Most Common Reasons For Stair Accidents

Slip and Fall

Thousands of people trip, slip, or fall on stairs every year. In fact, research that was conducted by the National Safety Council recently revealed that more than 1 million people are injured or killed each year as a result of stair accidents. Property owners are liable for any stair accidents in the same way that they are liable for any slip and fall accidents. In this article, our slip and fall attorneys are going to focus on most common lessons for stair accidents.

1. 1. Slippery surface

Slippery stairs have caused accidents to several people in the United States. Some stairs are made of highly polished wood or tile that are more slippery than that of normal stone, painted woods or carpet. As a result, a slight mistake can cause very serious injuries. If you fall or slip on a slippery stair, the owner of the property can be held responsible because he/she was negligent in keeping the environment safe.

1. 1. Uneven stair height or depth

Building codes have clearly prescribed maximum variance that needs to be observed when constructing stairs. Following these variance standards are very important because our brain usually remembers how far the last step was and will automatically tell your leg to move the same distance when going up or down any stairs. If the stair height or depth is uneven, your leg will move the same distance, but the step will not be at the same place. Even if the difference is small, you can easily lose your balance and slip and get injured in the process.

1. 1. Wet or icy outdoor stairs

Ice and rain that has collected on outdoor stairs make it slippery thus increasing the risk of stair accidents. Although individuals are supposed to be very careful when using outdoor stairs in any weather condition, the fact still remains that the property owner must ensure that outdoor stairs are well built and maintained to avoid excessive buildup of ice or water that makes them slippery. Therefore, if you fall on the stairs as a result of the excessive buildup of water or ice, the property owner can be held responsible for your injuries.

1. 1. Lack of handrails

Every stair needs to have a handrail. The handrail is every important because it provides balance and stability. Therefore, if you fall on any stairs that are supposed to have a handrail but don’t, then the lack of handrail has contributed to your fall. In addition to that, building code demands that the handrails should be of certain width or height and they have to be installed properly. This is because trying to reach a handrail that has not been installed properly can cause you to slip and fall down; even nothing else is wrong with the stairs.

So have you been injured as a result of staircase accident? If yes, then you need to take legal action. You have the right to compensation for any personal injuries caused. In Texas, the law states that property owners have the obligation to ensure that their stairs are safe and hazard free. If they fail to keep the stairs safe, then they have violated their duty of care. Do not hesitate to file a lawsuit with the help of a slip and fall attorney if the accident that you experience was a result of negligence.