Virginia property and business owners owe you a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. If you sustained serious injuries after slipping on someone else’s property, you may be eligible for compensation by filing an injury claim. At The Cochran Firm, DC, our team of experienced trial attorneys has prosecuted injury claims for decades and understands what it takes to secure the maximum possible compensation under the law. Contact our legal professionals for a free case evaluation.
Under Virginia law, property owners are responsible for slip and fall injuries if they knew (or should have known) about dangerous conditions on their property but did nothing to correct the problem or warn the injured victim. However, the responsibility may extend beyond just the property owners. Other parties, such as property managers and non-owner residents, can also be held accountable if they had a role in maintaining the premises or contributed to hazardous conditions through negligence.
In many instances, determining who is liable can be complex. The intricacies of premises liability often require the expertise of a legal professional to untangle. Consulting with an attorney specializing in slip and fall cases can help pinpoint the responsible parties and navigate the legal proceedings.
Slip and fall accidents can take place in many ways and often catch people by surprise. Here are some common locations where you might encounter these accidents:
Sidewalks can become hazardous when icy or covered in debris. Parks and recreational trails also might have uneven terrain, which could increase the risk of falls.
Offices and industrial sites might present risks with poorly maintained flooring or unexpected hazards like spills or misplaced objects.
Slippery floors from spills or recently polished surfaces can cause accidents in these environments.
Accidents frequently occur in homes, especially in areas with loose carpeting or wet floors, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Poor lighting or broken railings can make these areas particularly treacherous.
When you file a slip and fall claim, your attorney can seek compensation for past and future medical bills, physical therapy, emotional pain and suffering, occupational training, and other claims.
Under Virginia law, store or property owners must keep their premises reasonably safe for customers. If the storeowner knows or should have known about a hazard or dangerous object, it must be removed within a reasonable amount of time. Store and property owners also have a duty to warn customers of these hazards. However, they do not have a duty to warn customers and people on their property if the hazardous condition is open and plainly visible to a person reasonably alert for their own safety. You have a much stronger chance of prevailing on your slip and fall claim in Virginia if you can show the property owner knew about the dangerous condition that caused your injury.
Proving that the property or store owners knew or should have known about the hazard or dangerous condition that caused the slip, trip, or fall injury can be both complex and challenging. For example, take a scenario where a loose handrail on a stairwell has been neglected for weeks. The property owner may argue they weren’t aware of the issue, but a handrail in such a high-traffic area would be hard to overlook. If someone relies on that handrail for support and it gives way, causing them to fall and get hurt, the owner could be held liable for failing to address the known danger. Bringing a successful claim may require the testimony of a safety expert or an engineer. Our experienced attorneys have a deep understanding of these issues and can explain them to you during your free consultation.
Because strict statutory deadlines apply to when an individual may bring a slip and fall case, we recommend contacting a DC attorney as soon as possible in order to determine your next step. Any slip and fall claim you file must be within three years of the injury or property damage caused. Acting quickly also ensures you have a professional on your side who can navigate legal matters after your accident.
Insurance companies and property owners' lawyers will act quickly to protect their interests, making it critical for you to have an advocate to counter these efforts. By engaging a slip-and-fall injury lawyer early on, you can focus on your medical treatment and recovery.
At the same time, your attorney handles the investigation, establishes the cause of the accident, and addresses other premises liability and personal injury concerns. In this way, you are not only protecting your rights but also making sure that every aspect of your case is managed with expertise and care.
At The Cochran Firm, DC, our attorneys are experienced, knowledgeable and only represent injured victims. Our team of seasoned professionals can guide you through the slip and fall claim process and will do everything to maximize your chance of a large compensation award. We offer free case consultations to individuals who have been seriously injured in a slip and fall accident through no fault of their own.
We handle slip and fall cases in all Virginia counties, including Loudoun, Arlington, Spotsylvania, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fairfax, King George, Prince William, Stafford, and Warren, and the independent cities of Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Alexandria, Fairfax, Manassas, and Manassas Park.
