A man who suffered serious injuries post his fall from an apartment stairway received a $1.75 million settlement in his Essex County lawsuit.
On April 4, 2017, the plaintiff was coming down from stairs at 20-30 Astor Street, where his sister lived when he stepped on a broken stair resulting in a fall. He tried to grab a handrail, but even that was defective. The accident resulted in injuring his lower back and left shoulder.
The plaintiff underwent many surgeries, including arthroscopic surgery to treat a torn tendon of the left shoulder, along with laminectomy, discectomy, decompression, and fusion at L4-5. He even received injections to get relief from the service pain.
Stair accidents are responsible for more than one million emergency room visits every year. People of all ages are injured falling from stairs. However, women, children, and older adults tend to sustain more serious injuries. Stair accidents caused by negligence happen every day.
Stairway and stairwell problems are a common cause of serious, sometimes fatal, injuries. Dangerous conditions leading to falls on stairs include:
Slippery surfaces on stairs include slick tiles, highly polished or waxed wood, and worn carpeting. Shiny, slippery surfaces may be attractive, but trading appearance for safety can make the property owner responsible for injuries.
Icy or snowy steps and even water puddles on steps and landings can cause serious slip and fall accidents. Owners are obligated to clear ice and snow, repair drainage problems, and provide non-slip surfaces, especially in public areas.
Poor lighting in stairways and stairwells can make it difficult to see the beginning and end of the stairway, obstructions, and potential hazards like ice or wet leaves.
Loose handrails, the wrong height, or missing can cause stair accidents indoors and out. Some properties, like rental homes, have building code requirements for safe stair railings.
Stair height and depth may also be subject to local buildings codes. Stairs that are too high or low, or very shallow are difficult to navigate safely.
Uneven steps and stairs are significant fall hazards, whether caused by warped wood or poor design. Uneven steps, even the last step down, can throw a person off-balance and are often a clear building code violation.
Plaintiff's lawyer said that he previously worked as a furniture assembler, cook, and warehouse worker. But the mishap has left him with life long injuries, which will affect his future as he will not be able to work efficiently.
