SC woman trapped between elevator doors, suit says. It’s second elevator suit in a month
An Horry County woman has filed a lawsuit against a Myrtle Beach area medical center after elevator doors closed on her, causing her to be injured.
This is the second lawsuit filed in a month by someone who claims they were injured by elevator doors at a place of business.
Annell Kirkland is suing McLeod Health, doing business as McLeod Health Center Carolina Forest; McLeod Regional Medical Center of the Pee Dee; and Otis Elevator Co.
Messages left with McLeod Health and Otis Elevator weren’t not immediately returned.
Kirland claims she went to the Carolina Forest location, 115 McLeod Health Blvd., for a doctor’s appointment on Jan. 22, 2024, and entered one of the elevators to access the third floor. When the doors opened on the third floor, the doors suddenly closed as she tried to exit, trapping her in the doors, the lawsuit said.
Kirkland remained in the doors until another person was able to press a button to get the door open, the suit said.
The sudden release of Kirkland from the pinned doors caused her to fall back into the person who released the doors, knocking both of them against the back wall of the elevator, the suit said. Kirkland sustained serious, painful and permanent injuries from the incident that required extensive medical treatment, the suit said.
The suit said there was no signage or warnings posted in the area of the elevator to warn of “the dangerous conditions” that existed.
The suit, filed Dec. 6, 2024, claims the defendants are negligent for failing to keep the property safe, allowing a dangerous situation and for not fixing the elevator, and is seeking damages for Kirkland’s injuries.
Injuries from elevators affect about 10,200 people a year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. About 27 people are killed in elevator accidents each year.
