Stuck In A Lift Compensation Payouts
By Cat Way. Last Updated 16th June 2023. If you have suffered psychological and/or physical injuries because you got stuck in a lift, you may be entitled to claim compensation. In order for it to be possible to claim, you’ll need to establish that negligence by another party is what caused you to get stuck in a lift and suffer harm.
Stuck in a lift
In this guide, we’ll explain more about the key steps to making a personal injury claim after being stuck in a lift. We will also cover other topics including potential compensation payouts and claiming with a No Win No Fee solicitor.
You can speak to an advisor about making a personal injury claim after being stuck in a lift by contacting Legal Expert today. You can reach us through the following methods:
- You can call us on 0800 073 8804
- We’re also available to speak to through our 24/7 live chat service
- Or you can use our online contact form
Select A Section:
- What Happens If You Get Stuck In A Lift?
- Can I Get Compensation For Getting Stuck In A Lift?
- How To Claim For Injuries From Being Stuck In A Lift
- Stuck In A Lift Compensation Payouts
- No Win No Fee Psychiatric Injury Compensation Claims
- How Our Team Could Help If You Were Injured In A Lift
- Psychological Injury Claim Resources
What Happens If You Get Stuck In A Lift?
You could be affected in a few different ways if you are stuck in a lift. One example could be the development of certain psychological issues. For instance, you may develop claustrophobia as a result of the incident.
Alternatively, if the lift comes to an abrupt stop or falls suddenly, then your injuries could be physical. It’s important to remember that you can claim for psychological injuries too, not just physical ones. In some cases, you may even be able to claim for both.
You may be invited to an independent medical assessment and/or psychiatric evaluation so the extent of the damage can be properly recorded. You can present these assessments as evidence to support your claim.
Can I Get Compensation For Getting Stuck In A Lift?
You may have grounds to start a personal injury claim for compensation if you suffered harm while stuck in a lift. However, you must be able to prove that the incident was caused by someone else’s negligence. For example, the lift may not have been serviced for a very long time. If an organisation (such as your employer or the company responsible for maintaining the lift) failed to take reasonable steps to keep the lift safe and functional, then they could be considered negligent if someone is harmed as a consequence.
Your potential case will also need to establish with evidence that getting stuck in the lift is what directly caused the injuries you’re claiming for.
Stuck In A Lift – Compensation Claim Time Limits
In order to claim for a personal injury after being stuck in a lift, you must ensure that you begin proceedings within the correct time limit. This is generally three years from the date you were injured, according to the Limitation Act 1980. But this rule comes with some exceptions, for example:
- Those under the age of eighteen: For under-eighteens, the time limit is temporarily frozen. It reinstates on the claimant’s eighteenth birthday, and ends on their twenty-first birthday.
- Those who lack the mental capacity to claim for themselves: In this case, the time limit is suspended indefinitely. If the claimant recovers the required mental capacity, then the time limit will begin on the date of their recovery.
In both of these cases, a litigation friend can start proceedings on the claimant’s behalf as long as the time limit is suspended.
To learn more about claiming for an injury after being stuck in a lift, compensation amounts, or time limit exceptions, get in touch with our team today.
How To Claim For Injuries From Being Stuck In A Lift
If you suffered injuries or psychological damage due to being stuck in a lift, you might like to know how to claim. In this section, we look at the pre-action protocols for personal injury claims and explore examples of evidence. You can appoint a solicitor to represent you at any point during the claiming process.
To start a claim, you should send a letter of claim to the defendant that includes a clear summary of what happened and the injuries you suffered. It must contain sufficient information for the defendant to assess liability. They then have 21 calendar days to identify the insurer. The letter of claim may have asked for a disclosure of relevant documents. These must be supplied. Expert medical evidence may also be required. From there, the insurer has a maximum of three months to investigate. Once liability is confirmed, an offer of compensation can be made.
Your claim must be supported by evidence that you suffered injuries because of being stuck in the lift. Evidence that might be useful in a personal injury claim may include:
- Symptom diary. This could include details of the impact the symptoms had on your life.
- Medical records. These will include the date you sought treatment for your injuries.
- Lift maintenance records. Your solicitor can request a disclosure of these if they are deemed relevant.
- CCTV footage. If the lift has CCTV, you can request the footage of yourself.
Free advice about what evidence can support your claim is available from our advisors if you get in touch. If your claim is eligible, you could be connected with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.
Stuck In A Lift Compensation Payouts
You could seek compensation for developing anxiety or a similar type of psychological injury after being stuck in an elevator due to negligence. The compensation can address both the distress you have suffered and any further effects it may have had on you; for example if it had impacted your ability to work.
Compensation for psychological or physical injuries is known as general damages. To show you examples of this, we have created a table of example payouts for psychological injuries. The figures in our table come from the 2022 edition of the Judicial College Guidelines, which looks at previous court settlements for injuries to create compensation brackets. This can help you reach an estimate of what you could be awarded for the mental injuries you had suffered after being stuck in an elevator.
| Injury | Severity | Notes | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychological damage | Severe | Mental issues that will last for the long-term, which will have been triggered by systematic physical or sexual abuse, etc. Issues such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety that will have a severe negative effect on the quality of life of the victim for the long-term. | £54,830 to £115,730 |
| Psychological damage | Moderate to severe | Mental issues that will last for the long-term, which will have been caused by traumatic events such as stillborn child, a family death or stress at work, etc. Issues such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety that will have a severe negative effect on the quality of life of the victim for some time. | £19,070 to £54,830 |
| Psychological damage | Moderate | Cases of work-related stress may fall within this category if symptoms are not prolonged. | £5,860 to £19,070 |
| Psychological damage | Less severe | Mental issues that will last quite some time, but will have only minor effects on the life of the victim. For example, trouble sleeping or lowered self-esteem. A full recovery will be made quite quickly. | £1,540 to £5,860 |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | Severe | Post-traumatic stress disorder that will have a long-term, severe negative effect on the quality of life of the victim, lasting for the long-term. | £59,860 to £100,670 |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | Moderate to severe | Post-traumatic stress disorder that will have a long-term, moderate negative effect on the quality of life of the victim, the effects are still likely to cause significant disability for the foreseeable future. | £23,150 to £59,860 |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | Moderate | Post-traumatic stress disorder that a person will make a full recovery from with no lasting serious and disabling effects on a person’s health. | £8,180 to £23,150 |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | Less severe | Post-traumatic stress disorder that will last only a short time, with a less severe negative effect on the quality of life of the victim, a recovery will be expected in one to two years. | £3,950 to £8,180 |
We give more information about the financial losses you could include in your claim below. Our advisors are also available 24/7, and can speak with you directly about compensation in the UK for being stuck in a lift and developing a psychological injury.
More Payouts for Stuck in the Lift Accidents
In addition to general damages, you could also receive special damages as part of your compensation for being stuck in a lift. Special damages can cover you for the financial losses suffered due to the injury. For example, if such an incident has led to you making a PTSD compensation claim, you could also claim for loss of earnings if the severity of the injury has stopped you from working. You could also potentially receive compensation for similar symptoms if you’re attempting to make a panic attack claim.
Other financial losses you may be able to claim for as part of your stuck in the lift compensation claim might include:
- Healthcare costs
- Travel costs if, for instance, you’re unable to drive because of your injuries.
- Holiday cancellation fees or the cost of the holiday, if you’re unable to receive a refund.
- Loss of future earnings if you’re unable to work on a long-term basis.
Evidence is needed to successfully receive special damages compensation. This can include bank statements, receipts, invoices and payslips.
To learn more about payouts for stuck in the lift accidents, please contact our team of advisors for legal advice that is completely free. If you have any queries about the claims process, you can contact us at any time.
No Win No Fee Psychiatric Injury Compensation Claims
Who could make a No Win No Fee stuck in a lift claim? If you have been stuck in a lift through the fault of a third party, you may be looking to make a psychiatric injury compensation claim for the mental harm that you have suffered.
One way to claim for being stuck in an elevator is to do so with a No Win No Fee solicitor. Making a personal injury claim for being stuck in an elevator with a solicitor can bring many benefits, as your solicitor can collect any evidence needed to back up your claim, communicate with the third party, ensure your claim is filed in full and that you receive the right amount of compensation. Also, if your case goes to court, they can represent you here.
A solicitor may offer to work on your stuck in an elevator claim on a No Win No Fee basis through a Conditional Fee Agreement. This generally means:
- There are no fees needed upfront
- If the claim fails no fee to pay for the service the solicitor offers
- If the case is won, under The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, the solicitor can take a legally capped success fee.
- If the case fails, this success fee is not owed.
How Our Team Could Help If You Were Injured In A Lift
We have a very simple way for you to get the legal help you need when you need it. Just follow the three steps below:
- Call our claims team on the phone number in the next section, to have your questions answered.
- A claim advisor will evaluate your claim for you, and provide you with any additional information you need about the claims process.
- An accident and injury lawyer will proceed to process your claim for you.
We believe that our simple new claims process makes it easier for claimants to get the claim underway quickly, with minimum fuss.
Start Your Claim For Being Stuck In A Lift
Do you believe you have a valid claim for being trapped in a lift? If you do, contact our claims team on 0800 073 8804. They will answer any questions you have, talk to you about compensation payouts and how much you could be able to claim, and provide vital information such as the personal injury claims time limit that will apply.
Psychological Injury Claim Resources
You might like to check out these external sites that have relevant information:
- Thorough Examination And Testing Of Lifts
- Lift Maintenance And Inspection
- The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
You may also like to read these other guides: