Don’t Settle For Less

Don’t Settle For Less

Poorly Maintained Stairways are a Safety Hazard in New York City Apartments

On Behalf of | Feb 14, 2018 | Premises Liability

Stairway accidents in New York City are not taken seriously. Stairwells are one of the most common locations for accidents within apartment complexes throughout New York City. These common building fixtures become dangerous because the stairways in apartment buildings are ignored by maintenance employees which lead to unsafe conditions. In fact, most safety hazards aren’t addressed until an accident occurs.

Whether it’s a simple fix like repairing a stair tread or something more complex like ensuring a staircase is safely attached to the building itself, repair requests can go unanswered for months. Often times, when the interior steps are washed or cleaned, they are left wet, without warning signs advising innocent passersby of the dangerous condition. This leads to serious, life-threatening injuries-especially for at-risk populations like children and the elderly.

Other common causes for falls in stairways in New York City are debris, trash or garbage on the stairs themselves, or deteriorated steps that are cracked or broken that pose a tripping hazard. Regardless, most issues are easily remedied. If you or a neighbor report these hazards and no attempt to rectify them is made, your landlord or the company that manages the property could be held responsible.

Whether it’s the City of New York or private landlords, apartment complex owners, and building maintenance companies, all property owners and their maintenance companies have a legal responsibility to keep stairways reasonably safe, well-lit, and free from debris that could potentially cause a fall. When they fail in that responsibility, they should be held liable for any injuries suffered by victims of such falls.

If you fall because you slipped or tripped on any of these hazards, you may be entitled to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact an experienced New York City stairway accident attorney immediately to get the help you need. Call the Law offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-92338 or 212-385-1122 right now.

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