Making Sense of a Stairwell Accident in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
The majority of us utilize stairwells daily, and no one expects they will sustain an injury by simply taking a flight of stairs. Unfortunately, accidents can occur anywhere and can seriously impact an individual’s life physically, emotionally, and financially. This makes it critical to contact a personal injury attorney immediately after a stairwell accident.
While some stairwell injuries can be an individual’s own fault due to carelessness or rushing, other accidents are caused by the negligence of a property owner. This negligence is the failure of a property owner to maintain their stairwells and ensure a safe environment. Examples of negligence include a stairwell having insufficient lighting, broken railings, damaged steps, and more.
At Spear Greenfield, our initial consultation is free. We’ll use this meeting to discuss your case and the legal options available to you. Even though the consultation is complimentary, it carries no pressure or obligations, so there is nothing to lose. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 1-800-90-LEGAL or use the online form by clicking the link below.
Going Over Potential Legal Actions After an Apartment Accident
People who are injured in a stairwell due to the negligence of a property owner may want to hold the negligent party liable by pursuing legal action. In order for that case to be successful, it must be proven that the owner’s negligence caused the accident. The injured party must also show that the property owner knew or should have reasonably known about the staircase hazard and failed to fix it. This can be accomplished with evidence such as pictures of the hazard, video of the scene, a police report of the incident, medical documentation of the injuries, and any witness statements.
This legal process can be challenging and meticulous, so seeking a personal injury attorney’s guidance may be prudent. Spear Greenfield attorneys have a combined 200 years of experience in handling personal injury claims. We help our clients navigate the process with information, skill, and compassion.
You can learn more about the first steps by reading the sections below.
Types of Damages You May Get After a Stairwell Accident
Injuries occurring in stairwell accidents can cross the bridge from mild to serious. They can also cause damage beyond the physical and put emotional and financial burdens on victims.
The kinds of damages you can claim after a stairwell accident are financial and noneconomic. Financial damages are those you can assign a value to, while noneconomic ones are more challenging to quantify.
Examples of financial damages include:
- Pay you’ve lost and may continue to lose due to missed work.
- Treatment and medication costs for your injuries.
- Personal property damage arising from your accident.
Noneconomic damages are those like:
- Emotional stress.
- Loss of joy in living.
- Pain and suffering.
Any time you experience a slip and fall accident, you have many things to consider beyond damages. You can read more about them by following the link below.
Determining Liability and Evidence Collection Following an Accident
As mentioned above, the legal process surrounding a stairwell accident requires proof that another party’s negligence caused your injury. In most cases, proof is the most useful way to demonstrate negligence. Some key types of evidence you’ll need include:
Visual evidence like videos
Police report
Surveillance footage
Contact information from witnesses that saw the accident.
Pictures of the unsafe conditions that led to an accident
Because evidence is essential, you should take the following steps to help document your claim:
- Call the police, especially in more serious accidents, because they can help maintain a safe environment and properly document the accident.
- Take pictures of the accident scene and unsafe conditions if you are able.
- Ask anyone who witnessed the accident for their contact information.
A stairwell accident lawyer can efficiently gather and present all additional evidence needed to satisfy the burden of proof. Your personal injury claim will be successful by proving the following point… A property owner knew or should have reasonably known about a stairwell’s unsafe conditions and failed to fix the hazard that caused your injuries. Proving that is easier said than done, so to learn more about why to involve a lawyer in your stairwell accident claim, follow the link below.
Identifying Medical Damages From a Slip and Fall
The most immediate financial damages incurred from slip and fall accidents are from medical expenses. To document and identify all injuries caused by the accident, it’s vital to see a doctor or medical professional following a stairwell accident. These types of accidents can generate numerous injuries, such as:
Soft tissue Injuries, like sprains and bruises
Injuries to the brain or head
Scrapes and cuts
Broken bones
Injuries to the spine or spinal cord
At Spear Greenfield, we understand the frustration that accompanies serious medical injuries, which makes us dedicated to help you earn the maximum compensation for a slip and fall accident! Our attorneys are comfortable guiding a case from first consultation all the way to a settlement or trial. If you have questions related to partnering with a law firm or expectations of working with a Spear Greenfield personal injury attorney, please click on the link below for more information.
Why Spear Greenfield Should Be Your First Choice
Coping with the aftermath of a personal injury accident can be challenging. The claims process can make it even more so, which is why you need an attorney to protect your rights. Spear Greenfield should be your first choice for a stairwell accident law firm because:
- We know the process: Personal injury cases require timely filing and attention to detail to succeed. The entire staff at Spear Greenfield is familiar with handling the creation and documentation of a factual claim.
- We devote the resources: No claim is too big or small for Spear Greenfield. We dedicate our firm’s time, attention, and help to every case we file.
- We go the distance: Our attorneys never pressure clients to accept low settlements to avoid litigation. We fight to get the most compensation for our clients and regularly present cases before the court to reach that goal.
- We have the experience: The skilled team at Spear Greenfield boasts a collective experience spanning over 200 years. We’ve turned that into a 30-year history of results and more than half a billion in client awards.
- We earn respect: Other area attorneys and insurance companies know our name and our approach to protecting client rights. As a result, you get lawyers with the reputation of putting client interests first.
To find out more about why people throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey partner with us, click on the following link.
Types of Vehicle Accident Compensation
All accident victims have the right to compensation for the hardships related to their injuries. However, without counsel, few people realize the types of payments a judge might award. Here are the primary examples:
- Medical bills: These include costs for future and past medical bills. Rehabilitation charges, office visits, surgeries, treatment and disability costs are some of the damages a victim can recover.
- Lost wages: A vehicle accident can cause a victim to miss time at work. These absences can directly impact a victim’s ability to earn a living and pay living expenses. Any settlement or judgment should reimburse lost wages.
- Loss of future earnings: When injuries result in long-term damage or a disability, an accident victim may not have the capability to work in their chosen field. In this case, a victim can request payment for lost future earnings.
- Property damage: Vehicle accidents often cause considerable property damage. These losses can include damage to a vehicle and other personal belongings in the vehicle like laptops, cell phones, car seats or other accessories. If a crash results in a complete loss, sometimes the total value of the vehicle is recoverable.
- Pain and suffering: This is a type of noneconomic damage a victim can seek. This type of compensation covers more difficult losses to quantify, including pain, suffering and emotional distress.
- Punitive damages: A judge can sometimes order punitive damages. This type of compensation is rare, as they seek to punish the negligent driver for their actions.
