Unsafe Stairs Are a Slip and Fall Hazard

You typically don’t think twice about using the stairs. You don’t consider the risks. It’s only after a fall that it becomes apparent just how risky these can be, especially if someone negligently allows them to fall into disrepair.

For instance, maybe you live in an apartment building and you have an exterior staircase that you use every day. Is the railing loose at all? What would happen if it came loose while you were walking? This is one of the main hazards that people face because it’s very easy to overlook that slow deterioration until the railing collapses, but, by then, it’s too late.

Another issue to think about is that a mere millimeter of difference in stair height can cause you to slip. You take the stairs based on muscle memory. You’re only clearing each tread by the smallest margin. Again, you don’t think twice about it until that one tread that is slightly off catches your foot and you trip and fall.

Want proof? There was once a viral video of a set of stairs for a subway where one stair was just slightly higher than those around it. The result was that people constantly tripped. The video gained incredible traction in days and the subway exit had to be closed down.

The takeaway is this: Stairs are a hazard, and you can’t always avoid them. You may not see the risk of a slip and fall hazard in advance. If they cause you to trip and fall on someone else’s property, you could suffer serious injuries, and that is when you need to know if you have a right to financial compensation.