Filing a Stairway Fall Claim for Compensation
Property owners and managers are required to follow Illinois state and local building code requirements that detail how stairways and stairwells are to be built and maintained. The law provides these requirements as a way to ensure a safe environment for every individual on stairs. When property owners and others fail to comply with the regulatory requirements, serious injuries can occur.
Legal Obligation of Care
The laws of Illinois mandate how any individual in control or ownership of real property has a legal obligation of care to ensure that the premises remains hazard free and safe for every visitor or worker. These laws extend to every portion of the property including stairwells, stairways, staircases and escalators. The regulations indicate that every individual or company controlled property must perform reasonable care to ensure the premises including a stairway remain safe. Any unsafe environment is considered a breach or violation of their obligation, which could hold them legally accountable.
Statistics maintained by the National Security Council show how hundreds of thousands of individuals suffer injuries or death every year in accidents involving stairs. Many of these accidents involve unsafe handrails, defective structures, wobbly steps or debris. Any victim hurt in a stairway accident has a legal right to file a claim for compensation against any party responsible for ensuring their safety. As a result, injured victims will hire a Chicago stairway fall accident lawyer to protect their rights and handle their claim.
Common Causes for Stairway Accidents
Accidents in stairways and stairwells occur each day. Most accidents are the result of negligence by property owners and management where the conditions involve:
- Broken or uneven steps
- Cracked, rotting or weak steps
- Missing or defective handrails
- Broken railing
- Steps constructed too steep
- Insufficient lighting
- Unexpected or inappropriate dangerous hazards on the stairway
- Improper maintenance
- Slippery or wet substances on stair steps
- Construction collapses
- Building code violation
- Other serious condition
Any stairs with debris or defective materials can cause serious harm to unexpected individuals. When the stairway is allowed to fall into disrepair or presents a dangerous hazard, the property owner, manager and tenant has the obligation to fix the problem, worn others against the condition or barricade the area from the public.
When an individual is injured in a stairway accident, they can tumble from the top to the bottom steps, causing debilitating injuries. When the accident is the result of negligence by those in charge of providing a safe environment, all parties at fault can be held legally liable.
Serious Injuries
Stairway accidents in the Chicago Metropolitan area often result in serious injuries to unsuspected victims. Injuries common to falling down a stairway include:
- Lacerations, bruises and cuts
- Strained muscles and sprained tendons and ligaments
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and head injuries
- Bone fractures, especially the arms, wrist and hands
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Shoulder and upper torso injury
- Death
Seeking Compensation
Illinois tort law involving premises liability allows victims to seek compensation from any property owner, manager or tenant whose negligence caused their injuries. However, personal injury laws in the state are complex and winning a claim usually requires the skills of a competent Chicago stairway fall accident attorney. The lawyer can seek a settlement in an amount sufficient to cover all damages including:
- Hospital, medical and chiropractic expenses
- Out-of-pocket costs for any medication, wheelchair, sling, crutch, etc.
- Lost wages and future lost earnings as a result of the accident
- Recompense for vacation time and sick days
- Compensation for emotional distress, pain and suffering
If you have been injured as a result of another’s negligence, it is essential to consider hiring a Chicago stairway fall accident law firm that specializes in personal injury cases. This is because you have the legal burden of proof to show how your injuries are the direct result of negligence by others. A skilled attorney can help you build the case for financial compensation and hold those at fault accountable for their actions.
Contact the reputable attorneys at Chicago Injury Center today. Through a free initial consultation, the lawyers can evaluate the facts and evidence of your claim and provide you information on all legal options to seek the financial compensation you deserve for your injuries.