Stairway injuries often come from conditions that a property should be managing, such as:
- Missing or unstable handrails at entry steps
- Loose carpeting or worn non-slip treads
- Poor lighting in stairwells and exterior entryways
- Uneven step height or damaged stair edges
- Clutter on landings (common around busy entrances during move-ins or maintenance)
In a smaller community, the same buildings and property managers may be involved in recurring maintenance routines. That can matter legally—because patterns of neglect and prior complaints can support that a hazard was avoidable.


