is it illegal not to have railings at an apartment building?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
is it illegal not to have railings at an apartment building?
My girlfriend fell down the stairs of an apartment building where she lives when her ankle gave out. She believes if the building would have had railings she could have probably avoided pain and suffering from the fall. Shouldn’t an apartment complex have railings for tenants, especially for tenants with disabilities? Can she sue? Should we speak to a personal injury attiring? In Chesterfield County, VA.
Asked on September 3, 2010 under Real Estate Law, Virginia
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Yes, she should speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as she can. The attorney will have to do some investigation as to the requirements of your city/county/States regarding handrails. Most large cities and even small towns have entire portions of their building codes dedicated to handrails and when they have to be used and when they do not have to be used. Buildings that have a certain number of tenants generally always have to have handrails. And you are correct: there are federal statutes that deal with the disabled that may apply. Also have the attorney's investigator check the steps. The hight or the rise and the width of the step could also have contributed to her fall. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.