Older Adults and the Dangers of Automatic Doors
Automatic doors are everywhere -- grocery stores, apartment buildings, hotels, and hospitals. Designed for convenience, they’re meant to make life easier, especially for people with mobility challenges. But a new study revealed something property owners and managers often overlook: automatic doors can actually cause serious injuries, and thousands of people end up in emergency rooms every year because of them. Older adults are especially at risk.
Researchers analyzed 10 years of data (2015–2024) from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), reviewing nationwide ER visits tied specifically to automatic doors. They found an estimated 38,720 people were injured by these doors. That’s nearly 4,000 people a year.
While adults made up the largest group of injured patients (52%), the severity of injury was highest among older adults (36.5%). That makes sense as a seemingly simple impact can lead to the kind of fall that results in long-term disability for seniors. The study revealed:
- 18.4% of older adults required hospital admission.
- They were three times more likely to suffer a severe injury than middle-aged adults.
- Many injuries involved the head, neck, and trunk, areas especially dangerous for seniors.
The average age for older adults in the study was about 78.
Why Automatic Doors Fail—and Who’s Responsible
Automatic doors rely on a combination of sensors, motion detectors, pressure plates, and mechanical components. When any of these systems fail, doors can:
- Close too quickly
- Fail to detect a person in the path of the door
- Trap limbs between sliding panels
- Strike someone with significant force
- Reverse direction unexpectedly
Safety standards require regular inspections, calibration, and preventive maintenance, far more than many facilities actually perform. In premises liability, the key question is: Did the property owner act reasonably to ensure the door was safe? If inspections were skipped, maintenance logs are missing, or the door had known issues, that answer is often “no.”
What This Means for Injury Victims
Automatic door injuries may seem minor, but the study shows they can involve a range of injuries, including:
- Fractures
- Severe lacerations
- Head trauma
- Internal injuries
- Finger entrapment
- Joint injuries from sudden force
- Significant aggravation of pre-existing conditions
Anyone injured by an automatic door should:
- Report the incident immediately.
- Request that the door be taken out of service.
- Document the malfunction with photos or video.
- Get names of witnesses or employees present.
- Seek medical evaluation -- even if symptoms seem minor.
- Contact an attorney experienced in premises liability.
If you or a loved one have been injured by an automatic door or other hazard on someone else’s property,, consider speaking with someone at a top Philadelphia premises liability law firm. Contact us to set a time to meet and discuss the unique details of your situation.