A local shopping mall where a four-month boy fell to his death from a third-floor escalator has agreed to accept half the responsibility for his death in an out-of-court settlement.
The tragedy occurred last November 11 in the Injoy Plaza in Qingpu District.
The baby was being carried by his grandmother, who fell over when stepping onto the escalator.
The baby slipped out of her arms, and fell off the side of escalator. He died despite emergency treatment.
The boy's parents blamed the mall for not placing signs or safety installations. They filed a lawsuit, demanding the mall take due responsibility and offer compensation.
The mall said the tragedy was a result of human error as video footage showed the grandmother had failed to keep her balance. The escalator was both safe and qualified for operating, the mall said.
But before the Qingpu District People's Court opened trial, the baby's parents dropped their claim as the two sides had reached agreement on the amount of compensation, which wasn't disclosed.
The court has ordered the mall to launch a safety check against any hazards.
According to the court, the case pointed out the fact that there is still a lack of awareness and regulations to safeguard children's safety at public venues.
