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What Constitutes Negligence in a PA or NJ Stairway Accident/Slip & Fall Claim?

Accidents happen, sometimes resulting in injuries, but not all of them occur due to the missteps of the injured. We've probably all fallen at some point in our lives while climbing or going down a flight of stairs, sometimes even resulting in minor (or in some cases, serious) injuries, but some have suffered moderate to severe injuries in accidents involving stairs that resulted from the negligence of another party. Not every trip, slip, or fall on a stair or stairs that results in injury constitutes a New Jersey or Pennsylvania premises liability claim, but those that occur on commercial, industrial, or residential property and could be prevented by the property owner are typically grounds for a legal claim. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries (or lost a loved one due to wrongful death) in a Philadelphia, Jenkintown, or Cherry Hill stairwell accident, evidence of negligence or some form of property defect is crucial if you want to receive compensation for your costly medical bills, lost income (present or future), and other expenses. Among the types of negligence often appearing in Pennsylvania and New Jersey stairway accident cases are the following:

• dark or poorly lit stairwells, walkways, or hallways leading up to the stairwell, often causing someone to miss the first step (potentially resulting in serious injury, especially if the person is attempting to walk down a flight of stairs)
• slippery stairs due to the lack of tread on each stair, causing a slip-and-fall accident in the stairwell (inside or outside)
• wet, slippery, or icy stairs outdoors that have not been cleared of ice, snow, or water or at least blocked off and marked with a warning sign (often causing serious slip-and-fall accidents)
• loose, broken, or defective railings, often causing people to fall backwards down a flight of stairs, which can result in serious back or even brain injuries (and many other kinds of injury).

The above examples are intended to help you understand what typically constitutes negligence in a NJ or Pennsylvania stairway accident case; they do not make up a comprehensive list, and the details of each case will determine whether a claim is possible. If you believe that your injuries resulted from a New Jersey or Pennsylvania premises liability accident or NJ or PA slip and fall accident, feel free to contact the law office of Cooper & Schaffer to discuss your unique case. They will answer your questions for free with compassion and professionalism at no obligation to you. To contact Cooper & Schaffer, fill out their confidential contact form or call any of the numbers below:

Philadelphia office: 215-545-7777
New Jersey office (Cherry Hill, NJ): 856-427-6955
Montgomery County office (Jenkintown, PA): 215-887-6850
Toll-free: 888-545-4755.

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