It may be very much possible that you were clumsy and slipped and fell down a stairway by your own doing. Upon further inspection, though, you may notice certain design flaws or structural damages within the stairway that more than likely prompted your trip and tumble. With this, you may feel more inclined to hold another party responsible besides yourself; most likely a negligent property owner. Without further ado, please follow along to find out the stairway faults that may lead to a slip and fall accident and how a proficient Panama City slip & fall accident attorney at Manuel & Thompson, PA can help you recover from your incurred injuries.

What stairway faults may have led to my slip and fall accident?

Florida’s building codes cover certain safety features that public stairways must possess. So when these codes are violated, passersby may be made more vulnerable to slips and falls.

For example, almost all stairways in Florida require a handrail. More specifically, though, such a handrail must be between 34 to 38 inches above the walking surface. It must also be continuous, with no obstructions or newel posts. Then, it must be easy to grasp, with a circular cross-section with a diameter of 1 1/4 to 2 inches or a noncircular cross-section with a perimeter dimension of 4 to 6 1/4 inches. But even with meeting all these specifications, a handrail may be loosely attached to the wall or adjacent structure. This is also considered property owner negligence that prompts potential slip and fall accidents.

In another example, the spacing between steps on a stairway matters according to Florida’s building codes. That is, the minimum tread depth is 11 inches, the maximum riser height is 7.75 inches, and the minimum stairway width is 36 inches. Again, even with these measurements, steps may get damaged over time. This may be due to water or other weather-related damages, constant foot traffic wearing and tearing treads, and more. Therefore, a property owner’s failure to identify and rectify these damages promptly may increase the risk of slips and falls.

What injuries might I incur from my stairway slip and fall?

When you stumble and start falling down the stairs, your center of gravity may be completely shifted and your central and peripheral visions may be completely thrown off. This may make it all the more difficult to stop falling before it leads to catastrophic injuries. Sadly, you may incur the following injuries after your stairway slip and fall:

  • Broken arms, legs, and/or hips.
  • Ankle and knee sprains and strains.
  • Bruising, cuts, and lacerations to the face.
  • A concussion and/or traumatic brain injury.
  • Herniated discs and/or spinal cord damage.

So if you have any of these injuries, you may have all the more reason to pursue a slip and fall accident claim against the negligent property owner. If you are unsure of the next step, turn to one of the talented Panama City personal injury attorneys for guidance. Our team at Manuel & Thompson, PA will jump in whenever you give us the word.