Legal Question in Personal Injury in Missouri

Fall on stairs

I recently fell by missing the last step. I was going to get a soda from the pop machine in our office building and missed the last step. I was knocked unconcsious for more than 20 minutes. The reason I fell was one of the lights was burned out, and it was quite dim, so I could not see very well. The pop machine is located in the stairwell. My question is who is responsible for the hospital and ongoing medical bills? At the hospital they put it down as worker comp. I feel the building owner or maintenence people are responsible. Please advise

Thank you


Asked on 10/28/07, 10:52 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Spencer Farris The S.E. Farris Law Firm

Re: Fall on stairs

It is work comp if you were at work. As for a claim against someone else, good luck. You have a duty to use reasonable care when walking, and most juries in this state will blame someone who trips for some portion of the fall. If you knowingly go into an area that is dark, the percentage of of fault placed on you could be high. That, combined with a workers' compensation lien and (hopefully, for you) a minor injury will keep most lawyers from taking the case.

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Answered on 10/29/07, 11:10 am


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