Assisting Clients In Achieving Success By Providing High-Quality Services

Trip and fall hazards on stairs

We use stairs constantly without ever thinking of the risk — until we fall, that is. A simple slip or trip on a staircase can cause massive injuries. These incidents can happen in homes, hotels, hospitals, schools, universities, stores, workplaces and almost anywhere else. All it takes is one bad step to find yourself in the hospital.

How can you avoid it? You can’t always avoid these accidents, but there are red flags you can watch out for. Knowing what to look for may help you identify and avoid hazards. Some of the most common issues include:

  • Uneven stair treads, which only have to be a millimeter off to cause you to trip
  • Broken treads, especially on that front edge — also known as the nose
  • Loose rugs set at the bottom or, worse yet, at the top of the stairs
  • Stairs that are curved or set at an angle, making it harder to predict where to step
  • Stairs with distractions, such as mismatched tiles
  • Stairs that do not have proper lighting when needed
  • Loose banisters and rails on the edges of the stairs
  • Torn, loose or ripped carpet on the stairs themselves
  • Stairs that are wet or otherwise slick
  • Worn out stairs that need to be replaced by have been neglected
  • Stair treads that are loose or that have holes, cracks or other imperfections

Did you slip and fall on someone else’s property? Do you think it only happened because of an unsafe stairway? If so, you may have a right to compensation and you need to know your rights.

Archives

RSS Feed

FindLaw Network