There are roughly 100,000 apartment buildings in New York City, with even the smallest containing a myriad of hallways and staircases. The owners of these buildings are responsible for maintaining the buildings’ various components, including the stairways.
Thousands of people slip and fall on stairs every year, many of which are due to poorly maintained stairways. If you’ve had a stair accident, the property owner may be at fault.
Conditions to look at in determining fault include:
- Lack of handrails
- Broken or inadequate handrails
- Improper stair height or depth
- Uneven stair height or depth
- Ice or snow on stairs
- Poor lighting in stairwells
- Debris or clutter on stairs
- Broken or cracked stairs
- Spills on stairs
- Slippery finish on stairs
Generally, for slips and falls, the property owner may be legally responsible to you for the injuries you have suffered if:
- The property owner or an employee caused the slippery/dangerous surface or item to be underfoot (by causing the spill, mopping the floor, causing the worn or torn surface, etc.); or
- The property owner or an employee knew of the dangerous surface but did nothing about it; or
- The property owner or an employee should have known about the dangerous surface because a “reasonable” person taking care of the property would have discovered and removed or repaired it.
Some defects in stairs may remain hidden even after an accident, so it is important to contact an experienced attorney to determine if you have a personal injury claim. The Pryor Law Firm has served the New York City area for two decades. During the past 25 years, we have achieved full and fair compensation for our clients in countless serious accident and wrongful death cases. It is important to speak with us about your situation and what you may be entitled to before signing any statement from the property owner or property management company regarding an incident.
Firm founder Kenneth A. Pryor is a member in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. Pryor is an experienced trial lawyer who teaches trial skills as an adjunct law school professor. Our firm can provide the knowledgeable and experienced legal representation you need.
The Pryor Law Firm maintains offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Nassau County. We handle personal injury cases exclusively on a contingency fee basis (meaning you pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you) and we can visit you or your loved one at home or at a hospital if travel is too difficult. To contact us for confidential advice following a serious injury or fatal accident, submit our online contact form or call (855) 889-5311.