I’m very sorry to hear about your fall. Falls can be very dangerous, particularly for the elderly. Many falls are simply an accident. In some cases, however, falls on staircases can be caused by poor maintenance, bad lighting, slippery surfaces, or other hazards. In those cases, if the property owner had taken the necessary precautions, the fall most likely could have been avoided. The victim should speak with a Los Angeles premises liability attorney about his or her legal options.
Many of us do not pay careful attention on stairways. We expect stairs to be built correctly and to be free from hazards and defects. If a staircase is constructed improperly, even small differences in stairs’ width and depth can have very disastrous results. Variations may not be visible to the naked eye but can throw off a person’s balance, causing falls. It is for this reason that building codes have strict rules about how stairs should be built, especially in public buildings.
There are a number of reasons that stairway falls can occur, in addition to the stairs being improperly built. There may be a slippery surface on the stairs or a hazard on the staircase. If the surface of the stairs is slick, falls are likely to occur. The property owner must keep the stairs clean and free from debris. If a staircase has hazards, such as loose boards or instability, it is the property owner’s responsibility to find those hazards and fix them in order to keep the stairs safe for visitors.
If you have been injured in a fall on a public stairway that you believe was caused by a dangerous condition on the stairs, you should speak with an attorney. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles premises liability attorney, at 310-385-0567. I can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.