Staircases and stairways are simultaneously one of the most common and one of the most dangerous places for a slipping or tripping accident to occur. Unfortunately, this kind of incident can also be uniquely difficult to take effective legal action over, especially if there were no bystanders or security cameras around to witness the fall actually happening or attest to what may or may not have caused it.
Fortunately, that is one of many obstacles in the civil litigation process which a seasoned slip and fall lawyer can help you navigate around. If you are dealing with injuries you suffered from a recent stairwell accident in Avondale, you should prioritize seeking assistance from the team at Phillips Law Group, where we are unafraid to pursue claims all the way to trial if necessary to get injured people paid what they deserve.
Suing Over Common Stairwell Defects
Under Arizona premises liability law, landowners in Avondale and throughout the Grand Canyon State are expected to keep all property that they allow lawful visitors to access in reasonably safe condition. This duty of care always includes warning lawful visitors about hazards which they—the landowner—have direct knowledge of as well as fixing or cordoning off hazards reasonably quickly after discovering them. For lawful visitors whose presence financially benefits the landowner, the landowner’s duty of care also includes regularly inspecting their land for as-yet undiscovered hazards.
With all that in mind, examples of stair-related hazards that could potentially serve as grounds for a lawsuit if a lawful visitor is not warned about them include:
- Broken or missing steps
- Broken or missing handrails
- Loose or frayed carpeting over steps
- Lack of non-slip material over steps and/or landings, particularly in outdoor stairwells
- Lack of sufficient lighting
- Debris left in public stairwells
- Puddles from rainwater and/or unmarked spills inside stairwells
A skilled attorney can go into more detail during a private initial consultation about what kinds of Avondale stairwell accidents and injuries could potentially give rise to a civil claim.
Getting Paid Fairly Within Filing Deadlines
Legal counsel can also help identify and assign a fair value to all compensable damages stemming from an accident in an unreasonably dangerous stairwell. Depending on the circumstances, these damages may include both economic forms of harm like medical bills and lost work income, and non-economic forms of harm like physical pain and emotional distress.
Perhaps most importantly, a seasoned lawyer can help construct the strongest possible lawsuit or settlement demand over a stairwell accident in Avondale within the time limit set by the statute of limitations. As per Arizona Revised Statutes §12-542, most people who get hurt through the negligence of another have just two years to file suit after initially sustaining injury, no matter how severe that injury is or how long it will continue to negatively impact their life.
Get Help From an Avondale Attorney After a Stairwell Accident
Even if you are normally sure footed, using a staircase with a significant structural or environmental hazard can be much more dangerous than you might expect, since a fall on one step can quickly turn into a tumble down several at once. Even worse, holding the owner of that staircase liable for their negligent property management can be exceptionally difficult without support from skilled legal professionals—support which, thankfully, you have available to you here.
Phillips Law Group has been locally owned and operated for more than 30 years in the Phoenix metro area, and we have decades of experience fighting and winning cases on behalf of people much like yours. Call today to learn more from a member of our legal team about how we can guide you through a lawsuit over your stairwell accident in Avondale.
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