What You Need to Know If You Fall on Stairs in Glendale

A slip down the stairs can lead to more than slight back pain or a twisted ankle.
There are cases of people ending up with fractured legs, flipping head over heels, and head injuries by falling on stairs.
Unfortunately, not everyone knows their rights if injured after a fall on the stairs. As a result, they end up escalating medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
A Glendale personal injury attorney can help you get your compensation.

Common Causes for Stair Falls

There are so many causes for a stair fall like:

Accumulated snow or ice
Slippery stairs because of spilled liquids
Clutter near stairs
Uneven stairs
No handrails or handrails not having power grips
Projecting nosing on each step

Your lawyer will examine the stairway for building code violations like poor lighting, loose flooring material, and lose handrails. In addition, you can file a lawsuit to seek compensation for your injuries if you fall on someone else’s property staircase with violations.

Common Stair Fall Injuries

Broken bones, especially hip bones, most commonly occur after falling down the stairs. Other possible serious injuries include:

Joint or spinal cord damage
Brain injuries
Sprains and strains
Damaged internal organs
Deep lacerations

Signs That Your Injury Is Serious

While not all stair fall injuries are severe, you know you need immediate medical attention if there’s:

Loss of consciousness
Severe bleeding lasting more than 15 minutes
Severe headache, drowsiness, confusion, nausea, or vomiting
Difficulty walking or speaking
Severe bruising displaced bones, numbness, or feeling unnecessarily warm or cold

When You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Glendale

Of course, you can always file for compensation without a law firm.
However, it’s not easy proving your case without the right resources.
Your attorney knows what should be done to file a claim, which includes:

Filing relevant documents
Questioning defendant
Having consultations with credible experts
Taking depositions

So it’s better to hire a lawyer if:

You suffer from injuries like a broken bone or head injuries that take time to heal
The staircase you fell on was dimly lit, in need of repairs, and had no handrail or no-slip strips
In addition to medical care and medication, you have to pay for therapy and other expenses to treat your injury
It’s been less than two years since the injury date

The property’s insurance company usually offers a quick settlement which generally won’t cover the total cost of injuries. Your lawyer will decide if the settlement amount is fair or not. If not, they will even send a letter to the insurer letting them know you are seriously taking your claim.

Who Is Responsible for a Stair Fall or Injury?

The owner, manager, or any other responsible person has to keep stairways well maintained. It’s their fault if you fall on poorly maintained stairs, and they:

Knew or should have known that the stairway was in a dangerous condition
Did not fix it
Did not warn people about using it

Insurance companies and property owners will assume that you were careless and that you were at fault. However, your Glendale personal injury attorney will help you claim you rightfully deserved compensation if the owner was at fault.

How Much Compensation You May Receive

Various factors determine how much you can claim for injuries sustained through a slip on the stairs. They are:

Total medical bills
Lost wages and future lost income
If you were partly at fault
How severe the injury is and how long you take to recover
Cost of any future anticipated medical treatment
Extent of disability

Act Quickly

You must work quickly if you fall from the stairs.
Get yourself assessed because sometimes you don’t realize the seriousness until years later. The California statute of limitations for slips and fall injuries is just two years.
So it’s better to act as soon as possible.
Your Glendale personal injury attorney will guide you through the process while you heal. In addition, they will help recover settlements to compensate for all your current and future expenses, pain, and suffering.