Dangerous Stairways

In California's East Bay, Clancy & Diaz, LLP law firm has been defending the rights of injury victims for years. Our Walnut Creek stairway accident attorneys can help you every step of the way - from investigating your accident to helping you file an accident claim with an insurance company. We leave no stone unturned in pursuit of justice.

Why stairway accidents happen

What makes a dangerous stairway? Stairs can be dangerous for any number of reasons. That’s why there are often so many slip and fall accidents on dangerous stairs. The most common problems we see with stairs are:

• Missing handrails – For most stairways, handrails are required. There are certain exceptions, but it takes a trained eye to determine this. If you or a loved one fell because there were no handrails on the stairs, odds are you have a strong, legal case.
• Stairs NOT uniform – We see this a lot. Stairs should be fairly uniform (for example, they should all be around the same height and depth). If the stairs are not uniform, it is difficult for people to walk down them. That’s when stairway accidents happen.
• Missing walls – Some stairs must have a wall that is tall enough to prevent people from falling off the side. There is a very technical analysis to determine if a wall is needed. That’s why defendants sometimes choose not to follow these regulations – and serious accidents occur.
• Stairs too steep –  Stairs are required to meet basic minimum requirements. They cannot be too steep, or they represent a fall hazard.
• Improperly installed handrails – If the handrails are not installed properly, they can fall off or not work properly, resulting in a serious stairway accident.
• Loose handrails – Normal wear and tear can result in handrails becoming loose. Even so, that’s no excuse. Property owners need to fix loose handrails right away.
• Poor maintenance – Poorly maintained handrails aren’t the only things that can cause serious stairway accidents. Loose stairs, broken floorboards and loose carpeting need to be fixed right away to avoid an accident.
• Water or other liquids on stairs – If someone spills water or another liquid on the stairs, the property owner or employee must clean the mess up right away to avoid an accident.
• Bad lighting – Accidents can easily happen in a dark stairway if you can’t see where you’re going. That’s why property owners need to make sure there’s proper lighting.

One of our clients lost a leg in a stairway accident because the stairway was non-compliant. Whatever the circumstances of your stairway accident, no matter how straightforward or complicated your case might seem, talk to an attorney at our law firm as soon as possible to learn more about your rights.

Our stairway accident attorneys go the distance for you

Property owners can be difficult to deal with after a stairway accident. In many cases, many property owners will insist they did nothing wrong. They will likely claim that the property was safe and that you must have done something to cause your accident.

You know the truth. You know that the stairway was dangerous. It is our job to gather the facts to prove that the property owner failed to take the necessary steps to protect your safety. We regularly review inspection reports, interview witnesses and consult with experts to analyze the evidence in more detail.

Some law firms avoid such complicated cases. We thrive on them. That’s because our attorneys are not afraid to go the distance to achieve successful results for our clients. Find out what we can do for you. Contact us and schedule your free case evaluation right now. You can come to our office in Walnut Creek or Antioch, or we can come to you.