What if Poor Lighting or a Broken Handrail Caused My Fall?

Understanding Liability in Stairway Trip and Fall Accidents in New York

Stairways can quickly become dangerous when they are not properly maintained. Poor lighting, broken handrails, loose steps, or missing safety features can turn an everyday task like walking up or down stairs into a serious hazard. Unfortunately, stairway trip and fall accidents often result in painful and sometimes life-changing injuries.

If you fell on a stairway and believe that poor lighting or a broken handrail was to blame, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Property owners in New York have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors, and this includes maintaining stairways and ensuring that safety features like lighting and handrails are in good working order.

At Leandros A. Vrionedes, P.C., we represent individuals who have been injured in stairway accidents in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and throughout New York City. Here’s what you need to know about your legal rights when a defective or poorly maintained stairway causes you to fall. For specific advice and personalized assistance customized to your particular circumstances, contact our office to visit with a skilled and experienced NYC stairway accident lawyer.

New York Property Owners Have a Duty to Maintain Safe Stairways

Under New York premises liability law, property owners, landlords, and businesses are legally responsible for maintaining their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This duty extends to stairways, which must be properly constructed, regularly inspected, and kept free of hazardous conditions.

Some of the most common safety issues that contribute to stairway accidents include:

• Poor or inadequate lighting that makes it hard to see the steps
• Broken, loose, or missing handrails
• Uneven, cracked, or slippery steps
• Debris, obstacles, or worn carpeting on the stairs

When property owners fail to address these hazards and someone is injured as a result, they can often be held legally liable.

Poor Lighting Can Cause Serious Falls

Stairways need to be well-lit so that people can clearly see each step as they walk. Poor lighting is a common contributing factor in trip and fall accidents, especially in apartment buildings, parking garages, stairwells, and commercial properties.

When stairways are too dark or lighting fixtures are burned out or improperly positioned, it increases the risk of missteps and falls. Property owners are responsible for providing adequate, functioning lighting in stairwells and should replace broken bulbs and fix faulty fixtures promptly. If you tripped or lost your footing because you couldn’t see the stairs clearly due to poor lighting, the property owner may be liable for failing to provide a safe environment.

Broken Handrails Are a Serious Safety Hazard

Handrails serve a critical purpose in helping people maintain their balance on stairs and preventing falls. In many instances, NYC building codes require handrails on stairways, particularly when the stairs have more than a certain number of steps or are open on one side.

When handrails are loose or wobbly, positioned at the wrong height, broken or missing altogether, they can fail to provide the necessary support, increasing the chance of a serious fall. If you reached for a handrail that gave way or was missing when you needed it, the property owner could be held responsible for your injuries.

Proving Liability in a Stairway Trip and Fall Case in New York

To hold a property owner liable for a stairway accident, you generally need to show that:

• There was a dangerous condition on the stairway, such as poor lighting or a broken handrail.
• The property owner knew or should have known about the hazard.
• The property owner failed to fix the problem or adequately warn visitors.
• The hazardous condition directly caused your fall and injuries.

For example, if a light bulb had been out for weeks and the property owner ignored complaints about it, or if a handrail had been loose for an extended period, this can help establish that the owner was negligent. In many cases, photos of the stairway, maintenance records, incident reports, and witness statements can be used to support your claim.

Comparative Negligence in New York

Even if you were partially at fault for your fall (perhaps you were in a hurry or not paying full attention), you may still be able to recover compensation. New York follows the rule of comparative negligence, which means your compensation may be reduced in proportion to your share of responsibility, but you are not automatically barred from recovering damages.

For example, if a court finds that you were 20% at fault and the property owner was 80% at fault, you could still recover 80% of your total damages. Be wary if the insurance company pins some of the blame on you for your injury. They might simply be trying to decrease what they have to pay, without evidence to back up their allegation. Having an experienced injury lawyer representing you will help ensure this doesn’t happen.

Types of Compensation You Can Recover

If you were injured in a stairway trip and fall accident caused by poor lighting, a broken handrail, or another unsafe condition, you may be entitled to compensation for “legal damages” such as:

• Medical expenses (current and future)
• Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Out-of-pocket costs related to your injury

The amount of compensation will depend on the severity of your injuries and their impact on your life, but stairway falls can result in substantial claims, especially if serious injuries like broken bones, spinal injuries, or head trauma are involved. Insurance company settlement offers don’t always include the many different ways the injury has affected you, which is another reason to have an experienced personal injury lawyer negotiate on your behalf.

Talk to an Experienced New York Personal Injury Lawyer at Leandros A. Vrionedes, P.C.

Stairway accidents may seem straightforward, but proving liability can quickly become complicated, especially when property owners deny responsibility or try to shift blame to the injured person. At Leandros A. Vrionedes, P.C., we know how to thoroughly investigate stairway trip and fall accidents, preserve key evidence, and build strong cases on behalf of our clients.

If you’ve been hurt in a stairway accident caused by poor lighting, a broken handrail, or another dangerous condition, contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll answer your questions, explain your legal options, and fight for the compensation you deserve.