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Missing or Broken Handrails
Faulty Railing Accident Attorneys
Missing or Broken Handrail Cases in New York City
A missing or broken handrail on a stairway or any walkway can spell disaster. While holding onto a faulty handrail, a person can easily lose his or her footing and fall. Or, while trying to prevent a fall, a person may reach out for a handrail that isn’t there. These and other accidents can cause serious and even life-threatening injuries that have a profound impact on victims and their families.
When it comes to accidents caused by defective railings, the law firm of Silbowitz, Garafola, Silbowitz, Schatz & Frederick, L.L.P. is committed to helping victims seek the answers and compensation they deserve. Our NYC slip and fall accident lawyers can investigate the circumstances leading up to the incident and its location to see who is liable and how to prove fault. With over 35 years of handling New York personal injury cases, our attorneys have the resources and manpower to meticulously review every piece of evidence in order to build compelling, clear, and successful cases for our clients.
To discuss the circumstances surrounding your accident and to learn more about your legal options, call (800) 498-2782 for a free consultation.
What is a Railing Accident?
A railing accident occurs when there is faulty, defective railing, or otherwise a lack of railing altogether, and someone is injured as a result. Typically, railing accidents are attributed to stairwells and elevated walkways, but can also include defective or missing balcony railings. The purpose of handrails on stairways and other elevated surfaces is to prevent accidental falls from occurring. As you can imagine, if a property owner fails to provide proper safety railings, an innocent victim could experience a slip and fall accident leading to severe injuries.
Whether you or a loved one has sustained injuries from a balcony accident, staircase accident, or any other type of accident due to defective railing, our NYC personal injury attorneys at Silbowitz, Garafola, Silbowitz, Schatz & Frederick, L.L.P. can help you recover compensation from the responsible party.
Potential Causes of Railing Accidents
Many victims are quick to chalk up their slip and fall accident to their own clumsiness, and while that may be the case sometimes, there is actually a strong likelihood that someone else’s negligence is to blame for the accident. Property owners have a legal responsibility to reduce all possibilities of a foreseeable hazard. A lack of handrails or handrails that are in a dangerous condition is certainly a foreseeable hazard, and as such, the responsible property or building owner may be held liable for any injuries that occur because of it.
Some of the most common causes of railing accidents include:
- Missing Railing: Whether the railing fell off, was removed, or was never there in the first place, property owners may be held legally responsible if missing railing on their property caused another individual to fall and sustain injuries.
- Improper Maintenance or Inspection: Building owners must ensure their property receives regular maintenance and inspections to avoid accidents on their premises. Improper or irregular maintenance and/or inspections can result in broken, missing, or loose railing.
- Defective Design: Failure to create safe and effective railings can result in tragic accidents and injuries. For example, failing to appropriately space the rungs on a balcony railing might lead to a small child falling through.
Code Violation: Strict standards are put in place for railings on stairs and balconies when they are constructed. Failing to adhere to these standards can lead to railing failure and make way for a premises liability lawsuit.
Injuries Caused by Defective or Missing Handrails
Slips and falls can lead to potentially devastating injuries. In fact, according to the National Safety Council (NSC.org), over 800 people died in slip and fall accidents in 2020, and over 200,000 people were severely injured. Stairway falls and falls from heights tend to cause the most serious injuries, which makes railing accidents all the more terrifying.
Some of the more common injuries that result from broken or missing handrails include:
- Traumatic brain injuries. When railing fails, a person may hit their head on the stairs or otherwise land headfirst against the solid ground. As such, head and traumatic brain injuries are not uncommon in these types of accidents. These serious injuries can lead to a lifetime of impairment for the victim.
- Spinal cord injuries. The same goes for spinal cord injuries. If a person falls and lands too hard on their neck or back, they could cause significant damage to their vertebrae and potentially experience catastrophic injuries like paralysis.
- Broken bones. Broken bones and injuries such as knee, shoulder, or hip fractures may result from a railing accident. The elderly are especially vulnerable to these types of injuries.
- Serious sprains and strains. Sprains and strains, as well as other soft tissue injuries like contusions (bruises), typically follow a defective railing accident.
- Internal bleeding. Sometimes, an injury victim may fall directly into hard objects and/or objects with sharp edges and receive severe organ damage leading to internal bleeding.
These serious injuries can result in the need for extensive medical treatment and often require surgery, which may lead to a lifetime of medical debt, permanent disability, or even wrongful death. Anyone that suffers an injury due to a fall in New York should seek immediate medical attention and hire legal representation as soon as possible. Having a lawyer work on your behalf to gather evidence and represent you in court will ensure all of your legal rights are protected.
For a free consultation to discuss your case, call the New York personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Silbowitz, Garafola, Silbowitz, Schatz & Frederick, L.L.P. today.
New York City Building Codes & Premises Liability Claims
Building codes and the principle of property owner liability for maintaining safe premises will influence the validity and value of a case involving a broken or missing handrail. Whether your accident occurred at a commercial, residential, or even government-owned property, our New York City injury attorneys can take the necessary steps to seek justice on your behalf. We will thoroughly investigate the details of your claim and check for any code violations. If violations are apparent, our dedicated law firm will ensure that all property owners and/or building owners that failed to uphold NYC building codes will be held responsible and that you obtain monetary compensation for any injuries that resulted from their negligence.
Filing a Landlord Negligence Claim
As a renter, you should feel reasonably safe in your home, apartment, or other space and have confidence that it is properly maintained and free from unexpected hazards. If you notice an issue and file a maintenance request, it should be completed in a timely manner so as to avoid potential danger. Failure to do so may lead to injuries and thus, allow you to file a personal injury claim against the negligent property owner.
If you have been injured due to the failure of your landlord to follow building codes in New York City, we encourage you to file a premises liability lawsuit at once. Our experienced premises liability attorneys will work with you to build a strong case and help you obtain financial compensation for any injuries you sustained.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Defective Railing Case
Handling a personal injury lawsuit on your own, let alone one involving premises liability, can be extremely difficult without an extensive background in New York personal injury law. Our injury attorneys are familiar with the nuances of the New York legal system and know what it takes to successfully pursue a personal injury claim. Once an attorney-client relationship is established, we will handle all communications with the insurance company and negotiate for a fair settlement. If a settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to take your case to trial and fight for your right to financial compensation there.
Our NYC personal injury lawyers will work to obtain both economic and non-economic damages that may be attributed to you or your loved one’s injuries. This includes:
- Medical care, including past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- And more
For a free confidential consultation with a distinguished personal injury lawyer from our firm, call (800) 498-2782 today.
Obtain the Legal Services of Silbowitz, Garafola, Silbowitz & Schatz, LLP for Help With Your Premises Liability Case
Injuries suffered from things like faulty handrails or loose railing should not fall on the victim themselves. Often, these injuries are preventable, and property owners are required to take the necessary measures to ensure their tenants’ and visitors’ safety and overall well-being. If you or a loved one was injured due to missing, broken, or otherwise defective handrails, our New York premises liability attorneys at Silbowitz, Garafola, Silbowitz, Schatz & Frederick, L.L.P. want to make sure the appropriate parties are held liable and you are compensated for any losses you may have experienced due to their negligence.
Contact our NYC injury law firm today for a free case evaluation to discuss your case by calling (800) 498-2782 or completing our online intake form. Remember – we offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, so we don’t get paid unless you do!
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