What Should I Do If I Fall Down Broken Or Faulty Stairs?

Whether you’re in a hotel or a grocery store, you probably expect any steps that you encounter to be safe to traverse. When there are broken or faulty stairs on someone’s property, they are putting customers in danger. As such, you may be eligible to hold the property owner liable for the negligence that caused your injuries. In New Jersey, including Monmouth County, these cases are considered premises liability law, which requires strict warnings and safe conditions. If you slipped and fell on a dangerous staircase, that property owner should be held accountable. Our Monmouth County slip and fall accident attorneys can help you with that.

What Are Some Common Dangers of Broken or Faulty Stairs?

There are many potential dangers that can be found on broken or faulty stairs. There could be missing or broken steps, or maybe a handrail that cannot reliably support someone’s weight. Another common problem is poor visibility. If the lighting in the stairwell is bad, someone can easily miss a step and fall in Monmouth County.

Common Staircase Hazards That Lead to Falls

• Broken, loose, missing, or uneven steps
• Missing or unstable handrails that cannot support weight
• Inadequate lighting making it difficult to see the steps clearly
• Lack of warnings or barriers around hazardous areas
• Slippery surfaces
• Structural damage or code violations

What Kinds of Injuries Can Broken Or Faulty Stairs Cause?

Broken or faulty stairs can lead to all kinds of injuries. Unfortunately, many assume that a fall down the stairs will result in little more than a bruised ego or sore tailbone. However, this is not the case, as many individuals can suffer serious harm.

• Broken or fractured bones
• Cuts, scrapes, and bruises
• Head injuries
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Broken hips
• Internal bleeding and organ damage

Some people can recover from their injuries with a few days of rest. Others could experience the aftereffects of a fall for the rest of their lives.

How Serious Stair Fall Injuries Can Become

• Injuries can require surgery, rehabilitation, or long-term care
• Head and spinal injuries may result in long-term or permanent disability
• Older adults are at an increased risk for severe complications from a fall down stairs
• Internal injuries may not be immediately apparent, worsening over time
• Recovery can entail missed work and lost wages
• Psychological injuries and reduced mobility can have lasting impacts

What Kind of Evidence Can Help With My Case?

If you are able to, you can begin building a case immediately after getting injured on broken or faulty stairs. We recommend:

• Taking photos of the dangerous conditions that led to your fall
• Getting a copy of a store incident report
• Seeking medical attention right away

Going to a doctor as soon as you can will help you get an accurate diagnosis and create useful evidence, like medical records and bills, that can be used to claim compensation later.

Collecting this type of evidence is imperative in a New Jersey premises liability claim, as proving that a property owner failed to maintain safe stairs is essential to recovering compensation following a fall down unsafe, broken, or defective stairs.

Additional Evidence That Can Strengthen Your Claim

• Witness statements corroborating the unsafe conditions
• Surveillance footage showing the hazard or the incident
• Maintenance and inspection records of the property and hazard
• Proof that no warnings were in place
• Prior complaints about the conditions of the stairs
• Documentation linking your injuries directly to the fall
• Code violations

Can I Sue For Damages After Getting Injured?

If you believe that your fall and your injuries were only caused by someone else’s negligence in Monmouth County, then you may want to sue for damages. If a property owner knew about the broken or faulty stairs, they should have addressed the hazard, closed the stairway, or taken other actions to protect people invited onto the property.

Fair compensation should not just address the obvious costs of your accident, like medical bills. It should also address any psychological trauma inflicted and the impact your injuries have on your mental health.

When a Property Owner Can Face Liability

• The property owner knew or should have known about the hazard
• The owner failed to repair the hazard
• The hazard existed long enough that the owner should have known about it
• There were no warnings or barriers
• The owner failed to reasonably inspect the property
• The dangerous condition is directly responsible for your accident and injuries
• You suffered damages as a result of your injuries
• The property was open to visitors who were owed a duty of care by the property owner

What Compensation Can I Recover After a New Jersey Fall?

A fair settlement offer would address economic damages, like medical expenses and lost wages, but it also needs to help make up for non-economic damages. This includes things like anxiety, PTSD, and pain and suffering that followed your accident. Older fall victims are especially likely to suffer from mental health issues after a fall, and that can affect their ability to live a full life even if they recover from physical injuries.

Schedule a Free Case Consultation with our Monmouth County Injury Firm

If you are interested in holding a negligent property owner accountable, we want to hear from you. Contact the Wilton Law Firm and schedule a consultation. This first meeting is free, and there’s no obligation, so find out more about your legal options today.