When a person is injured in an accident caused by another party, Virginia law allows the victim to pursue damages against that party for the losses their injuries have caused them to suffer. For example, many people are familiar with this law when a car accident occurs – the at-fault driver is liable for the victim’s medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, etc. But what happens when that negligent party is a business entity? Can they still be liable for the victim’s losses?
Although these types of cases are often more complex, the answer is yes. Having a Virginia personal injury attorney advocating for you can also mean the compensation you receive will be greater than if you try to negotiate the claim yourself.
Negligent Actions of a Business
There are many accidents and situations where a business can be deemed negligent and therefore liable for the losses a victim suffers. Some of the more common we have seen in the cases we handle at our Virginia and North Carolina personal injury law firm include:
- Defective Product: Look at the federal recall list and it is filled with dangerous and defective products. Many of these products caused harm to consumers and this is how they end up being recalled. Defects can occur in the design of a product or in the manufacturing process. Regardless of how the defect occurs, a company has a legal responsibility to consumers to ensure the products they make are safe. When they fail at this responsibility, victims can sue the business for financial compensation.
- Employee Action or Behavior: Businesses are also responsible for any negligent or reckless acts by their employees when that employee is carrying out job duties. One of the most common examples of this is a truck driver who is employed by a trucking company. If that truck driver engages in speeding, distracted driving, or some other action that results in a truck accident, the trucking company is legally liable for the victim’s losses.
- Premises Liability: Property owners have a duty of care under Virginia law to ensure that their premises are safe for any visitors that come onto the property. If a victim suffers an injury in a store, office building, or other business because the owner failed to either repair the hazard or warn the public the hazard existed, they can be held liable for damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
Contact a Virginia Accident Attorney for Help
If you are an accident victim, contact our firm to speak with a Virginia personal injury attorney. Our legal team will evaluate your case and determine what types of damages you may be entitled to. We understand that the mounting medical bills and loss of income accident victims suffer can cause overwhelming stress on their finances and will work diligently to get you the compensation you deserve. Call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp today to schedule a free and confidential consultation to find out what legal recourse you may have.
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