If some one fell on my stairs, am I responsible?
Question Details:
Stairs and handrail are in good shape. She didn't trip over anything, just lost her balance. No negligence on our part. There was a yard sale going on and she just went into the house even though she wasn't invited in by the people who live there.
Let's assume that you are right and there was no negligence on your part--well maintained stairs and handrails, nothing slippery on them, no debris, etc. In that case, then you should not face liability--the mere fact that a person is injured does not give rise to legal liability and an obligation to pay. Except in some very narrow circumstances (such as some product liability), there must be fault. Without fault, no liability.
The fact that she was not an invitee (wasn't invited into the home) doesn't really affect the analysis one way or another--the fundamental issue, in the facts as described, is whether there was any negligence. Without negligence, there would typically be no liabiity.
