Dangerous stairs lead to injuries every year

On Behalf of | Apr 2, 2018 | Premises Liability

There are many reasons why people get hurt on stairs. Perhaps the stairs are too old, or they are uneven and hard to walk on. Whatever the reason is, it’s important for the owners of staircases to make sure they are safe for those who use them. Not doing so could lead to injuries and a premises liability lawsuit.

Several causes of trip-and-fall or slip-and-fall accidents can be avoided. For example, angled stairs have surfaces that are smaller on one end than the other. If someone steps incorrectly, he or she could slide off the stair and fall. If that happens, he or she could suffer serious injuries. Avoiding this hazard isn’t always easy, but having a warning sign and tread on the stairs helps.

Another possible hazard is a stair that is collapsing. If a stair is weakened, it may not stand up to the weight of a human body. That could lead to the stair breaking and causing harm to the individual standing on it.

Finally, slippery treads are extremely dangerous. To avoid slippery treads, add sandpaper-like strips and other textures to make the stairs less slick.

These are just a few things that could result in a slip- or trip-and-fall accident. If you fall when you’re on a business’ premises or even when you visit friends, the owner of the property may be held liable for your injuries if you’re hurt as a result of negligence or inattention to hazards on the property. Our site has more on what to do if you fall and hurt yourself on a set of stairs.

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