Stair & Stairway Accident Lawyers | Slip, Trip, and Falls

The Best Premises Liability Accident Law Firm

Even under ideal conditions, navigating stairs can be challenging, which is why stairwell falls account for over 1400 injuries in the United States. Every year, stairway falls account for nearly a million visits to emergency rooms.

Although mishaps can occur in any setting, many injuries sustained by pedestrians in parking lots and stairwells result from preventable dangers such as inadequate lighting, potholes, slick surfaces, and lack of safety features or routine maintenance.

COMPENSATION FOR A COLORADO SPRINGS STAIRCASE INJURY ATTORNEY

To identify the next steps in a premises liability case or lawsuit against the homeowner or property management business, the accident attorneys at Warrior Personal Injury Lawyers in El Paso County conduct thorough investigations of slip and fall accidents. Get in touch with our Colorado premises liability lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your legal options for monetary compensation.

Common Questions About Accidents Occurring on Staircases

When it comes to stair accidents, what is the most common culprit?

Most serious injuries and fatalities that occur on staircases are the consequence of improper upkeep. As a result of the owner’s neglect, there may be problems with the railing, the steps, the treads, the risers, or the lights.

Fractures, internal bleeding, brain injuries, socket dislocations, and soft-tissue injuries from falls on stairs are all possible results of the property owner’s negligence.

HOW DOES A FALL DOWN THE STAIRS INFLICT INJURY?

A serious injury sustained by falling down the stairs might result in costly medical care, lost wages, and time spent in the hospital. Brain damage, bone fractures, face fractures, sprains, and strains are all very common.

Compound fractures of the hand or wrist, severe cuts and bruises, chest trauma, back and neck trauma, and spinal cord injuries are also prevalent.

HOW COMMON ARE INCIDENTS ON STAIRS?

More than a million people have moderate to severe injuries each year from stairway falls, according to the National Safety Council. There were about 12,000 preventable fatalities due to stairwell accidents in 2018.

As in the past, motor vehicle accidents are the major cause of injuries sustained in premises accidents, but slips, trips, and falls on stairs and other similar surfaces are a close second.

When someone trips and falls on your stairs, are you liable for their medical bills and related costs?

Victims of accidents caused by a fall down the stairs have recourse under premises liability rules. The victim may submit a claim for compensation or initiate a civil lawsuit against the property owner, management firm, or tenant, alleging that they were negligent.

The accident victims may have sustained serious injuries, such as brain damage, broken bones, cuts, scrapes, and sprains. While unlikely, a simple fall down the stairs might result in serious injuries that take years to recover from.

IN THE EVENT OF A FALL, WHAT SHOULD YOU CHECK FOR?

Loss of balance and feeling queasy are two of the most warning signals that you may have been hurt after tumbling down the stairs. Some other symptoms that could worsen over time include dizziness, fatigue, and a pounding head.

Even if you do not feel hurt, you should go to the hospital or an urgent care centre to be checked out. For example, organ damage, internal bleeding, and brain trauma may not become apparent for days or weeks after an accident.

HOW COME SO MANY PEOPLE DIE IN FALLS?

Any time spent on the stairs after a fall can be fatal. This includes the time spent recovering from the initial injuries sustained in the fall and the time spent recovering from those injuries in the following days. The cause of death following a fall could include internal bleeding, a concussion, a broken hip, or other undetected injuries.

A hospital stay is often necessary for even the most minor fractures so the patient can rest in a cast. Respiratory infections brought on by immobility might prove lethal.

STAIRCASES WITH DEFECTS THAT CAUSE FALLS AND INJURIES

Although most of us use the stairwell at some point every day, we usually don’t give much thought to the process. We’re used to taking big, sure steps down or up the stairs, assuming that each step is the same height as the one before. However, even a minor discrepancy in the stairway width or riser depth might have catastrophic repercussions and contribute to falls if the stairs were constructed poorly.

Unexpected and invisible to the naked eye, even the smallest differences in stair risers or runs can throw off your equilibrium. Changing even a quarter of an inch in the stair’s measured length might reduce a person’s equilibrium. 75% of stairways involved in fall accidents were found to have measurement deviations.

Staircases must be built by Colorado Springs’s stringent building rules, especially those in public or commercial buildings. Many of the cities and towns in the Colorado Springs area have established building rules that mandate uniformity in things like stair height and other measurements.

Guardrails and handrails, too, have specific requirements for structure, height, and grab bars.

SUITS FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED ON COLORADO SPRINGS STAIRWAY DEFECTS

The owner of a building or piece of land may be held responsible for injuries sustained by visitors or employees who fall down the steps.

The owner may be held liable for any injuries on the staircase if it is unsafe due to damage, poor construction, or lack of maintenance. Apartment complexes, business buildings, and nursing homes commonly experience slips, trips, and falls due to the following:

Dangerously slick floor: Slips and falls are more likely to occur if the stair surface is slippery. The owner must ensure that the stair treads are not icy, wet, or worn to the point where they pose a safety risk.

Construction defects: If the owner’s stairs are uneven or the specifications aren’t up to code, the owner could be held responsible for any injuries sustained. All guardrails must be installed correctly as well.

Required upkeep: The property owners must ensure the safety of their staircases; thus, if a loose board or a nail is sticking out, they should fix it.

Spinal cord injuries, back injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, sprains, scrapes, and bruises are common results of hazardous situations leading to a slipped and fall injury claim in Colorado Springs.

An attorney representing a fall victim or the family of someone killed in an accident will initiate settlement discussions with the insurer on behalf of their client.

Law Firm Representing Victims of Colorado Springs Staircase Accidents

Your rights to seek monetary compensation for injuries sustained in a stairwell fall on someone else’s property or in a public area are not waived just because the accident occurred there. You may be entitled to compensation from the property owner for your injuries, including medical costs, lost wages, property damage, and emotional distress.

In most cases, the property owner will not have to pay for the losses out of pocket because they are covered by liability insurance.

Sometimes, investigations are necessary to prove fault in such circumstances, adding to the situation’s complexity. If you were injured in a fall down the stairs, the Colorado Springs lawyers at Warrior Personal Injury Lawyers can help you decide if you should pursue legal action.

Make an appointment for a free consultation with a Colorado Springs premises liability attorney by calling our office at 719-300-1100 (toll-free) or sending us a message through the contact form.

All personal injury cases are taken on a contingency fee basis. This agreement ensures you do not pay us anything until we successfully resolve your injury case.