You may be able to sue the property owner for your injuries if the stairs were in poor condition and if the poor condition of the stairs was the cause of your fall. Every year in the U.S. there are over a million emergency room visits due to falls on the stairs. Although in some cases the accidents occur through no fault of the property owner, in other cases the falls are caused by bad lighting, improper maintenance of construction, or slippery surfaces. In those cases, the victim may want to speak with an attorney about his or her legal options.
If a stairway is not properly built, it can easily cause an accident. Even a very small difference in width or depth of the stairs or the stairway can have very dangerous results. Those variations may be unperceivable to the eye but can throw off a person’s balance. One study found that a large majority of stairways that had fall accidents had measurement variations. Building codes in Los Angeles have strict regulations on stairway constriction, especially for commercial buildings.
There can also be other reasons that a fall on a stairway may occur. The stairway may have had obstructions, it may be slippery, or may need maintenance. If you have been harmed because of a dangerous staircase in Los Angeles, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles premises liability attorney at 310-385-0567. I can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule your free consultation.