As for these, you may have to make an effort to figure out what happened and how the stairs should have been constructed or maintained differently. These may be key issues to establish before you will be able to show that the owner of the premises, or anyone else, may be legally responsible for your fall. Even a slightly worn stair or carpet, particularly on the edge of a step, can be perilous because a person is not likely to notice slight wear and may be even more likely to slip than on obviously worn stairs. Some stairs may have a tile or highly polished wood surface which is more slippery than stone, painted wood or carpeted stairs. If so, the owner may have sacrificed safety for beauty, and may now be liable because of that choice.
Many people slip and fall when rain, snow or ice collects on outdoor stairs.
The first response of an insurance adjuster is often to say that the property owner is not responsible for the weather, and that everyone must be extra careful when it has been cold, raining or snowing. While this is partly true, it does not end the question of the owner's negligence. Outdoor stairs must be built and maintained so that water or ice does not unnecessarily build up on the stairs. If there was an extra buildup of rain, snow or ice on which you slipped, the step was dangerous and the owner should be liable. Further, an outdoor step must have a surface which does not become extra slippery when wet or icy.