Slip and fall accidents are common. All of us are subject to the laws of gravity. When we lose our balance or trip, the landing can be quite unpleasant. The harder and farther the fall, the more likely it is that we get seriously injured. Falling down stairs can be particularly dangerous because it generally involves a series of impacts as the body hits stair after stair before coming to a halt.
Since falls, especially down stairs, hold the potential for causing devastating or even fatal injuries, it is incumbent upon property owners to ensure that their stairs (and property as a whole) is in good condition and safe for use.
Liability for Stair Accidents
In order to hold a property owner liable for a stair accident, one of the followings must be true:
- The property owner or an employee caused the dangerous condition
- The property owner or an employee knew of the dangerous condition but did nothing about it
- The property owner or an employee should have known of the dangerous condition because a “reasonable” person taking care of the property would have discovered and removed or repaired it
Building Code Violations
Every state has a building code that property owners must adhere to. These codes also include requirements for stairs. Below are some areas that building codes typically regulate with regard to stairs:
- Handrails – Many building codes require handrails for certain types of stairs. This means that if you fall down stairs that should have a handrail but do not, and the lack of the handrail contributed to your fall, the building owner may likely be held liable for your injuries.
- Improper stair height or depth – Building codes require that the vertical (riser) and horizontal (run) part of each step conform to a certain measurement.
- Uneven stair height or depth – Building codes also prescribe the maximum variance from one step to another.
Researching and proving building code violations can be a difficult task. As such, in order to make sure your stair accident case is properly handled, it is imperative that you hire an experienced premises liability attorney who specifically handles these types of cases.
We Can Help You If Your Are Injured
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured on someone else property due to an unsafe or defective staircase, you need to hire an experienced New York premises liability attorney to protect your legal rights. The attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek P.C. have more than 39 years of experience and knowledge to aggressively fight for your rights and get you the full extent of the monetary compensation that you deserve.
To schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our New York slip and fall attorneys, please call 1-800-529-9997.
