Even if you are in good health, losing your footing on a flight of stairs can lead to serious and sometimes even life-threatening injuries. Unfortunately, these types of incidents are all too common. Many stairwell accidents in Pasadena, TX could have been prevented entirely if the property owner was more diligent about keeping their land in safe condition for visitors.
If you were seriously hurt because the stairs you used were inherently unsafe in some way, there may be more than one person who holds civil liability for your injuries and ensuing losses. A slip and fall attorney from Schechter, Shaffer & Harris could provide the legal support you need to effectively seek recovery for the harm you sustained.
What Kinds of Stairwell Hazards Could a Property Owner Be Liable For?
Under state law, every private landowner has a duty of care to restrict access to or fix hazardous conditions on their land reasonably quickly after discovering them. Owners are also required to warn lawful visitors about those hazards. Additionally, if a landowner benefits financially from the presence of visitors on their property, they must regularly inspect their land for as-yet undiscovered hazards in order to protect customers from being harmed.
Examples of property conditions that could cause a legally actionable stairwell accident include:
- Loose floorboards or cracked concrete in individual steps
- Uneven risers between steps
- Loose, broken, or missing handrails
- Frayed or torn carpeting overtop of steps
- Lack of non-slip material on steps, particularly outdoors
- Insufficient lighting
During a private initial consultation, a member of our Pasadena legal team could discuss whether the circumstances of your stairwell accident could justify a legal claim.
Filing Suit Within Legal Time Limits
Compared to many other types of slip and fall accidents, stairwell falls often involve the victim descending several feet or even an entire building story before coming to a stop. Unfortunately, this dramatically increases the risk of debilitating and potentially permanent injuries, which in turn could cause long-lasting physical, financial, and personal losses. These long-term issues may not full manifest right away, which could complicate the civil litigation process in many ways.
State law typically allows personal injury victims no more than two years to file suit after initially sustaining harm, even if the injury will never fully heal. Working with dependable legal counsel could be vital not only to constructing the strongest possible claim but also to doing so within the statute of limitations. If you were hurt in a stairwell fall, our lawyers in Pasadena could help ensure that you meet the filing deadline so you do not lose the chance to pursue the restitution you need.
Contact a Pasadena, TX Attorney To Learn More About Stairwell Injury Litigation
Slipping or tripping and falling while walking up or down stairs is a painful experience at best, and a potentially life-changing one at worst. Civil compensation cannot completely erase the pain and trauma you have experienced, but it could be key to alleviating specific expenses and maximizing your overall quality of life.
If you have suffered harm because of a property owner’s negligence, you have support available from our entire team at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris. We are familiar with stairwell accidents in Pasadena and could help you construct a compelling claim. Call us today to learn more about your legal options for pursuing compensation.
