You may have gone up and down the stairs countless times throughout your lifetime with no issues whatsoever. But most unfortunately, it may only take the slightest flaw in a stairway’s design or maintenance upkeep that causes you to tumble down a flight of them. This may result in catastrophic injuries, sadly. With that being said, please read on to discover what might prompt you to slip and fall down a stairway and how a seasoned St. Mary’s County stairway accident lawyer at The Dorsey Law Firm can help you recover soon afterward.
Where might I encounter a broken or faulty stairway?
For one, you might encounter a broken or faulty stairway when visiting someone’s home. This may be their front porch steps, back deck steps, or stairways inside their home. This is because, sadly a lot of times, homeowners do not take pride in their ownership and are negligent in maintaining their property’s fixtures. All the while, they may fail to educate themselves on the state of Maryland’s housing codes and do not address their out-of-code stairways.
But it is equally common to approach a broken or faulty stairway on a public premises. Below are some examples:
- Apartment complexes.
- Office buildings.
- Shopping centers.
- Parking garages.
- Public transportation stations.
- Schools.
- Hotels.
- Restaurants.
- Supermarkets.
- Marinas.
What might cause me to slip and fall down a stairway?
No matter where you slip and fall down a stairway, the reason is likely because a careless property owner failed to identify its flaws, failed to repair these flaws promptly, and failed to block the stairs off from passersby in the meantime. Nonetheless, the following are common flaws that may prompt you to trip and tumble down the stairs:
- A stair(s) may possess structural weakness, due to age or poor construction, and cause one to break it easily when placing their weight on it.
- Carpeting that lines the stairs may be frayed or lifted, making it easy for one’s foot to get caught and abruptly halt their momentum.
- Poor lighting above the stairway may make it difficult for one to see where they are stepping, especially with no reflective tape lining the stairs either.
- A handrail may be missing or loose on the side of the stairway, failing to offer the necessary support if one loses their balance when walking up.
Importantly, a stairway may also be considered poorly maintained if it is not equipped with adequate security systems. Sadly, this may make you a victim of a theft or vandalism incident. Though this may not necessarily be a slip and fall, you may still have a legitimate legal case against the negligent property owner.
If you are unsure of the next step, turn to a competent St. Mary’s County slip and fall lawyer for guidance. Our team at The Dorsey Law Firm will jump in whenever you give us the word.
