Taking a fall down the stairs can cause serious injuries, from broken bones to head trauma. These ailments may leave you with expensive medical bills, lost income, and weeks, if not months, of recovery time. If the accident happened on someone else’s property, you may be wondering whether you can hold the property owner responsible. To learn more about whether you can sue after falling on broken stairs in New Jersey, continue reading and set up your free consultation with a knowledgeable Monmouth County slip and fall accident attorney today.
Premises liability is the law that holds property owners responsible when someone is hurt because of their negligence. In New Jersey, property owners, landlords, occupants, managers, etc., must maintain a reasonably safe environment for guests and warn visitors about dangerous conditions on their property. This is known as a duty of care, and it is owed to people visiting the property.
Premises liability extends to invitees like customers or tenants, licensees like social guests, and even trespassers. Each category of visitor is owed a different level of protection and treated differently under the law. Your rights depend on why you were on the premises.
You may be able to sue after falling on broken stairs in New Jersey if you can prove that the property owner was responsible for the accident. If the owner knew, or should have known, about the dangerous stairs and failed to repair them, they can generally be held liable for the damages resulting from an accident.
Under premises liability law, property owners must conduct regular inspections and maintenance of the property to prevent, identify, or fix any hazards that may arise. If the property owner was aware that the staircase was broken but failed to rope off the area or take action to fix the issue, they can be held liable for your fall. Even if the owner was not aware, they could still be held responsible if the hazard existed long enough that a reasonable property owner would have discovered it and taken action.
If you sue a property owner after falling on broken stairs, you can recover compensation for a variety of damages related to the accident. Some of the most important include the following.
Medical expenses: Ambulance costs, ER visits, surgeries, medication, rehabilitation, long-term care, etc.
Lost income: Wages, bonuses, commissions, tips, diminished earning capacity, and more related to your inability to return to work
Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and a reduced quality of life
You could even be awarded punitive damages if the property owner’s actions were exceptionally reckless or intentional. This is additional compensation designed to penalize the defendant and discourage them from continuing their behavior.
For more information on your legal rights and options after falling on broken stairs, call The Wilton Law Firm today.
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