Defective Steps

Dedicated South Carolina premises liability attorneys with impressive experience guiding claims involving defective steps toward beneficial resolutions.

When you head out to embrace your day, the last thing you expect is to be injured in the process of going up or down a step, but accidents on defective steps are far more common and far more dangerous than you probably realize. Because obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled is essential to your ability to recover fully, working closely with an experienced South Carolina premises liability attorney is well-advised.

Taking the Stairs

Going up or down a step or two seems like no big deal – after all, we’ve been doing this for a while now – but it actually requires carefully calibrated balance and physical effort that we generally take for granted because, at this point, it comes naturally to us. When the steps you’re taking are defective in some way, however, it can throw off all that coordinated balance and can leave you exceptionally vulnerable to a fall and subsequent injuries.

Kinds of Defect

You may think that steps are steps, and that is the end of that, but just like anything else, there is considerable variance in the steps found at different businesses, and they can be defective in any number of dangerous ways.

Defective Design

Some steps are faulty by design. Often, this means lacking the necessary safety handrails; being either too steep, too shallow, or too small for patrons to navigate normally; being constructed of dangerously slippery material (such as glossy marble), or anything else that causes the steps to be inherently dangerous.

Inadequate Maintenance

Sometimes, steps are based on a solid design, but they have been neglected in turns of maintenance. For example, if the steps are outside and wet, falling leaves are allowed to pile up on them (without being cleared in a timely manner), which can lead to dangerous accidents. Additionally, the steps themselves can begin to physically deteriorate, including problems like crumbling cement, dangerously worn floor coverings, and much more.

Inadequate Lighting

When steps are dimly lit, it makes it more difficult to see where you’re going and makes slipping and falling a far greater possibility. Poor lighting can also exacerbate the effects of other defects.

Inadequate Warning

When there are safety concerns with steps that property owners or managers know about – or should know about – and can’t rectify right away, they are responsible for adequately warning their guests. When they fail to do so, dangerous accidents are often the result.

Duty of Care

When you go to a restaurant, grocery store, department store, or business of any kind, the business owner or manager owes you a duty of care that includes keeping the premises, such as the steps you use, in reasonable repair. This translates to the standard that other property owners employ in similar situations. When negligence on the part of a property owner renders steps on the premises dangerously defective, and an injury-causing accident ensues, it can lead to a premises liability claim.

Common Injuries

Falling off of a defective step can lead to very serious accidents that are closely associated with very serious injuries, including:

• • Broken Bones  – A broken bone is an injury that is slow to heal; extremely painful; and if the break is serious, closely associated with complications.
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries – A traumatic brain injury (TBI), because it affects the brain, is a serious injury that is as unpredictable as it can be physically and psychologically damaging.
• Spinal Cord Injuries – Spinal cord injuries can range from relatively mild to catastrophic, but even the mildest injuries can lead to chronic pain and a serious reduction in range of motion.

Your Damages

The damages you suffer as a result of falling on defective steps can leave you at a serious financial, physical, and emotional loss.

Your Medical Expenses

Your medical costs alone can be overwhelming, including:

• Emergency care and transportation
• Surgical care and follow-up care
• Treatment and care from doctors, specialists, and medical professionals
• Physical therapy
• Pain management
• Rehabilitation
• Prescription medications

It’s important to recognize that serious injuries frequently require ongoing care, and they are more likely to involve secondary health concerns. This means that your total medical expenses could be far higher than you originally anticipated.

Your Lost Income

You’re very likely to be off the job and to experience lost income while you heal from your physical injuries. If your ability to do your job is affected, you could be looking at even more serious financial losses, such as a decreased earning potential and an altered career trajectory.

Your Pain and Suffering

The pain and suffering you experience as a result of slipping and falling on defective steps can be debilitating in and of itself. The associated physical pain is readily apparent, but there can also be serious emotional consequences to consider. Common effects can include:

• Increased anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Sleep disturbances, including nightmares
• Depressive episodes
• A tendency to self-isolate and push others away
• Emotional lability
• Severe mood swings
• Excessive irritability

The pain and suffering associated with being injured by defective steps can be one of the most challenging obstacles to master.

An Experienced South Carolina Premises Liability Attorney Can Help

Suppose you’ve been injured in an accident that was caused by defective steps. In that case, you are very likely facing considerable damages that you need to effectively and efficiently address in order to reach your optimal health outcome. The trusted premises liability attorneys at David Aylor Law Offices in South Carolina are on your side and well prepared to help. Our dedicated legal team recognizes the seriousness of your legal dilemma, and we have the experience and legal insight to help guide your claim toward its most favorable resolution. For more information about what we can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 843-548-1574 to schedule a free case evaluation today.