Slip and fall accidents on stairs can cause serious injuries. Stairways come with inherent dangers that are usually not present on level surfaces. While sometimes the hazards may be obvious, in other cases they may be harder to detect. Property owners can be liable for stair accidents just like slip and falls in other locations.
Steps can become worn over time due to heavy use. Threadbare carpet or worn-down wood is a common stair hazard that may often be overlooked. The step’s “run” — the horizontal part where the foot lands — can be especially slippery. In addition, materials such as highly polished wood or tile may have less traction than carpet, stone or painted wood.
Find a Personal Injury Lawyer, Near Me
(855) 529-0269A property owner may be liable for a slip and fall accident if they sacrificed the safety of an anti-slip surface in favor of aesthetics. They are also responsible for clearly marking any torn carpet or lose tiles on steps and replacing them as soon as possible. Additionally, stairways should be kept clear at all times and free of cracks and damage.
Builders and property owners are required to follow the stair guidelines stipulated in state building codes. Building codes prescribe maximum and minimum measurements for the vertical and horizontal part of each step, known respectively as the riser and run. Violations such as uneven stair height or improper depth can cause serious slip and fall accidents.
Click to contact Chalik & Chalik's personal injury lawyers today
Installing handrails along staircases can also help prevent slip and fall injuries. Many building codes have specific measurement requirements for handrails. Individuals should hold on to them whenever possible to help maintain balance. However, reaching for a handrail that is the wrong height can cause one to fall even when there are no other problems with the stairs.
For a free legal consultation call
(855) 529-0269It is important to note that determining fault can be more complicated than it might seem. If you were injured and you believe someone else is fully or partially to blame, contact Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers, Chalik & Chalik to learn more about your rights.
Call or text Chalik & Chalik
(855) 529-0269
Employees Need to Report Work Hazards to Reduce Fall Accidents Workers get injured due to fall accidents every year. Unfortunately, these slip and fall injuries account for economical loss, pain and suffering, and even death in some cases. Because most of these injuries are generally preventable, workers need to learn how to identify trouble areas at the workplace and report any hazards to their employers....
Are Cruise Ships Safe? Examining Risks & Accident Causes While taking a cruise is a life-long dream for many people, the risk of serious injury or illness is always present. Anything from food poisoning to a slip and fall can ruin a vacation and have lasting health consequences. Serious injuries are unfortunately common on cruise ships. Whether these injuries occur on board or during...
How shoes can affect the outcome of a slip and fall case Footwear can play an important role in slip and fall lawsuits. Florida’s liability system is based on comparative negligence, which means a jury can reduce an award by the extent the victim is deemed responsible for causing their injuries. While wearing certain types of footwear does not automatically make someone negligent, the defendant in a...
Documenting Your Slip-and-Fall Accident How to Document Your Slip and Fall Injury After a slip-and-fall accident in a Florida grocery store, you need to remember some do’s and don’ts in order to protect your rights. Find a Personal Injury Lawyer, Near Me (855) 529-0269Take a Picture of the Scene First, document your slip-and-fall accident. You may not have a...
Can You Sue an Airport for Falling? You may sue an airport for falling if you suffered injuries and have resulting expenses and losses. When a fall occurs, it is generally because of a preventable hazard. The property owner or another entity in charge of maintaining the property has an obligation to keep the area free from hazards. Your Florida slip and...
Why the Location of a Slip and Fall Accident Is Important The location of a slip and fall accident is important because property owners owe different levels of responsibility to those victims who suffer injuries due to an accident on their property. Business property owners, personal property owners, and government entities who own property all have different duties of care and obligations to victims who suffer...
Can I Sue the City If I Slipped and Fell on a Sidewalk? Yes, if the city has the responsibility for maintenance and owns the portion of the sidewalk on which you slipped and fell and suffered injuries. If another entity (such as a private property owner, or condo or homeowner association) owned the sidewalk or was responsible for its maintenance, you may have to file a claim...
What To Do If You Fall in a Restaurant? If you fall in a restaurant, the first thing you should do is call 911 for medical help. Falls can be serious, even if they appear minor at first. You can ask a server or manager to make the call, or you or someone you’re dining with can connect with a dispatcher. If you don’t...