Even if you are in good physical condition, losing your balance while climbing or descending stairs can still lead to a fall that may cause serious and even life-threatening injuries. For children, older people, and those with pre-existing physical conditions, stairwell accidents in Tempe can be even more dangerous, especially if they stem mainly from subpar property management by the people who own the stairs in question.
Taking legal action over this sort of accident can be complicated in numerous respects, which is why it can be so important to have a seasoned legal professional’s help from start to finish of the legal process. By working closely with a slip and fall lawyer from Phillips Law Group, you can more efficiently construct a strong lawsuit or settlement demand and more effectively demand the compensation you deserve for your damages.
Common Causes and Effects of Stairwell Injuries
Anyone who allows lawful visitors onto their property in Arizona has a duty of care requiring them to keep their land in a reasonably safe condition, and to warn visitors of known hazards. If the visitors are there specifically for the landowner’s financial benefit, an owner is responsible for regularly inspecting their property for as-yet-unknown hazards. Examples of hazards in stairwells that a reasonable property owner would be expected to fix or cordon off as soon as they become aware of them include:
- Cracked, broken, or loose steps
- Loose or broken handrails
- Loose carpeting or other covering on top of individual steps
- Lack of proper lighting
- Water or ice buildup during inclement weather
- Uneven height and depth of individual steps
- Debris left on stairs by tenants, employees, or owners
Unfortunately, a landowner’s failure to adequately address hazards like this can lead to someone slipping or tripping and falling down several stairs in succession, potentially resulting in various soft-tissue injuries, broken bones, brain trauma, and even spinal cord damage that causes permanent paralysis. In addition to both past and future medical bills, a seasoned attorney can help demand fair compensation for various other negative effects of injuries caused by a Tempe stairwell accident, including lost work income, personal property damage, physical pain, and mental anguish.
Building a Strong Claim Over a Stairwell Accident
Of course, no landowner will accept liability for thousands of dollars in losses stemming from an accident in one of their stairwells, and they will often fight tenaciously to pin the blame for this accident on the person injured through it. Even worse, a court that agrees with a landowner making this sort of argument may assign a percentage of comparative fault to the injured person and, in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes §12-2505, reduce the value of their final damage award by that same percentage.
With that in mind, it is vital to gather as much evidence as possible to support a lawsuit of this nature before formally starting the legal process. Once again, legal counsel can play a crucial role in gathering, preserving, and making the most of things like medical records, witness testimony, surveillance camera footage, and photos from the scene of the Tempe stairway accident.
Learn More About Stairwell Accident Claims From a Tempe Attorney
Losing your footing can potentially result in a serious injury no matter where it happens, but falling on—or especially down—the stairs almost always results in at least some form of long-lasting trauma. If you have been hurt in this sort of accident specifically because the stairwell you were using was unreasonably unsafe, you may have grounds for legal action, which a capable attorney from Phillips Law Group can help you pursue.
Stairwell accidents in Tempe are always easier to handle proactively with a trustworthy legal professional on your side. Call today to discuss your legal options.
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