Toddler Falls From Norfolk Hotel Balcony

Rick is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

9/6/2011
Richard N. Shapiro
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Toddler Falls From Norfolk, VA Hotel Balcony

Yet another horrific 2011 balcony accident has occurred in Hampton Roads, Virginia (VA), this time injuring a boy who is just 2 years old. The Virginian-Pilot has reported that the toddler fell from a second floor balcony at a Ramada Inn on Military Highway in Norfolk. The boy was taken to Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters and listed is in critical but stable condition.

This accident comes on the heels of another toddler's death in June after the child falling off a fifth floor balcony at a hotel at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Another death occurred just 48 hours after that one at another Oceanfront hotel when a 33-year-old man fell nine stories from his room's balcony.

These accidents reveal just how dangerous hotel balconies can be. Though hotels place safety rails around outdoor spaces, those barriers are clearly not preventing as many falls as they should be. VA state building codes specify the minimum distance between balcony railings and safe heights for balcony railings. Falling from outdoor decks and balconies almost always results in serious injury or death, so this spike in balcony accidents in Hampton Roads is truly chilling. So many tourists visit our community for a relaxing vacation, and should not have to worry about such dangers.

Our condolences go out to all the families affected by the balcony accidents, and our thoughts are with the little boy recovering at CHKD. As a Virginia Beach personal injury attorney, I can only hope that these accidents will raise awareness about the dangers of hotel balconies, and allow such safety problems to be identified and resolved as soon as possible. These same problems with railing heights apply at sports stadiums where falls have also occurred and safety officials are re-evaluating safety railings and barriers to prevent falls.

CD

Category: All Serious Injuries

Labels: accident balcony Death fall Hampton Roads injury Military Highway Norfolk personal injury attorney Ramada Inn Shapiro toddler Virginia Beach

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a VA injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling cases brought by victims of traumatic brain injury and closed head injuries. In fact, in 2000, our firm helped a plaintiff receive what was then the largest verdict ever in a Virginia brain injury case. Then in the year 2012 we won a $21 million brain injury verdict. We also have a blog in which we discuss only topics related to brain injuries and head wounds.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008.Shapiro and Lewis have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2008. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers receive this professional honor. In addition, our firm was the first in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA injury law firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.
We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Suffolk and Newport News if you or a family member has been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness. While not every case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential consultations. Call us toll-free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can get back to you.

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