When determining who is at fault after an accident happens on a stairway there are many facts to consider. In an article by attorney Joseph Matthews titled “Stair Accidents: Proving Fault” he lists the basics. To be legally responsible for injuries you suffered on someone else’s property one of the following must be true of the owner:

• The owner of the premises or an employee caused a spill, worn/torn spot or other slippery or dangerous surface or item, to be underfoot.
• The owner or an employee knew of the dangerous surface but did nothing to correct it.
• The owner or an employee should have known of the dangerous surface because of common sense. A “reasonable” person would have discovered, removed or repaired it.
• In addition, in almost every slip or trip and fall case, the insurance company or court will consider whether your carelessness contributed to the accident.

I believe that almost every stair accident can be prevented by installing non slip stairs. Non slip stairs can be implemented into any application whether it is by installing slip resistant nosings or non slip stair treads. The anti slip nature of stair treads or nosing will stop many types of falls including those caused from a wet surface to clumsy footing. The grip from non slip stairs can even help a person to regain their balance. While non slip stairs may seem like common sense, often time’s owners take their chances when it comes to lawsuits. The initial cost of upgrading stairs may seem too high until faced with an accident. It is proven that the cost of safety is nothing compared to the cost of a lawsuit. To take the guess work out of a lawsuit the best choice in preventing accidents is installing non slip stairs.

Mathews, Joseph. “Stair Accidents: Proving Fault”. NOLO. 2009.

Filed under: Workplace Safety by Beth Faraci