nurse at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth was nearly crushed to death after attempting to enter an elevator that failed to stop between floors. The nurse, Carren Stratford, 56, sustained catastrophic internal injuries and brain damage. After examining the incident, state investigators discovered that the incident occurred due to worn-out brakes caused by lack of maintenance.

While these are particularly horrific examples of elevator accidents, they are not isolated events. And, sadly, when incidents like these occur, the effects are often fatal.

Dallas-Fort Worth: A Hotspot for Elevator Accidents

Research shows that nearly half of all Texas elevator accidents occur in Dallas and Fort Worth. About one-third of those accidents take place in hospitals, which typically have elevators running day and night. A big problem? Lack of adequate elevator maintenance.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, based in Austin, is responsible for enforcing an annual elevator inspection requirement. But, according to an investigation by the local Dallas TV station, WFAA, more than 5,600 elevators statewide were overdue for inspections. Tela Mange, a spokesperson for the department, stated, "There are a lot of building owners out there who are either unaware that they need to have their elevators inspected or that don't care. And either one is a problem.”

WFAA searched through a year’s worth of 911 stuck elevator calls to Dallas Fire-Rescue. Investigators discovered a pattern, with many accidents occurring in the same five locations in Dallas and Fort Worth.

According to the WFAA investigation, the top five locations where elevator accidents occurred were:

• NorthPark Mall – 27 calls in one year.
• South Side on Lamar lofts, 1409 S Lamar St. – 23 calls
• The Wilson Building, 1623 Main St. – 17 calls
• Tower at Cityplace, 2711 N Haskell Ave. – 16 calls
• Sterlingshire Apartments, 9415 Bruton Rd. – 15 calls

Why Do Elevator Accidents Occur?

Texas law requires that all facilities with elevators have their elevators inspected at least once a year. However, there are significant problems in the state's program. WFAA’s investigation uncovered countless instances of missed inspections, neglected elevators, and poor record-keeping.

One of the main problems with the system is that, although the Texas government has a chief inspector and a deputy, it does not have any state-certified elevator inspectors on its payroll. Furthermore, the chief inspector and deputy are not responsible for conducting elevator inspections. Instead, the state issues licenses to about 150 independent contractors. The only requirement to become a licensed elevator inspector in Texas? Completion of a three-day course and a $50 fee.

These independent contractors are responsible for inspecting more than 40,000 elevators statewide. But with minimal training and experience, how thoroughly are independent contractors inspecting elevators? How much gets missed or slips between the cracks? A lot, according to some experts.

“The problem lies with the fact that if something bad happens with an elevator, it gets really bad, really fast,” says 40-year elevator expert, Ken Pixley. “So, there's just no room for error."

Overdue Inspections & Inadequate Elevator Maintenance

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation enforces annual elevator inspections, but analysis of the state’s own data shows 5,617—or 14%—of all elevators statewide are overdue for their yearly inspection. Some of them even show that they were overdue for an inspection years ago.

Without adequate maintenance, elevators pose a serious risk to anyone who uses them. Sadly, malfunctioning elevators often lead to lethal accidents and completely avoidable tragedies. When this happens, negligent parties must be held accountable. No matter what.

If you or your loved one were injured in an elevator accident, contact our Dallas injury attorneys today for a free consultation.