Homeowners, business owners, and other property owners are responsible for ensuring that guests and people who cross through their property are safe from hidden dangers. With thousands of high-rise buildings, many places in New York City have staircases, and the property owners need to ensure the staircases are reasonably safe. Something like an uneven or awkwardly spaced step can turn a staircase into a tripping or falling hazard.
If you or a loved one was injured because of an uneven staircase or uneven step on the stairs, talk to an attorney today to understand what compensation you might be entitled to. For a free consultation with the experienced uneven stairs injury lawyers at Sullivan and Galleshaw, call our law offices today at (718) 843-0300.
Injuries from an Uneven Staircase in NYC
It may sound strange to many people that something as simple as uneven spacing on a staircase can be dangerous. Those who have been injured by a trip or fall from an uneven staircase would beg to differ. A viral video from a few years back showed a series of people tripping over the same uneven step at the 36th Street subway station in Brooklyn. That incident even prompted the MTA to step in and fix the step to prevent injuries from tripping or falling. This kind of reaction shows just how dangerous these simple issues can be.
In the case of the MTA staircase mentioned above, it was revealed that one step was a mere half-inch higher than the surrounding steps, which was clearly enough to cause multiple people to trip. If multiple steps are constructed unevenly, it may be even harder for people to keep their coordination and balance.
Other staircases may be uneven in other directions. Warped stairs, weak steps, sagging steps, or rotted steps can contribute to serious accidents on staircases. If your foot does not land where you expect it to, you can lose balance entirely. Combined with other issues like loose railings, you may fall much farther than just a couple of steps.
Unfortunately, many people who are injured in falls on staircases are the elderly and those with preexisting injuries. Many places might not have convenient alternate means to get between floors, like elevators or escalators. In these kinds of injury cases, the defendant is responsible for making the stairs and other parts of their property safe and accessible for everyone. This means that someone facing additional injuries because they were older or less able to manage stairs does not make them at-fault for their own injuries. Instead, the property owner may still be responsible for their injuries.
Suing for Uneven Stair Falls in Queens, NY
Being injured on a staircase can first be embarrassing. Falling in public is something no one wants to experience, but if you suffer severe injuries, embarrassment may be the least of your concerns. Falling and breaking a bone, hitting your head, or hurting your back can have lasting effects, especially if you are more vulnerable to injury from being older or being already injured.
When you fall, you first instinct is often to brace yourself. This may mean injury to your arms and hands. In many cases, adults may break bones in their arms by landing this way. Children who fall may suffer similar injuries, but adults often require more medical attention. More rigid, fragile bones of older adults may require surgery to reset the bones, and medical implants like pins and rods to help the bones heal.
Falling on your back or neck can cause serious problems. Slipped discs (also known as a herniated disc) may cause long-lasting pain and numbness in your back and other places below the point of injury. More serious falls could break the vertebra in your spine and cause damage to the nerves of your spinal cord. Serious injury from a bad enough fall can actually cause permanent numbness, reduced motor function, or even total paralysis below the point of injury.
Falling and hitting your head can cause serious external and internal injuries. The skin on your head and face, especially for older adults, is often thinner and more prone to heavy bleeding after hitting your head. This blood loss can cause complications for other injuries. More serious, though, are skull fractures and brain injuries. If the skull is damaged, it can take a long time and many surgeries to heal. It may also leave the brain vulnerable. Hard blows to the head can cause concussions, or the more serious traumatic brain injury (TBI). This can result in loss of motor function, memory problems, personality changes, and other serious medical concerns.
Queens Staircase Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one suffered a fall down a staircase due to uneven or unevenly spaced steps, talk to an attorney today. The Queens personal injury lawyers at Sullivan and Galleshaw may be able to represent you on your injury case and help you get compensation for your injuries. For a free consultation with our attorneys, call our law offices today at (718) 843-0300.