Stairwell Accidents in Victorville

As convenient as many modern buildings can be with elevators and escalators, sometimes a stairwell is the best or only option for moving between floors. However, a stairwell can present a risk of injury, especially if not kept in good condition.

Stairwell accidents in Victorville can lead to serious injuries, requiring medical care and even putting you out of work. Our slip and fall attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group stand ready to support and assist you in making a claim for compensation.

How Stairwell Accidents Happen and What Injuries Can Result

In most cases, a stairwell poses only a minor challenge; someone climbing a set of stairs puts in some physical effort and is able to get to where they are going. A stairwell can be the scene of an accident, though, if other factors come into play.

A stairwell might become slippery, causing a person to lose their footing while going up or down. Spilled liquids or built-up water from precipitation can make a stairwell slick, both outside of a building and inside. There could also be clutter on a stairwell that can cause someone to trip and fall. The stairs themselves could also be in disrepair, with torn surfaces or broken structures that can cause a slip and fall.

Injuries from stairwell accidents can be particularly severe if the person falls from atop a flight of stairs. Broken bones, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injuries can all result, as well as cuts and bruises from tumbling down and hitting any objects that might be present.

No accident should be taken lightly, as an injury can lead to real costs, even if a victim initially feels okay. An option for getting compensation for the damages caused by stairwell accidents may be making a legal claim with the help of a Victorville attorney.

Making a Compensation Claim for Stairwell Injuries

Making an injury claim based on a stairwell accident relies on negligence, one person being responsible for causing another person’s injuries, even if unintentional. A negligence claim requires proof of several elements, such as a duty of care, a breach of the duty, causation, and damages, but an injury on a stairwell may also involve premises liability.

Premises liability creates a standard of care for the owner or operator of the location where the accident happened, changing how the duty of care applies. Business owners, for example, must take certain precautions to keep their property free from harm or to at least warn people entering the property legally (as opposed to trespassing). A seasoned Victorville lawyer could figure out what standard of care applies to a particular stairwell accident, which will then determine what evidence will be necessary to prove a claim.

Legal Rules and Procedures

Other procedural rules can also affect an injury claim, such as the statute of limitations and rules on negligence and fault. First and foremost, injury claims must be brought within two years of an injury under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, or risk losing the ability to get compensation at all. As for fault, a plaintiff can partly cause their own injuries, and a court can reduce or eliminate their damages as a result.

Fortunately, someone hurt on a stairwell does not need to engage in this kind of legal and procedural analysis alone. A dedicated attorney could work with a victim to understand how the accident happened and get a claim together fast enough to file within the statute of limitations.

Speak With a Victorville Attorney After a Stairwell Accident

Slipping and falling might seem commonplace, but falling on a stairwell can jeopardize your health and your ability to work. When faced with a serious injury after a fall, you can consider making a legal claim for compensation.

Our compassionate attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will listen to your case and evaluate your options for a claim after a stairwell accident in Victorville. We focus on you and your well-being above anything else and can provide important information for you and your claim. Call today to make an appointment.