What To Do When Injured by a Broken Staircase at Your Apartment in Mississippi

It only takes a split second—a missed step, a snapped handrail, or a crumbling stair tread—and suddenly you’re in pain, possibly out of work, and left wondering who’s responsible for your injuries. For too many tenants and visitors across Mississippi, broken staircases in apartment complexes are an everyday hazard that can result in serious harm.

Falls caused by unsafe stairwells are often preventable. When landlords or property managers fail to maintain their buildings, tenants are the ones who suffer. At Barrett Law, PLLC, we help injured victims and their families recover full financial compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial toll caused by dangerous apartment conditions—especially those involving broken or poorly maintained stairs.

Jonathan Barrett, a seasoned Mississippi apartment injury lawyer, has spent decades holding negligent property owners accountable. If you’ve suffered an injury due to a broken staircase in your apartment complex, understanding your rights and taking the right steps can make a significant difference in your ability to recover.

This article explains your legal options, the landlord’s responsibilities under Mississippi law, and what you can do to protect your future after an apartment staircase injury.

How Broken Staircases Cause Serious Injuries in Mississippi Apartment Complexes

Broken staircases are more than an inconvenience—they’re a safety hazard that can result in life-changing injuries. Common staircase defects that lead to apartment complex injuries include:

Cracked or crumbling stair treads
Missing or loose handrails
Uneven steps or missing risers
Rotten wood on outdoor staircases
Slick surfaces without non-slip grip
Inadequate lighting in stairwells
Structural instability or collapse

These conditions are especially dangerous in Mississippi’s aging apartment buildings, where routine maintenance is often neglected and landlord response times are slow.

A fall down a flight of stairs can result in:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Spinal cord damage or paralysis
Broken wrists, ankles, or hips
Facial fractures and scarring
Torn ligaments and muscle injuries
Long-term disability and chronic pain

For many victims, medical treatment and rehabilitation stretch on for months, all while wages are lost and bills pile up.

When Is an Apartment Complex Liable for Staircase Injuries in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, apartment complexes and landlords have a legal duty to provide safe and well-maintained premises for tenants and lawful visitors. This duty includes maintaining stairways, handrails, lighting, and structural elements of the building.

You may have a valid lawsuit if:

The stairs were damaged or defective
The owner knew or should have known about the defect
The defect wasn’t repaired in a reasonable time
Your injury was caused by the unsafe condition

This type of legal claim falls under premises liability, which allows victims to pursue compensation from negligent property owners or managers who failed to maintain a safe environment.

Legal Obligations Under Mississippi Law

Mississippi property owners, including landlords of apartment complexes, are required by law to take reasonable steps to protect tenants and visitors from dangerous conditions.

Mississippi Premises Liability Law

Premises liability is the legal theory that holds property owners accountable for injuries caused by unsafe conditions. Under Mississippi law, landlords must:

Inspect and maintain staircases and walkways
Repair or replace broken or loose stairs
Install secure handrails and ensure structural integrity
Provide adequate lighting in stairwells
Warn tenants of known hazards

If they fail in these responsibilities and someone is injured, they may be found legally liable for all resulting damages.

Foreseeability and Notice

To win a premises liability case, you must show that the apartment complex:

Knew or should have known about the hazardous staircase
Had a reasonable opportunity to fix or warn about the condition
Failed to take action, which directly led to your injuries

This could include actual knowledge from maintenance reports or constructive knowledge if the condition existed for long enough that a reasonable landlord should have discovered it.

Who Is Affected and Why Accountability Matters

Victims of broken staircase accidents at Mississippi apartment complexes often include:

Tenants, including elderly individuals more prone to serious falls
Children, who may use stairs without fully recognizing dangers
Guests or visitors, including babysitters, friends, or service workers
Delivery personnel or contractors injured on unsafe property

These injuries disrupt lives—causing pain, financial stress, and emotional hardship. Victims may face emergency medical bills, physical therapy, loss of employment, or permanent disability. Families of wrongful death victims are left with funeral costs and unimaginable grief.

Holding negligent property owners accountable helps injured victims secure justice—and forces landlords to fix dangerous conditions that put others at risk.

What Should You Do After a Staircase Injury in Mississippi?

If you’ve been injured due to a broken staircase at your apartment complex, take these important steps:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Your health comes first. Go to the ER or urgent care and follow all treatment plans. Documentation of your injuries is essential.

2. Report the Injury to Management

Notify the property manager or landlord right away. Request an official incident report and keep a copy.

3. Document the Scene

Take photos or videos of the staircase, including broken steps, handrails, lighting conditions, and anything else that contributed to your fall. If possible, record before the landlord makes repairs.

4. Speak with Witnesses

Get the names and contact information of anyone who saw the fall or is familiar with the condition of the stairs.

5. Do Not Sign a Release

Do not sign any documents or accept a quick settlement from the apartment’s insurance company without legal advice.

6. Contact a Mississippi Apartment Injury Lawyer

An experienced attorney like Jonathan Barrett can investigate the incident, gather evidence, and hold the responsible parties accountable.

Who Can Be Sued for a Broken Staircase Injury?

Depending on the circumstances, one or more parties may be held liable:

Landlord or Property Owner – Ultimately responsible for maintaining the property
Property Management Company – May share responsibility for failing to perform repairs
Maintenance Contractors – If faulty repair work contributed to the accident
Security or Lighting Contractors – If poor lighting was a contributing factor

Barrett Law, PLLC investigates all angles to ensure every liable party is held accountable.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

Victims of staircase accidents may be entitled to compensation for:

Emergency room and hospital bills
Surgery and rehabilitation
Lost income and reduced earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress and anxiety
Long-term disability or disfigurement
Wrongful death (in fatal cases)

Barrett Law, PLLC fights to maximize your financial recovery while you focus on healing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to prove the landlord knew the staircase was broken?
You need to show that the landlord knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. This can be proven through maintenance logs, tenant complaints, inspection records, or the obvious nature of the defect.

What if I fell at night and couldn’t see the broken step?
Poor lighting is itself a hazard. If the stairwell was dark and the landlord failed to provide adequate lighting, that may strengthen your claim.

Can I sue if I wasn’t a tenant but got injured while visiting someone?
Yes. Premises liability protections extend to lawful visitors, such as guests, friends, or delivery drivers.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Mississippi?
You generally have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Mississippi. However, it’s best to act quickly to preserve evidence.

Can I recover damages if I was partially at fault?
Yes. Mississippi uses a pure comparative fault rule, meaning your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault but not barred entirely.

What if I had reported the staircase before and they did nothing?
That strengthens your case. Prior complaints help prove that the landlord had notice and chose not to act.

How is pain and suffering calculated in these cases?
Pain and suffering are evaluated based on medical records, the severity of the injury, duration of treatment, emotional trauma, and long-term impact on your life.

What if I fell in a common area, like outside stairs shared by all tenants?
The apartment complex is still responsible for maintaining all common areas, including staircases leading to units, mailboxes, parking lots, or laundry rooms.

What if repairs were started but not finished?
Inadequate or half-completed repairs still expose the landlord to liability. They must keep the property safe during the repair process.

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim, or can I deal with the insurance company myself?
You can try, but apartment injury claims are complex and insurance companies often minimize payouts. A lawyer ensures your rights are protected and that you get the full compensation you’re owed.

Harmed on an Apartment Complex in Mississippi? Call Mississippi Apartment Injury Claim Attorney Jonathan Barrett 24/7/365 at (601) 790-1505 for Your FREE Consultation

If you’ve been injured due to a broken staircase in a Mississippi apartment complex, you have the right to demand accountability. At Barrett Law, PLLC, we fight for injury victims who have suffered due to unsafe conditions, negligent landlords, and property owners who put profits ahead of people.

Attorney Jonathan Barrett has recovered compensation for victims throughout Mississippi—including Jackson, Gulfport, Southaven, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Olive Branch, Tupelo, Meridian, Pearl, Madison, Greenville, Oxford, Clinton, Horn Lake, and Brandon.

📞 Call (601) 790-1505 now for a FREE case review, available 24/7/365. We don’t get paid unless we win your case.

Let us help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.