STAIRWAY ACCIDENTS
STAIRWAY ACCIDENTS
Slip and falls occur on various premises. One of the most common locations for these falls is a stairway. These falls are caused by inadequate lighting, defective steps, unsafe riders, and faulty handrails. Due to the nature of stairways, these falls may result in substantial physical injuries, medical bills, and lost income. The experienced attorneys at the Slatter Law Firm will aggressively fight to recover the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Slip and falls in residential or commercial properties are governed by the laws of negligence. Fault depends on which persons own, possess, or control the stairway where you were injured. Persons responsible for stairway maintenance include property owners, landlords, property management companies, and other persons possessing or controlling the stairway. The law requires these persons to maintain the stairway in a reasonably safe condition. As such, they are obligated to conduct routine inspections and repair or warn of any unsafe conditions relating to the stairway.
Additionally, the dangerous condition relating to the stairway may violate the building code. In such cases, you may bring a negligence per se claim against the at-fault persons. In order to show that the at-fault persons are negligent, your slip and fall attorney must establish the following:
- The property owner, landlord, property management company, and/or other responsible person violated a state or local statute or regulation;
- This violation caused your injury;
- Your specific injury was caused by conduct the statute or regulation was intended to prevent; and
- You are a member of a group of people that the statute or regulation was intended to protect.
However, the insurance company lawyer may argue that your own negligence caused or contributed to your fall and injuries, and therefore, you should be partially or fully liable for your injuries and damages. This is why it is important to hire an experienced slip and fall attorney, who will conduct a thorough investigation, including but not limited to obtaining site inspections with an expert, maintenance records, surveillance videos, and prior complaints regarding the dangerous condition; and talking to other tenants regarding the dangerous condition.
Slip and falls on stairways often result in significant injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, bone fractures, spinal cord injuries, and death. Victims of these slip and falls are entitled to compensations for their injuries. If you are injured in a slip and fall, you may recover compensation for the following:
- Medical bills;
- Future medical treatment;
- Loss of income;
- Loss of earning potential;
- Scars or disfigurement; and
- Pain and suffering.
Slip and falls may also result in the fatal loss of a loved one. In such tragic circumstances, the surviving heirs can file a wrongful death lawsuit. In a wrongful death case, the decedent’s surviving heirs include the decedent’s spouse, domestic partner, and children. The decedent’s parents and stepchildren may file a wrongful death action if they can show that they were financially dependent on the decedent.
Statute of Limitations
Generally, lawsuits must be filed within the applicable statute of limitations. Slip and fall cases must be filed within two years from the date of injury. If the plaintiff fails to file their lawsuit within such period of time, his or her case will be dismissed by the Court. As such, you should immediately contact a slip and fall attorney after your injury occurs.
Contact Us Today
Contact a Los Angeles personal injury attorney today if you or a loved one was involved in an accident involving a dangerous road condition. Slatter Law Firm has been helping individuals injured due to car accidents and slip and falls throughout Los Angeles and Southern California for over four decades. To schedule a free consultation, call our office at (310) 405-0964 or contact us online.
