Faulty Handrail Injury Case

What Should You Do if You’ve Been Injured by a Faulty Handrail?

Even the fittest individuals often utilize the handrail when going up or down stairs. It’s second nature to reach out for a handrail, and they help individuals keep their balance. For this reason, most building codes around the country require sturdy handrails on stairways. People with mobility issues can be particularly dependent on the handrail to help them navigate steps safely. But what if the handrail is loose, broken, or otherwise faulty? You may lose your balance and fall, sometimes with catastrophic consequences. Knowing what to do after sustaining an injury from a defective handrail can help you protect your rights and hold those responsible liable for their actions.

What Steps Should You Take if a Faulty Handrail Has Harmed You?

If you have been severely injured due to a fall caused by a faulty handrail, you should call for emergency medical help. If you’ve sustained a neck or spine injury, ask witnesses who come to your aid not to move you until paramedics arrive. Movement could worsen the spinal injury and even cause paralysis.

If you have a phone with a camera and the physical capability to do so, you should take pictures of the faulty handrail. Alternatively, you can ask a trusted witness to take photos and send them to you. If neither of these options are available, ask a friend or family member to go to the scene as soon as possible to document the area. If appropriate, you should file an injury report with the property owner. You should also contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so that they can investigate the accident scene. The property owner may attempt to fix the handrail to avoid responsibility for your injuries, so it is critical to collect proof of the faulty handrail as quickly as you can to protect your claim.

Should You Seek Medical Attention Even if You Have Minor Injuries?

Even if you feel relatively okay after your fall, you should get a medical evaluation as soon as possible. Creating a record of your injuries is crucial if you need to file a personal injury claim later. Some severe injuries, especially to the back and neck, do not cause pain until later because it takes time for the damaged tissues to swell. Any head injury also needs to be taken seriously. Even a seemingly minor bump can lead to a concussion or, in the worst cases, bleeding in the brain tissue. Brain damage can cause a major medical emergency or death if not treated immediately.

Getting evaluated by a doctor right away safeguards not only your health but also your faulty handrail claim by definitively linking your injuries to your accident. This correlation prevents the insurance company from claiming that you may have hurt yourself in some other way between when you fell and when your doctor saw you.

Why Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Faulty Handrail Injury Case?

Unfortunately, as the victim of the accident, it falls on you to prove that the faulty handrail caused your injuries. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses that are often much more concerned with protecting their bottom line than providing victims with fair compensation. Insurances often attempt to blame the victim for the accident to avoid paying for their losses. Other times they may offer a settlement that is much too low to cover all the damages, but they will push victims to accept it.

You deserve justice in your faulty handrail injury case, and having an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. They will thoroughly investigate your case and deal with the insurance company on your behalf, so the only thing you need to worry about is getting healthy. Contact our Ventura law firm today to see how we can assist you: (805)330-3393.