You likely walk from place to place for at least part of your day, and some of that walking may take place on a set of stairs. As solid as a staircase may appear, there is still a risk of falling and getting hurt.
Stairwell accidents in Piscataway can cause serious injuries and leave you unable to work as you otherwise would. As a result, you may want to make a compensation claim against the owner of the property where a fall occurs, with the assistance of a talented slip and fall attorney.
How Stairwell Falls Can Happen
Accidents on stairwells in Piscataway can come from a variety of causes, some of which are inherent to the stairs and some of which are based on what may be on them. Both structural issues and the presence of foreign items or substances can cause a person’s foot to slip, catch, or trip and lead to a fall.
A staircase may be structurally unsound, with a step that flexes too far, breaks, or is uneven. Without a flat surface to step on and hold a person’s weight, that person may fall to one knee or even tumble several steps down a flight of stairs. Even poorly maintained carpeting on a set of stairs could lead to an accident if a person’s foot cannot touch down and pick back up cleanly.
At the same time, external factors can make a stairwell unsafe in addition to or in place of structural issues. Spilled liquids can make steps slippery, and obstacles set on a staircase or strewn about can prevent someone from safely going up or down.
A slip and fall accident on a Piscataway staircase can end in a head or back injury as well as cuts and bruises from hitting the ground at least once. Such injuries can leave a person with large medical bills and missing out on income as they recover, which can form the basis for a legal claim for compensation.
Making a Legal Claim Based on a Stairwell Accident
If an individual incurs legal damages—such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering—due to an accident caused by another party, they may pursue compensation through a lawsuit. This claim is typically based on negligence, requiring proof of a legal duty of care, a breach of that duty by the defendant, causation, and resulting damages.
In the case of a stairwell accident, however, a claim may be based on a different theory of liability known as premises liability. The owner of a property or the operator of a business has a duty to their customers, and others allowed to be in their space, changing the legal duty from reasonable behavior to certain preventive actions.
For example, when liquids spill in a store or a restaurant, the business must clean it up as soon as possible and post a wet surface sign. Likewise, an uneven step or a smaller step than normal (such as a door threshold) should be marked with a suitable warning.
Failing to take these kinds of actions can let the property or business owner be sued even if they might not be negligent in the traditional sense. A Piscataway attorney can help an injured person make their claim by gathering evidence of how a stairwell accident happened and what actions were or were not taken to prevent it.
An attorney can also make sure that a claim is filed within the statute of limitations so a person does not lose the ability to recover compensation. In New Jersey, plaintiffs only have two years from the date of the accident to file their claim unless special circumstances apply.
Learn More About Stairwell Accidents in Piscataway By Speaking With an Attorney about Your Case.
At a moment’s notice, a slip on a stairwell can cause serious. In a severe situation, you might suddenly be unable to provide for yourself and your family.
With the aid of an attorney from Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC, stairwell accidents in Piscataway do not have to upend your life completely. Contact our offices for a free consultation on your case today.
