Stairway Accidents

According to a study published in the Journal of American Emergency Medicine, more than one million Americans are treated, on average, in ERs every year due to serious falls on stairways. Children and seniors are most likely to suffer injuries in these accidents, but young people are also highly represented in falls.

No matter what age you are, if you have suffered a serious injury in a stairway accident, contact The Law Offices of Mark A. Siesel for a free consultation with a stairway accident lawyer. Your free consultation is your chance to ask questions and to find out whether you could have a right to seek compensation for pain and suffering, medical costs, lost wages, and other costs. Whether you are in Westchester County, White Plains, the upper Hudson Valley, New York, or surrounding areas, you can count on us to provide you with an honest case evaluation at no cost when you’re injured.

What are Stairway Accidents?

Stairway accidents are a very frequent type of accident within the area of cases known as “premises liability.” Premises liability cases include, among others, slip or trip and fall accidents on sidewalks and walkways, defective maintenance inside structures and buildings, such as wet floors or overly waxed floors, and injuries due to falling debris on construction sites or merchandise in supermarkets and big box stores. For example, at The Law Offices of Mark A. Siesel, we have represented a number of clients who have been injured by falling merchandise at Home Depot and Sam’s Club.

Any time you are injured in a stairway accident, it can be useful to investigate whether the property owner was negligent. If there is a negligent party in your situation, you may be able to pursue compensation for pain and suffering, medical costs, lost earnings, and more. Without filing a claim, you may end up paying these costs out of pocket—and they may end up costing you more than you imagined. You can always contact The Law Offices of Mark A. Siesel for a free consultation if you’ve been injured to find out if you may qualify for compensation.

Why Do Stairway Accidents Happen?

Stairway accidents can be caused by inadequate lighting, loose stairs, defective risers or treads, lack of railings, railings at an improper height, or railings only on one side of a stairway, debris on the stairs, slippery treads due to wear, liquid or excessive wax, or unequal spacing between the stairs.

In some cases, stairs are structurally unsound or are being renovated, but there is no sign to warn others. There may also be design flaws, such as too-narrow or too-steep stairs, which can lead to accidents. In rarer instances, people who use the stairs may be looking at a phone or not watching their step, which can also put them at risk.

It is essential that you retain a law firm experienced in litigating these cases from their inception, through trial, who know how to conduct a proper investigation, retain the necessary documents and experts, such as engineers, architects and construction professionals, depose the critical witnesses and prepare the case for trial if necessary. At The Law Offices of Mark A. Siesel, we have worked with many clients who have been seriously injured in falls on stairs, and our goal is always to maximize your compensation so you pay less for your injuries out of pocket.

How Serious are Stairway Accidents?

In some cases, a fall on stairs or other stairway accident can result in nothing more than a bruised ego. However, it is common for these accidents to lead to serious injuries, including broken bones, sprains, spinal cord injuries or head trauma. Head trauma and spinal cord injuries, especially, can be fatal or can lead to permanent disability. Recovery from these injuries often requires surgery, extended rehabilitation, or physical therapy, which can be exhausting. Even after healing, there can be lasting effects like chronic pain or decreased mobility, making everyday activities more difficult.

The experience of being injured can also impact your mental health. You may feel anxious, fearful, or depressed. You may experience anxiety about moving around or using stairs in the future, and the loss of independence during recovery can lead to feelings of frustration. These psychological effects can linger long after the physical injuries have healed and may require therapy.

Accidents on stairs can even impact your relationships. You may need help with daily tasks, which can strain your social connections. The inability to maintain regular routines can affect friendships and the overall quality of life, leading to social isolation. The emotional impact of a stairway accident can even impact your confidence and sense of self-worth.

The financial burden of a stairway accident can also be significant. Medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and potentially lost wages due to time off work can add up quickly. If you need long-term care, you can run down your savings or strain insurance coverage. Many unexpected bills can arise, too. If you experience any complications, for example, you may need an additional hospital stay or medicine. You may also be unable to drive, and the cost of taxis or other transportation can add up. You might even need to install grab bars in your home or make other renovations to accommodate your injury, which can also be expensive.

Working with an experienced personal injury attorney allows you to seek financial recovery, if you qualify, which can help you pay for at-home care, medical bills, therapy, and the other help you may need. It also reduces the financial stress you may be feeling.

How Can The Law Offices of Mark A. Siesel Help Me?

At The Law Offices of Mark A. Siesel, with offices conveniently located in White Plains and Peekskill, New York, we have represented clients throughout the State of New York, in both the state and federal courts, since 1986. Many of our clients have suffered severe and sometimes life altering injuries in stairway accidents.

Upon our retention by the client, we conduct an immediate investigation of the location of the accident and secure all possible witness statements. We obtain photographs of the defective condition (if it still exists) to ensure that this evidence is preserved for an arbitrator, jury or judge’s evaluation. Additionally, and critically, we determine if there were prior accidents of a similar nature which can establish the vital legal prerequisite of notice of a defect against the owner of the premises, such as Freedom of Information requests to the local building department for violations. In cases in which the stairs are owned or operated by a municipality such as a city, town, or village, it is essential that you retain counsel who has the background and knowledge to successfully prosecute the claim promptly, as the time frame to commence these claims is much shorter than cases against private property owners.

In some cases, it is necessary to retain the services of professional engineers, architects or other professionals to inspect the stairway, the lighting on the stairs, and to make an assessment as to whether there is a violation of the local building codes and other municipal statutes.

At The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, we have successfully represented clients throughout the State of New York for over 30 years who suffered injuries in stairway accidents due to the negligence of owners of malls, apartment buildings, private houses, big box stores, supermarkets, restaurants, museums, and various other properties. We pride ourselves on quickly and thoroughly determining all possible parties that are responsible for our clients’ damages, including pain and suffering, past and future medical and hospital bills, past and future lost earnings, loss of earnings potential, and loss of the ability to perform activities of daily living. We retain all the necessary experts as needed, including engineers, vocational rehabilitation experts, and economists. Contact the knowledgeable and experienced lawyers at The Law Offices of Mark A. Siesel for a free consultation to discuss your potential case. Contact us anytime at (914) 428-7386 or online.