Miroslaw Lobasz, 73, of Newark, Seriously Injured After Falling Down Deck Stairs at the Zealand Hut in Bethlehem
BETHLEHEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE (August 16, 2026) – A 73-year-old Appalachian Trail hiker identified as Miroslaw Lobasz was seriously injured in a Bethlehem accident after falling down deck stairs at the Zealand Hut.
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department officials are saying that the incident took place around 9:35 AM on August 13, 2026. Miroslaw Lobasz was descending the deck stairs when he fell and hit his head in the process.
AMC staff began helping the hiker and attempted to stop the bleeding that resulted from the injury. Paramedics and rescuers were called to the scene of the incident to help the injured victim.
He was transported in an ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital to receive treatment for a head injury. A full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remains ongoing at this time.
DiBella Law remains committed to improving public safety and increasing transparency through our Free Police Report program. If you’ve been involved in any type of accident that required a police response, we can help you get a copy of the police report created at no cost or obligation to you.
Liability for Bethlehem Slip-and-Fall Accidents
Property owners in New Hampshire have a legal obligation to use ordinary care to keep their premises safe. They must warn against any dangerous conditions and take reasonable precautions to protect against foreseeable sources of harm. The New Hampshire Supreme Court has indicated that what may count as reasonable care will depend on these specific conditions and risks that were present at any given property. Several conditions and factors will be taken into consideration when evaluating any accident involving a stairway.
- Stair Upkeep: The visible condition of any set of stairs or landings involved in a fall should be carefully examined. It matters whether or not they were damaged, uneven or slippery for one reason or another.
- Inspections: Another important consideration is whether reasonable inspections were performed on the stairs.
- Fall Risks: Courts will also consider the condition and placement of any warning signs or handrails designed to prevent someone from falling.
- Maintenance: All records related to the maintenance, repair, or upkeep of stairs can help reveal whether or not they may have been in a dangerous condition.
When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition on their premises, they must take action. Failing to take action could form the basis of a negligence claim. Consider, for example, Rallis v. Demoulas Super Markets, Inc., 159 N.H. 95 (N.H. 2009). In that case, the plaintiff slipped on a supermarket produce aisle and fractured his hip in the process. The New Hampshire Supreme Court held that property owners can be liable for accidents when they failed to use reasonable care or warn about a dangerous condition they knew or should’ve known about.
Preventing New Hampshire Fall Accidents
Slip-and-fall accidents are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death across New Hampshire and the United States. Elderly adults are particularly at risk. One analysis from the Centers for Disease Control found that unintentional falls were the cause of roughly 51% of all non-fatal traumatic brain injuries. The highest rates of hospitalization occurred for adults that were 75 or older. There are multiple steps that can be taken to prevent falls down stairs.
- Property owners should install sturdy guardrails along stairs and make sure that they’re easy to grip.
- Property owners should ensure that stairways are well lit and that any change in elevation across a stairway or walkway is clearly visible.
- Property owners should continuously repair any potential defect with a stairway before it becomes a fall hazard.
- Property owners should restrict access to stairways that are unsafe for one reason or another.
Accidents involving falls downstairs can be very complex. The factors that contribute to any specific fall may take place several days or even months beforehand. Preventing these accidents is an important task for all premises owners, given the seriousness of head injuries and other trauma associated with falls. Victims of slip-and-fall accidents are protected by a number of laws. They are able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil action.
Getting Legal Help After Slip-and-Fall Accidents
We at DiBella Law extend our best wishes to Miroslaw Lobasz as he continues to recover. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar incidents can be prevented. There are important safety considerations that still need to be addressed. When was the last time the set of stairs was inspected? Were the stairs potentially wet for some reason? Is there a history of similar incidents at this location?
Do you need help after falling down a set of stairs in New Hampshire? You may be entitled to financial compensation. Our team of experienced premises liability attorneys is here to support you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that property owners are held fully accountable for their negligent conduct. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at (855) 649-2674.