Dangerous Stairways in California: Injuries Caused by Broken Stairs

San Diego Area Attorney Recovers Damages for Injuries on Defective Stairs

Staircases are important to us on a daily basis - whether on business or private property. We use stairways frequently without ever expecting to encounter broken stairs, irregular steps, loose handrails or other problems that may cause falls due to unexpected slips or trips. When we do, the physical injuries are often severe or devastating because most of the time they are considered to be an "elevated fall injury."

If you, or some one you know, have been injured in a fall because of broken stairs or another stairway defect, you may have a strong premises liability case. Of course, each case is different because different facts are unique to each injury case. You can contact the San Diego CA Law Office of Mark C. Blane for legal counsel that may help you recover significant financial damages against the property owner of the defective stairway, or stairwell.

Broken Stairs, Loose Handrails and Irregular Steps May Be Building Code Violations

The defective condition that causes a stairway fall often is not easily visible or otherwise obvious. This means it is hard to see or not "open and obvious." There are many cases of serious falls and serious injuries happening because a single step is shorter in height than all the others, for example. This can be an example of a "hidden danger." Although one irregular step, a few broken stairs or frayed, slick carpeting on a stairway may not seem overly serious, it may be a California building code violation and it certainly can have devastating consequences. We will research your injury case for these building code violations to see if a claim for liability may exist under it. If so, rest assure we will argue for it in order to make sure the condition gets corrected so no one else will experience the same injury.

Researching & Building Your Injury Case for a Substantial Settlement or Verdict

This is what we do for you. Our job is to maximize your recovery and we use the law and facts to achieve this goal. Applying extensive knowledge of premises liability, our law firm will do everything possible to document the cause and medical impact of your injuries. To prove negligence (legal fault), and help you recover money to pay medical bills, replace lost wages, and deal with pain and suffering or other consequences, you can trust us to:

• Hire and deploy any necessary experts, and collect convincing photographic and other physical evidence
• Locate and obtain witness testimony if available
• Take all necessary steps to show the full current and likely future consequences and costs of your injury
  
  Help you find good medical care if you have no private health insurance
• File a lawsuit on your behalf, if necessary, to achieve justice
• 
  

CALL DEFECTIVE STAIR CASE LAWYER MARK C. BLANE AT (619) 813-7955

Blog for Slip & Fall Accidents in California

• Work Place Slip & Falls by San Diego Premise Liability Lawyer Mark Blane

  Description: However, workplace slip and fall accidents are rarely litigated because of California workers’ compensation protection laws under the California labor code...

• San Diego Slip & Falls at Construction Sites by Attorney Mark C. Blane

  Description: Slip & falls at construction sites account for more than 68,000.00 injury claims each year and at least 100 of them are fatalities. These accidents may involve

• Business Owner's Failure to Inspect for Hazards | Slip & Fall in San Diego

  Description: Cluttered aisles in a California retail store can be a major problem for the owner. I have been to some retail stores and noticed that merchandise tend to get picked up by customers and placed on the floor. One such store is the Ross Dress for Less stores.

• Sweep Logs | Establishing Notice of a Store Owner on a CA Slip & Fall Case

  Description: The law in California has clearly established the business owner's duty to inspect, maintain and make safe the business premises; especially if any hazard or defect is found on the premises. This is to protect the public, patrons, or customers from any potential slip and fall accidents.

• Three Ingredients to a San Diego Slip and Fall Injury: Shoes, Floor & Person

  Description: Whenever you are dealing with a California slip and fall injury accident, you always have the same three ingredients: the victim's shoes, the floor, and the person (slip and fall victim). The injured person needs to be able to narrow down the causes or issues of the accident in concise terms.

• Supermarket or Retail Store Duty in a San Diego Slip and Fall Case

  Description: The supermarket or retail store has a duty to maintain its premises in a such a manner that it does not create an unreasonable risk of harm to the patrons or customers. It must, under California law, exercise ordinary due care under the circumstances of the slip and fall to minimize the commonly occurring slipping hazards (which caused the fall in the first place!).

• The Notice Element in a San Diego Slip and Fall Injury Case | What to Know

  Description: The Notice evidentiary element is by far the most critical element in a San Diego slip and fall injury case that needs to be established as soon as possible in a case. Without the crucial notice evidence, there is very little hope of success for a slip and fall victim.

• Absence of a Hazard in a California Slip & Fall Injury Case | San Diego Firm

  Description: On occasion, a California slip and fall accident and injury can occur when there is no obvious hazard; the floor is dry and clean, free of any dangerous debris. Usually, slip and fall victims of this type of injury fall allege the floor was so dangerous due to it being over polished and shiny.

• Control of the Premises in a Slip and Fall Injury Case | San Diego Injury Firm

  Description: Since duty in a slip and fall negligence case attaches to the management of the property where the slip and fall occurred, an issue will arise as to the control of the premises. A landlord may have control over the common areas of an apartment complex, but not over the interior of individual dwelling units. In the same context, the tenant of an apartment building will not have control over the common areas of the apartment building. Thus, in the analysis of a San Diego slip and fall case, it is necessary to decide whether the at fault party had or should have had control over that portion of the premises where the slip and fall accident happened. That is the question of the entire injury case.

• Duty of Ordinary Care in a Slip and Fall Injury Case | San Diego Injury Law Firm

  Description: Most jurisdictions require that the landowner use the level of care of an ordinarily prudent adult to prevent an unreasonable risk of harm. Under this legal rule, the custom and practice of industry is often used to establish ordinary care. As an example, abrasive admixtures added to exterior paint on walkway surfaces is ordinarily used in apartment complexes to reduce the risk of injury on wet walkway surfaces.

• Hazards & Debris on Floors & Sweep Logs | San Diego Slip & Fall Accidents

  Description: FREE books by San Diego Slip and Fall Law Firm: The basis of California slip and fall law stems from proving a property owner breached a duty owed to the injured slip and fall victim. Injured parties used to be faced with frightful burden of proving both breach of duty and notice. Over time, the courts have eased the injured parties' burden in regards to this burden (rightfully so too in my opinion). A 1954 California case called Hale v. Safeway Stores held that frequent inspection of the sales areas in markets was necessary and that 12-15 minutes between inspections would not be unreasonable.

• The California Slip and Fall Victim | San Diego Trip and Fall Law Firm

  Description: San Diego Slip and Fall Victim: The plaintiff's attorney for a California slip and fall victim must effectively present the victim of the slip and fall accident, who is quite frequently the only witness to the incident. (Interestingly, with the advent of technology, more and more of my clients are able to use their cell phone camera modes to video tape what happens after a slip and fall including witnesses). Remember, only the victim can best describe the conditions of the walkway surface and those events occurring immediately before the slip and fall accident. To succeed at a slip and fall trial, the credibility of the victim is extremely important.

• The Hazard that Causes a Slip and Fall | Causal Link | San Diego Injury Firm

  Description: Identifying the Hazardous Condition: In most California slip and fall cases, some physical feature or condition is a major contributing factor in the injure party's fall. The hazard may be as simple as water on the floor of a supermarket or as complex as a subtle variation in the riser height of a step in a stairway. In each case, something caused the injured person to fall down.

• Comparative Fault in a California Slip and Fall Case | San Diego Injury Lawyer

  Description: California is a comparative fault state. This fancy word means that the citizens of California are held legally responsible in court only for their share, or their portion, of an injury to another. More specifically, a property owner may not be 100% at fault for a slip and fall; they can be apportioned a degree of fault, if facts exist to support it; for example instead of 100% fault, they can be say 75% at fault, and the injured party 25% at fault. Thus, if the value of an injury from a slip and fall were $100,000.00 then that value is deducted by 25% or $25,000.00, and the value award to the injured party would be $75,000.00.

• Reasonableness in your California Slip or Trip and Fall Accident Injury Case

  Description: The legal term "reasonableness" and your California premise liability case can often times be confusing to some injury clients. When you set about to show that a property owner is liable for the injuries you sustained in your California slip and fall accident, you will most likely have to show, at some point, the reasonableness of the property owner's actions that led to the injury in the first place. In order to help you with this situation, here are some questions that you should be able to answer before starting a case with a lawyer in California:

• Proving Fault in a Slip and Fall Accident
• San Diego Slip and Fall Attorney, Trip and Fall Lawyer
• Information You Need In Order to Prove Your Case in a Court of Law
• Vital Information You Need
• Helpful Hints Regarding Slip and Fall Injuries – From San Diego Trip and Fall Lawyer

Library for Defective Staircase Injuries:

• Falls on Stairs & Lighting Issues with Slip & Fall Injuries
  Description: A staircase or stairwell must be well-lighted and it should have sturdy handrails on each side; and the handrails must be of a safe height for the average pers
• Dangers with Stairs - Inside Flooring conditions with a Slip and Fall Accident/Case - Stairs "Take a Beating" over Long-term Usage
  Description: San Diego County Slip and Fall injury Law Firm: Stairs are often made of materials that become worn with continued use. People tend to use stairs everyday and they can take a beating over long term use. Stair edges can become rounded and may cause people to slip, or even trip, when they step on them. Under California law, a property owner will be liable for a slip and fall accident occurring on stairs when the property owner knew of the dangerous condition, or the condition existed for sufficient time that the owner should have known about it. If the owner knew (actual notice) or should have known (constructive notice) about a stairway condition, liability may arise when:

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Frequent Questions for Slip & Fall Accidents in California:

• SWEEP LOGS:  What is a sweep log in regards to a California slip and fall, or trip and fall injury case?
• PARKING LOT SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENTS:  If I fall in a San Diego County parking lot, can I have a case for personal injuries?
• BUSINESS PROPERTY TRIP AND FALL ACCIDENT:  If I trip and fall on the sidewalk outside of a business in San Diego, California, and I injury myself, can I sue the business for my personal injuries?
• TRESPASSER INJURIES:  Would I be legally responsible if a trespasser were injured (premise liability) on my San Diego county property?  I am talking about a slip or trip and fall injury, or any injury for that matter?
• ATTORNEY FEES:  What kind of legal fees should I expect in a San Diego California slip and fall accident case?
• SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENT IN A HOME:  What if someone gets injured while at the home of a San Diego neighbor who invited the injured person there for a party or get-together?
• SLIP AND FALL LEGAL LIABILITY:  If I get injured because I slipped and fell in a San Diego, California area store, either a department store, mall or a convenience store, can I have a lawsuit and receive compensation from that store or mall?
• PROPERTY OWNER DUTY:  Under California law, what duty(s) do property owners in California have in regarding snow or ice in regards to a trip and fall or slip and fall (or any injury accident)?
• LEGAL STANDARD OF CARE:  What does California law mean when it says a property owner "should have known" about a dangerous condition existing on his or her property?
• LEGAL NOTICE:  What if someone warned an employee of a store about a spill prior to a slip and fall happening? Is that fact important in proving a slip and fall case caused by the spill?
• RULES OF EVIDENCE:  Can the evidence of an owner of a building who violates the San Diego or California building code ever be used as evidence in a slip and fall injury or premise liability case?
• POTENTIAL DEFENDANTS:  Who are all potential parties in a California slip and fall lawsuit?
• SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENT:  What are some causes of Slip and Falls that you see in your California Injury Practice?
• BROKEN BONE INJURIES:  Are bone fractures common in a California Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall Injury Case?
• SLIP AND FALL LIABILITY:  I fell at an apartment complex that had a broken staircase and injured my spine.  Since this slip and fall accident, I have not been able to work and I have medical bills coming in - who is legally responsible for this accident and injury?
• LANDLORD'S PROPERTY:  If I injured myself in a California slip and fall, on my landlord's property, what should I know to do? What if my landlord will get mad and retaliate against me because of what happened?
• SLIP AND FALL LEGAL ACTION:  When you say "slip and fall" lawsuit, what do you mean?
• SETTLEMENT OFFER:  My cousin Larry slipped on some slippery substance at the Vons in Chula Vista, California.  He went to his doctor who found a spiral fracture in his leg and he had to take four weeks off from work and he may now need surgery.  A claims adjuster from Vons offered him $2,500.00 in the form of a check.  Should he accept the check or should he hire a Chula Vista Slip and Fall lawyer?
• STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS:  How long do I have to file a lawsuit for my California Slip and Fall injury case?
• LANDLORD'S PROPERTY:  If I am on my landlord's property in California, and I slip and fall, what, if anything, should I do?

Case Results for Slip & Fall Accidents in California:

• Slip and Fall on Ultra Slick Surface in San Diego California Causes Injuries

Awarded: $72,850.00

• San Diego California Lady Injured in Slip and Fall Accident Inside a Store

Awarded: $58,000.00

• San Diego California Slip and Fall at a Local Albertsons Gets Settled Successfully

Awarded: $88,500.00

• San Diego California Trip and Fall at a Walmart Parking Lot | Law Offices

Awarded: $69,000.00

• Slip & Fall injury @ Disney Store at the San Ysidro Outlets | San Diego, CA

Awarded: $50,000.00

• Slip & Fall Injury at Store During the Busy San Diego Holiday Season

Awarded: $22,500.00

• San Diego College Student Re-injures Left Knee in a Slip and Fall

Awarded: $25,000.00

• 92 Year-Old San Diego Woman Slips on an Unseen Leak at Grocery Store

Awarded: $33,000.00

• Slip and Fall Injury in San Diego Mall Parking Lot: Failure to Warn

Awarded: $44,000.00

• San Diego Slip and Fall at a Convenience Store/Surgery Case

Awarded: $74,510.51

Videos about Slip & Fall Accidents in California:

• The ULTIMATE California Slip & Fall Legal Survival Book
• Learn the Steps of Establishing Liability in a CA Slip and Fall Case by San Diego Trip and Fall Attorney Mark C. Blane
• San Diego Slip and Fall Lawyer Mark C. Blane Explains California Premise Liability Law & Property Owner Responsibility

Web Resources for Slip & Fall Accidents in California:

• FAQ's for California Slip and Fall Accidents

  Description:

  Have legal questions about California Slip and Fall Accidents?  Visit my FAQ Section to find answers to a huge library of different legal questions in this area of the law.

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More Legal Questions About San Diego California Slip and Fall Accidents?

Do you have more legal questions about San Diego slip and fall or premise liability accident cases?  Return to the Slip and Fall Accidents in California Frequently Asked Legal Questions page. 

The Law Offices of Mark C. Blane, APC

GOLDEN EAGLE PLAZA

525 B Street, 15th Floor

Toll Free:  (888) 845-6269

Direct:  (619) 813-7955

    The San Diego California Slip and Fall Accident Attorney that offers FREE Slip & Fall Injury Books to anyone BEFORE they speak to a Lawyer, a Claims Adjuster, or have to sign any Legal Forms; also we represent clients across Southern California including the following areas: 

Alpine, Bonita, Camp Pendleton, Cardiff by the Sea, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, Downtown San Diego, El Cajon, El Centro, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, Julian, La Jolla, Lakeside, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Ocean Beach, Oceanside, Pacific Beach, Poway, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo,San Marcos, Santee, Rancho Bernardo, Ramona, San Diego, Solana Beach, Spring Valley, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, San Ysidro, Julian,Lakeside, Vista and all other areas in San Diego County. We also proudly serve the following Southern California areas of: Imperial,Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Kern Counties.

Mark Carleton Blane

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The Law Offices of Mark C. Blane, APC
Golden Eagle Plaza
525 B Street, 15th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-813-7955
Fax: 619-946-7835
Toll Free: 888-845-6269
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