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Injured on a stairwell? You may have a KC personal injury claim. Learn more.

Over 8 million people a year are treated by doctors for injuries caused by slips, trips and falls. In fact, falls are the leading cause of nonfatal unintentional injuries that are treated in hospital emergency rooms. Many of these falls occur on stairways.

There are many factors that can contribute to stairway falls. Long pants and high heels may cause a person to fall. A person may fall because he is hurrying and not paying attention. However, the majority of stairway falls are not the fault of the victim. Stairway falls are often caused by poor step design, low visibility, inadequate lighting, unsafe stair rails and handrails, and poor maintenance.

Step Design

• All steps in a stairway should be about the same size. Most building codes require that there be no more than 3/8 of an inch difference in the heights of the shortest and tallest riser in a stairway.

• Risers should be between four and seven inches tall.

• Minimum tread depth should be eleven inches.

• Tread surfaces (and floor surfaces near the stairway) should be slip resistant.

• Stairways with more than 12 steps should have a landing to allow rest. The landing must be free of raised areas or other trip hazards.

Stairway visibility

• There should be a visual contrast (yellow edging) on tread nosings or on the leading edges of treads without nosings.

• There should be enough lighting that every step is visible.

• Signs should be posted to call attention to the presence of the stairway.

Stair rails and Handrails

Stair rails and handrails serve different purposes. Stair rails protect pedestrians from falling off the edge of the stairs or landings. Handrails help pedestrians keep their balance while using stairs.

Stair rails should be spaced closely enough to prevent anyone from slipping through.

Improperly positioned handrails are a primary cause of stairway falls. Hand rails should be visible and located on both sides of the stairway. The height at which the handrail is installed should be consistent (between 34 and 38 inches from the stair nosing) and should allow continuous holding with no obstacles. Handrails should extend horizontally beyond the bottom step for a distance equal to a minimum of the depth of one tread. The handrail should be easy to grip and should be at least 1.5 inches from the adjacent wall or surface. Wide stairways should have center handrails.

Maintenance

Regardless of how well designed a stairway is, it is important that it be kept free of obstacles and in safe, usable condition. Stair treads should be clean and in good condition. There should be no excessive wear, missing treads or loose treads. Carpeted stairs should be in good condition with no noticeable deterioration or holes. Stairways should not be used for storage.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident on a Kansas City stairway, you may have a personal injury case. To learn more, contact the Missouri personal injury attorneys at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys. When you call, ask to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.

To get started on your case, request a copy of our free book “10 Steps You Must Take to Protect Your Personal Injury Claim.”

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