Defective Stairs/ Inadequate Lighting
NEW YORK STAIRWAY ACCIDENTS LAWYERS
Many stairway accidents unfortunately happen due to unsafe conditions that property owners fail to repair or maintain. Property owners are required to maintain adequate railings, carpeting, and stairs. If you sustain injuries due to missing or defective railings, loose carpeting, defective stairs, or other hazards, the property owner can be found negligent.
If you were in a staircase accident due to a property owner’s negligence, it is essential that you seek legal assistance immediately. the experienced attorneys at Wright & Associates can aid in gathering evidence, securing eyewitness accounts, and proving liability against the property owner to ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to.
STAIRWAY ACCIDENTS ARE ALL TOO COMMON
Stairway accidents are both more common and more serious than many people assume. According to National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data, stairs are one of the top causes of product related injuries in the U.S. Men and women in all age groups may suffer serious injuries after an accident on stairs.
In 2018 alone, stair accidents were responsible for 1.2 million emergency room visits in 2018 – greater than the number of accidents involving ATVs, football, swimming pools, hot tubs, fireworks, and trampolines combined.
A fall down a staircase can lead to serious health problems, including:
- Concussions and other head injuries
- Damage to wrist, ankle, knee, and shoulder joints
- Fractures and broken bones
- Herniated discs and other spinal injuries
- Internal injuries
- In extreme cases, paralysis or death
WHEN IS A PROPERTY OWNER LIABLE FOR A STAIR ACCIDENT?
Stairway injuries fall under the category of premises liability. Property owners have an obligation to maintain safe conditions in their buildings. If they are negligent in preventing or addressing unsafe conditions, they may be liable for injuries that occur to tenants, workers, or visitors to their property.
Examples of negligence include:
- Freshly mopped stairs are slick with water, but no signs were put in place to warn people of the danger.
- A leaky roof causes water to pool on the stairs. Although the property owners have been repeatedly notified of the unsafe conditions, they have failed to address the leak.
- A staircase has loose or rotting boards that are clearly unsafe.
- A staircase has uneven risers or treads, excessively long nosing, or protuberances that constitute a trip hazard.
- The handrail is missing or insufficient.
- Building debris is left in a stairwell with poor lighting.
- Freezing rain two days ago caused ice to form on an outdoor staircase, but the property owner failed to apply salt or remove the ice.
CAN I SUE FOR A STAIRWAY FALL?
In order to sue for stairway fall, you must have been injured on someone else’s property. In addition, you must prove that 1) unsafe conditions existed before your accident, 2) the property owner either created or was aware of these conditions, and 3) the property owner did not address them in a reasonable amount of time.
Defendants often argue that the accident was caused by the injured person’s negligence. They may engage experts to inspect the stairs and verify that staircases are up to code. They may argue that the injured person was distracted or impaired, and therefore at fault for the accident.
While a fall is sometimes the clear source of an injury (e.g., a delivery person’s foot breaks through a rotting step and he breaks his ankle), in other cases a fall can exacerbate an existing condition. This is especially common for those with neck or back injuries. In these cases, the defendant will often argue that the injuries existed prior to the accident or are degenerative in nature.
CONTACT A NEW YORK STAIR ACCIDENT INJURY ATTORNEY
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Brian P. Wright & Associates, P.C. have a proven track record of million dollar awards and settlements. If you have been injured in a stairway accident caused by the property owner’s negligence, our experienced attorneys will work endlessly to fight for the maximum compensation you are due.
NO FEE UNLESS WE WIN YOUR CASE
We give all our stairway accident injury clients a promise that if we do not recover monetary damages in your case, we will not charge you an attorney fee. If we take your case, we only get paid if we win your case.
If you have been injured in a stairway accident, contact us for a free initial consultation. There is no fee unless we are successful. Call 347-886-9472 or fill out our contact form for a FREE no obligation legal case evaluation. Our lawyers provide free legal advice to premise liability victims.
To discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer established in premises liability injury lawsuits, please call 347-886-9472. We serve all of New York, including Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island, Rochester, Albany, and Buffalo.
