Premises Liability Lawsuits in Virginia

When we visit a business, retail store, or other public property, we typically assume that the property we are entering is safe and free from hazards, not giving it a second thought that the people who own and/or are in charge of operating the property has failed to keep up with property maintenance. Unfortunately, accidents do occur because of property owner negligence and victims sustain injuries. In these situations, victims may be able to pursue legal action against the owner under Virginia’s premises liability laws.

Failure to Provide Proper Maintenance

When a property owner or other responsible party neglects to address the proper upkeep and maintenance their property requires, visitors to that property – whether a business or residence – can end up suffering preventable injuries. In many of these cases, however, the issues are not addressed until a victim has suffered an injury.

Premise liability accidents can happen in a variety of different locations. Some of the more common include:

  • Retail establishments
  • Restaurants and bars
  • Office buildings
  • Apartment buildings
  • Roads
  • Public buildings
  • Public transit

In many of the premises liability cases our firm has handled, some of the more common acts of negligence that can result in a premises liability accident are:

  • Fallen merchandise
  • Spills not cleaned up
  • Inadequate security
  • Inadequate lighting
  • Loose or missing handrails
  • Loose flooring
  • Frayed or loose carpeting

Recovering Damages

Premises liability accidents can range from cuts and bruises to broken bones and head injuries. Victims may suffer injuries serious enough to require medical treatments and may even be unable to work while they recover. Any losses the victim suffers – both economic and non-economic – as a result of their injuries may be recoverable under a personal injury lawsuit filed against the property owner and/or other liable parties.

In order to be successful at collecting financial compensation for those losses, the victim – usually through their attorney – must prove the following elements existed:

  • The property owner owed the victim a duty of care.
  • The property owner failed to exercise that duty of care.
  • That failure resulted in the victim’s injuries.
  • The victim has suffered damages because of those injuries.

Damages that could be included in a premises liability lawsuit include medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, scarring, permanent disability, and more. A Virginia premises liability attorney can determine what types of damages you may be able to recover in your case.

Have You Been Injured?

If you have suffered injuries in an accident caused by another party, you may be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. The Virginia personal injury attorneys from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp have been aggressively advocating for injured victims and their families for more than three decades and will work diligently to get you the financial compensation you deserve, like the $1.5 million settlement we negotiated for one client who suffered a permanently disabling electric shock injury in a hotel room.

Contact our office today to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation and find out how our legal team can help.

 

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