Uneven Stairs Pose Trip and Fall Risk

Climbing stairs can be extremely dangerous, as a missed step can lead to a fall down a full flight, often resulting in broken bones. The risk of a fall is always there, but that risk is exacerbated by poor lighting, lack of guardrails, or slippery surfaces. One significant risk is posed by stairs that are uneven, as the human brain and human balance expect consistency when dealing with manmade stairs.

There are a variety of potential causes of uneven stairs, including:

• Poorly designed staircases
• Poor build quality or craftsmanship by the contractor or builder
• Failure to maintain the stairs, leading to sagging or breaking of certain steps

All of these are foreseeable factors and can be remediated by businesses and building owners. In many cases, tenants report these problems, only to have landlords ignore the requests to have the problems fixed. Only when someone falls are steps taken to prevent these preventable accidents from occurring.

The best way to minimize the risks of these accidents is to pay visual attention to the stairs as you climb them. Unfortunately, this can be difficult to do if you are visually impaired, if the lighting is poor, or if you are carrying groceries or other items that obstruct your view of your feet. The only absolutely certain way to prevent accidents caused by uneven stairs is to repair the staircase.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed due to a staircase related accident, it may be a good idea to speak with a qualified attorney about your case. An experienced lawyer can help you evaluate the environment for factors that may have led to the accident, including misaligned stairs, poor visibility, and lack of handrails.