Isenberg & Hewitt, PC | A Business And Personal Injury Law Firm | Since 1989
Isenberg & Hewitt, PC | A Business And Personal Injury Law Firm | Since 1989
To talk with a lawyer call (770) 901-2666
Isenberg & Hewitt, PC | A Business And Personal Injury Law Firm | Since 1989
To talk with a lawyer call (770) 901-2666

Distinguished Georgia Trial Attorneys

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Apartment tenant killed when stairwell collapses

On Behalf of | Jul 13, 2015 | Premises Liability

People who rent apartments or homes in Georgia may be interested to learn that a man was killed when a stairway at a California apartment complex collapsed on July 3. The report stated that another set of stairs at the same apartment complex had previously collapsed in 2014.

The report noted that permit applications for repairs had been filed at the complex prior to the latest incident. In the meantime, some of the stairwells were being propped up with wooden beams until the repairs could be made. It appeared that the deceased man, aged 27, was standing somewhere around the second- and third- story landing when the collapse occurred. A witness reported that another tenant and he attempted to dig the man out from underneath the rubble. However, it appeared that the man stopped breathing before they were able to get to him.

Other residents reported that there were staircases throughout the complex that were in similar conditions. A spokesperson for the owners claimed that work was being done to reinforce the weak stairways. The residents who were concerned about their safety reportedly had the option to be housed in guest quarters until permanent fixes to the stairways could be completed.

Someone who suffers an injury as a result of an accident on someone else’s property may want to speak with an attorney to see if there is cause to file a premises liability lawsuit based upon negligent maintenance or a dangerous condition. If it can be demonstrated that warnings about a potentially hazardous condition were not given, it may be possible to seek damages for the losses that have been sustained.

Source: FOX Business, “California apartment building where falling stairway killed man had similar collapse year ago”, Associated Press, July 4, 2015