Defective and Broken Stairs
Falling down stairs injures more than a million Americans a year, according to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. These are often caused by defective, broken, or uneven stairs. In fact, the New York State Department of Health indicates that two New Yorkers are fatally injured in falls every day. Some of these are likely stair-related, and besides potential fatalities, falling down the stairs can result in injuries ranging from bumps, bruises, and sprains to hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). This can be a painful and confusing time, but remember, you may have options under the law.
When someone else’s negligence caused a serious stairway accident, you deserve the chance to pursue compensation for the resulting damages. At Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C., our NY premises liability attorneys know you probably have a lot of questions, and we have a record of getting accident victims everything they need and deserve. Let us investigate what happened, identify who is at fault for your stair accident, and advise you what comes next.
Contact us, or call (212) 490-5700 to schedule a free, no-risk case evaluation. There are no up-front fees, and you owe nothing until we win compensation.
New York Stair Accidents
While all ages can be victims of stairway accidents, senior citizens, young children, and women report the most injuries, according to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Young adults also had high injury rates from stair accidents.
Most accidents, some 60%, happened in the home, including rental properties like New York City multi-unit buildings with common stairwells. Other places where falling down stairs is more likely to occur are workplaces, entertainment and sports venues, and public transportation sites, such as subways.
Slips, trips, and falls on stairs can lead to various injuries, including trauma to the neck, back, and brain, as well as damage to your extremities. Broken bones and bruises are painful and expensive to treat in the short-term, but some devastating and life-altering injuries like TBIs and spinal cord damage mean a lifetime of pain and expense related to medical and living costs. Making sure those responsible contribute to your recovery is essential, and our attorneys can help.
Who’s at Fault for Defective and Broken Stair Accidents?
Accidents involving stairs may have several possible causes and various responsible parties. When you meet with our attorneys to discuss your, or a loved one’s, stair accident they will determine who may be required to pay damages for your injuries.
Some possible legal arguments that may entitle you to compensation include:
Premises Liability for Unsafe and Dangerous Stairs
Under premises liability law, if you are injured on someone’s property, they might be responsible for damages that arise from your injuries. So, if you suffer a neck injury when you fall down the stairs at your apartment complex, the property owner could be liable. But, just being injured on another’s property doesn’t automatically make the owner liable.
To recover damages you must prove:
- You were lawfully on the property or when you were injured
- The property owner was negligent about the condition that caused your injury
- The property owner’s negligence was the proximate cause of your injury
When you work with our attorneys, we will identify who is at fault and determine if your stair accident injuries resulted from broken, defective, or uneven stairs, or failure to properly install or maintain a handrail. From there, we will pursue a favorable resolution from the owner or property manager responsible. That could mean filing a personal injury claim against a landlord or venue owner if you were injured in settings like a club, bar, restaurant, sports complex, or concert hall.
Product Liability for Defective and Broken Stairs
Sometimes staircase falls are attributable to design or manufacturing defects in the products used to build and maintain the stairs. For example, an important safety feature of stairs is the handrail. If a handrail is poorly designed or placed, it could fail. If stair treads don’t have proper non-skid treatment, serious falls can happen. In such cases, Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. will investigate and identify those companies responsible. Not only will we work to have those parties compensate you for your injuries, but we’ll also fight to ensure the defective parts are fixed, potentially saving others from injury.
Premises Liability
Other Legal Actions for Stair Accidents
Besides determining if a property owner or management company was at fault for your stair accident, our attorneys understand there may be others who should be held accountable. For example, if a handrail gave way and you were subsequently injured, it may have been negligently installed. The company that installed it could be liable for your damages. Or, if you are hurt at work, outside of your workers’ compensation claim, there could be an avenue to pursue a third-party work injury claim (other than your employer) for your injuries.
Compensation after a Staircase Accident
If you can establish that someone else’s negligence caused your fall and subsequent injuries, then you can seek compensation for your:
- Medical Bills
- Lost Income and Benefits
- Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Reduced Earning Capacity
- Lower Quality of Life
Call Us Today If You Fell Down Stairs
Falling down the stairs and suffering injuries is traumatic, embarrassing, and painful. You may be hospitalized, need extensive physical therapy, and miss significant amounts of work. Even worse, you could suffer a life-altering injury to your brain or spinal cord. Whatever the extent of your, or a loved one’s, stair accident injuries, you need to consult a New York personal injury attorney at Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. By allowing us to evaluate your stairway accident case, we can determine if you are entitled to compensation.
Call us at (212) 490-5700, or contact us online to request a free, no-risk consultation. There are no up-front costs and pay nothing unless you recover compensation.
CLIENT REVIEWS
05/01/2015
“I cannot recommend Jon Damashek highly enough. I attribute the favorable outcome of my case to his consummate and tireless dedication and tenacity. Just as important, he was truly there with me every step of the way. He was very…
5
Mike, HKD CLIENT
05/01/2015
“I had the opportunity to work with Jon Damashek and had an amazing experience. I have known Jon for many years and always felt very comfortable relying on his expertise, knowledge of the law, and more importantly – his ability…
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06/05/2019
I had the opportunity of having this amazing team of lawyers work on my case. When I first met with Jordan Hecht and Michael Kusz, I really liked their energy and the spunk that they had, it meant business and…
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Anonymous, HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I cannot recommend Jon Damashek highly enough. I attribute the favorable outcome to my case to his consummate and tireless dedication and tenacity. Just as important, he was truly there with me every step of the way. He was very…
5
Mike W., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I had the opportunity to work with Jon Damashek and had an amazing experience. I have known Jon for many years and always felt very comfortable relying on his expertise and knowledge of the law and more importantly his ability…
5
Steven B., HKD CLIENT
07/05/2015
I have worked with countless attorneys over the years and Jon Damashek stands out among them. I have seen first hand him advocate for his clients vigorously. He fights for the rights of the seriously injured, does not back down…
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07/05/2015
I know all three named partners at this firm and highly recommend them. They are very professional and tireless advocates for their clients. If you need a personal injury attorney, you cannot do better than Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek.
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07/05/2015
After meeting with Jon Damashek I knew immediately he was the right attorney for me. I had met with other attorneys in the past, but Jon’s experience, knowledge, and track record were most impressive. I highly recommend Jon Damashek and…
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07/05/2015
After meeting a half dozen lawyers at different firms, I decided to go to Hecht, Kleeger and Damashek. As soon as I met Jon Damashek, I knew I had to look no further. Mr. Damashek made me feel at ease…
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07/05/2015
I retained Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek for a serious personal injury case. They were very professional and managed to obtain a settlement for me that far exceeded my expectations. I would strongly recommend this firm for anyone’s legal needs.
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