Chicago Premises Liability Lawyer - Article

Handrails

Handrails are railings that are used on stairways and escalators. These safety features are designed to be grasped by an individual when they either ascend or descend a set of stairs. The rail can be supported by a post or fixed directly to a wall.

Handrails are imperative for outdoor staircases, particularly in winter. Staircases that are outside can be exposed to the elements and become very slick. When precipitation on the stairs freezes in winter, stairs can become deadly, particularly if there isn’t a handrail available.

When stairs become slick with ice, it is very easy for people to slip and fall on the ice. Stairs are dangerous, even when ice is not involved. A person who falls down the stairs can break numerous bones and spend months in the hospital following the injury. This is true even if there isn’t ice involved.

When ice is involved in a fall down the stairs, it can be even more dangerous. If there is ice, a person has no way to stop his or her fall down the stairs. Rain can cause the same problem as ice, but often to a lesser degree.

Considering the hazards that stairs can potentially pose to a person’s health, handrails are very important. While a handrail might not prevent every fall but they can go a long way towards minimizing the damages from a fall.

Contact a Chicago Premises Liability Lawyer

If you have been injured on someone else’s property due to the lack of a handrail on a stairway, contact the Chicago premises liability lawyers of Friedman & Bonebrake at 312-466-8200.