It is the
responsibility of the owner to make sure that a stairway
is in good repair and safe condition. Injuries incurred
on stairways are generally caused by slip
and fall/ trip and fall accidents.
It is important that
people are warned when they are approaching stairs.
Changes in floor surfaces, an extension of decorations
or even inclination of handrails are ways of cueing
people that there are stairs ahead. However, visual
confusion, misleading information, and distractions
might lead to a person missing the stairs and therefore
falling down them.
There
are many factors that can lead to people tripping on
stairs, including:
-Failure to observe stairways when the changes
in levels connect is small
-Stairway is in an unexpected position
-Distractions from light outdoors or street scenes
-Vision impairment by glare caused by windows
One of the main causes
of stairway accidents is vision impairment. Improving
visibility on a stairway greatly reduces the risk for
common mistakes caused by misjudging distances. With
more visibility it is unlikely a person would trip on a
step or miss it completely. It is the responsibility of
the owner of the stairway to make sure that there is
adequate visibility on the stairway to ensure the safety
of all those that travel up and down it.
The most important
points to look for in liability and negligence cases
include:
-
Presence or absence of handrails and guardrails
-
Inadequate light
-
Objects or barriers on or
around the walking area
-
Presence of non-slip surface
-
Adequate landing area
-
Field of vision and health
status of the victim
In court, the accused
property owner will have attorneys that will try to
refute and devalue your case. Having a
experienced staircase
accident attorney on your side will help fight and
counter the testimony given by the property owner.
You
have the right to receive proper compensation for injuries
that are caused by a negligent property owner!
New York Personal Injury Attorneys serving the areas of:
New York City;
the Bronx; Brooklyn; Manhattan; Queens; Long Island; Nassau
County; Suffix; Staten Island and New Jersey
