It is natural for anyone to reach for the support of a handrail when navigating up or down a staircase. And nobody could reasonably anticipate a dangerous step on a staircase that is otherwise seemingly safe to the naked eye. Nonetheless, you may have a complete out-of-body experience when you slip, trip, and fall on stairs. With that, please continue reading to learn what happens if you fall due to broken stairs or handrails and how an experienced Morris County, New Jersey slip and fall lawyer at Macri Law Firm can help you overcome the uphill battle after this terrible accident.
What is the code for stairs and handrails on a property?
Per New Jersey’s residential property codes, interior and exterior stairways with four or more steps must have a continuous handrail between 30 and 38 inches above the edge of the step. In addition, an individual must be able to easily grasp the handrail, which should be securely fastened to a wall or post, all while having enough clearance to make their way up or down the steps.
The same codes are set for commercial properties. What’s more, though, for enclosed stairways that are less than 44 inches wide, there must be at least one handrail. For those between 44 and 88 inches, two handrails. And for 88 inches or wider, handrails on both sides and one in the center. As for steps, they must be spaced out between four and seven inches. Further, they must be a uniform distance apart and not have a variation beyond 0.375 inches.
What happens if I fall due to broken stairs or handrails?
After your slip, trip, and fall on a staircase, you may realize that the stairs or handrails were noncompliant with New Jersey’s residential or commercial building codes. Or, you may be certain that a broken step, loose handrail, or other negligently maintained staircase component ultimately prompted your fall. Under any of these circumstances, you may be well within your rights to sue a property owner in a slip and fall accident claim.
In your legal claim, you must argue that there was no fair way you could have identified and avoided the dangerous condition that caused your accident. For example, as a mere visitor or passerby, it is unreasonable to assume that you could eyeball the distance between steps and conclude that they lie too far apart. Or, if a handrail would slip or move when you applied slight pressure, when it seemed to sit flush against a wall or post.
On the flip side, you must assert that the property owner had a duty to routinely inspect every fixture on their premises, including their interior and exterior staircases. And with that, they should have known about their broken stairs or handrails and repaired them promptly. Or, at the very least, they should have blocked them from public access until they were able to get the right tools, personnel, etc., to fix them.
If you need help preparing for this upcoming immigration case, turn to a skilled Parsippany, New Jersey personal injury lawyer. We at Macri Law Firm have gone through this countless times before, and we are ready to go through it again to support you.