Email
ChatAt Bottaro Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to getting personal injury accident victims the compensation they deserve when they are injured in an accident, through no fault of their own. Our team recently succeeded in securing a $300,000 settlement for an injured person in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. In this case, our client was descending an uneven staircase, without a railing, in her apartment building, when she fell, causing serious and life-changing injuries.
Woonsocket, RI Fall Incident Results in Serious Injuries
This accident occurred on June 3, 2023, when our client was descending the staircase at her apartment building, in order to let a friend in who had arrived outside. She suddenly fell on the uneven stairs, and landed on her head and right shoulder.
The impact of this collision caused significant and life-changing injuries to our client, including:
- Dysarthria
- Articulation Disorder
- Speech Disorder
- Right Side Weakness
- Right Shoulder Pain
- Cervicalgia
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Spondylosis without Myelopathy
- Concussion
- Speech Disturbance
Our client continues on the road to full recovery, which has included her treatment by the Fire Department/EMTs, multiple hospitals and imaging centers, and physical therapy treatment over several months following the incident.
The Bottaro Injury Lawyers team will be with our client for the duration of her recovery journey, to ensure our client is taken care of and compensated adequately for her injuries.
Landlord Negligence Suspected in Woonsocket, RI Accident
Through our team’s comprehensive investigation, we discovered that here, the dangerous condition was the uneven stairs that had no railing – making the stairs very unsafe. The defendant could have easily minimized the risk of injury here, by ensuring the stairs were even and had railings to help assist with balance as residents of the building walk down the stairs.
As to liability, under Rhode Island Law a property owner/operator has a duty to ensure the premises are free of dangerous conditions that might cause injury. A property owner/operator also has a duty to use reasonable care to inspect the premises and remedy any visible conditions.
In this case in Woonsocket, just like so we many we have seen before it, the at-fault property owner’s negligence put our client’s safety in danger and caused significant, life-changing injuries, as well as emotional pain and suffering.
Legal Action and Investigation
Following this accident, our client turned to Bottaro Injury Lawyers for trusted help. We immediately took the following actions:
- Conducted a home visit to gather information and discuss the case.
- Obtained medical records detailing the injuries sustained.
- Collected photographic evidence of injuries and any photographs from the property where the incident occurred.
- Reviewed any written evidence, as applicable
- Coordinated with medical providers to ensure our client received proper care and an effective treatment plan for her injuries.
The Legal Duty of Care: When Property Owners Fail to Act
In the legal context, owning a property, especially a residential rental property, is not just an investment—it comes with a fundamental duty of care to every tenant and lawful visitor. This duty requires the landlord or property owner to exercise the ordinary care that any reasonable person would in maintaining a safe environment. When this care is neglected, and hazardous conditions are allowed to persist, the owner crosses the line into negligence.
Negligence, in this context, is the failure to proactively and consistently inspect, repair, and maintain common areas to prevent foreseeable harm. It is the conscious or unconscious choice to prioritize financial savings or convenience over the physical safety of the people who live in or visit the building. Ignoring basic building codes—such as those governing the uniformity of stair treads or the required presence of a handrail—is a clear breach of this duty.
Hidden Hazards, Life-Altering Consequences
A poorly maintained common area, like a main staircase, is a silent hazard. Issues like uneven risers (steps of different heights), non-compliant spacing, or the complete absence of a required safety railing dramatically increase the probability of a slip-and-fall accident. These are not minor inconveniences; they are design and maintenance flaws that directly violate established safety standards and regulations designed to protect occupants.
When a property owner fails to ensure the structural integrity and safety of essential features like a common staircase, the result can be catastrophic. The lack of a stable handhold or the sudden, unexpected variation in a step’s height can instantly destroy a person’s balance and lead to severe, life-altering injuries such as broken bones, spinal damage, or traumatic head injuries. The law is clear: a property owner must dedicate their complete attention to eliminating these preventable risks. While building codes set the minimum legal standard, it is the proactive, ethical duty of every landlord to provide a dwelling that is safe and habitable.
The Importance of Retaining an Experienced Personal Injury Law Firm
Personal injury cases, especially those involving property owner negligence, require experienced and specialized legal expertise to navigate the process of proving that negligence, and to negotiate with insurance companies to ensure just compensation is received for the injured party. Without legal representation, from the right team, victims often receive much less in compensation, which rarely fully covers their medical costs, lost wages, and emotional pain and suffering. Bottaro Injury Lawyers has extensive experience handling personal injury cases across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Our trusted team knows the ins and outs and all the little techniques that insurance companies use to avoid compensating victims properly! We hold them accountable and fight aggressively to ensure our clients receive maximum compensation.
It’s Good to Know Mike Bottaro – 24/7 Top-Rated Personal Injury Help
At Bottaro Injury Lawyers, we care for people. Attorney Mike Bottaro and his award-winning legal team handle all types of personal injury cases throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. We can even help on cases in other states as well. We pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity, and results. Contact us 24/7 in any method you prefer for a fast, free, and confidential consultation about your case. Text or call us at 401-777-7777 or fill out our free and confidential online form. We are here to serve and help you!