Ann Arbor’s rental market and pedestrian-friendly areas mean many stair falls occur in “shared responsibility” situations: common entryways, stairwells, basements, and multi-unit buildings where maintenance is handled by a landlord, property manager, or contractor.
Common local scenarios we see include:
- Tenant stairwells with overdue repairs (worn treads, loose rails, damaged landings)
- Seasonal lighting problems during early winter/late fall (dim stair access, blocked visibility)
- Event and visitor traffic where staff or organizers rearrange spaces and hazards are not secured
- Move-in / move-out periods when clutter, temporary storage, or cleaning activity increases fall risk
When there are multiple parties involved, responsibility can get messy—especially once an insurer starts questioning how the injury happened.


