When walking up or down stairs in a building, you expect them to be safe. Unfortunately, many property owners in Chicago fail to maintain their stairways properly, creating dangerous conditions that can lead to serious injuries.
From apartment buildings to retail stores, unsafe stairways pose a significant risk to visitors. Property owners have a legal duty to ensure their premises are safe, and when they neglect this responsibility, you may have grounds for a premises liability claim.
Common stairway hazards
Stairway accidents can result in devastating injuries that impact your life for weeks, months or permanently. Here are six hazardous conditions that frequently lead to injuries:
- Missing or loose handrails: When handrails are missing or not securely attached to the wall, you lose a critical safety feature designed to prevent falls. Building codes require handrails in most stairways.
- Inadequate lighting: Poorly lit stairwells make it difficult to see each step clearly, increasing your risk of missteps and falls, especially in apartment buildings or businesses with interior staircases.
- Loose or damaged steps: Cracked, broken or loose steps can shift unexpectedly when you place weight on them, causing you to lose balance and fall.
- Uneven risers or treads: When steps aren’t uniform in height or depth, your body’s natural climbing rhythm is disrupted, often leading to trips and falls even if you’re paying attention.
- Slippery surfaces: Stairs coated with high-gloss paint or those that become wet from spills or weather conditions create dangerous slipping hazards for anyone using them.
- Debris on the stairs: Objects left on stairs create tripping hazards that can send you tumbling down multiple steps, increasing the severity of potential injuries.
These hazardous conditions frequently result in concussions, broken bones, back injuries and even traumatic brain injuries that can change your life forever.
Holding negligent property owners accountable
If someone’s negligence leads to injuries, you may wonder if you can file a personal injury claim. In Illinois, property owners are legally obligated to maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors and promptly address known hazards.
To successfully pursue a premises liability claim for a stairway injury, you need to:
- Prove the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition
- Show that they failed to fix the hazard or provide adequate warning
- Demonstrate that this negligence directly caused your injury
- Document your injuries and associated costs, including medical bills and lost wages
Recovering from stairway injuries often involves significant medical expenses, lost income and physical pain. A skilled personal injury lawyer can guide you through this complex legal process while you focus on healing. They can gather evidence, consult with safety experts, negotiate with insurance companies and, if necessary, represent you in court to help you receive fair compensation for your injuries.