Virginia Beach Slip & Fall Accident Injury Lawyers

Accidents can happen anywhere, but many accidents are anything but accidents; they result from someone’s carelessness, gross negligence, or willful conduct.

Property owners and business occupants can heighten the risk of injuries to guests and lawful visitors on their premises through various actions or inactions such as:

• Failing to promptly clean up liquids from floors where customers walk
• Failing to place adequate wet floor signs or warning customers of wet floors
• Permitting snow and ice to be tracked indoors by customers or visitors
• Neglecting to repair deteriorating walkways or parking lots
• Neglecting to repair structural defects or wear and tear conditions that make the building unsafe
• Overlooking hazardous stairwells or steps
• Failing to ensure adequate lighting for exterior, interior spaces, and walkways

In both Virginia and North Carolina, depending on the property type and your visitor status, property owners are legally required to rectify dangerous conditions or warn you about them so that you can avoid injury.

When these owners/occupants fail to do so, and you suffer injuries as a result of their omissions, the property owner (or business owner/occupant) may be held legally responsible. They may owe you compensation for your injuries.

A lawyer skilled in successfully handling serious injury slip and fall claims can assess the facts of your specific situation and knowingly advise you on whether you have a viable case.

Common Injuries in Slip & Fall Accidents

Accidents on another person’s property can result in a wide range of injuries, some of which can be severe and necessitate immediate medical attention.

Here are a few examples of injuries that may occur in slip and fall cases:

• Herniated/Ruptured/Extruded Discs: Disc injuries in someone’s spine can result in debilitating pain that causes physical incapacity or permanent impairments. Some disc injuries result in surgery such as laminectomies or fusions of vertebrae.
• Head Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Unexpected slips or trips can cause you to fall abruptly, possibly resulting in a head impact with the ground or other objects. Such a forceful blow to the head can lead to loss of consciousness or a traumatic brain injury. These injuries can have lasting effects, including memory difficulties, persistent headaches, and behavioral changes.
• Broken Hips and Fractured Bones: Slips and trips can result in severe and lasting injuries, which can significantly affect your life. We are well aware of this fact and are committed to providing you with our expertise and assistance.

Get in touch with us today, and we will help you explore your legal options.

Do I Have a Slip & Fall Case?

Lawyers with trial and courtroom experience handling slip and fall cases, like the attorneys at Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC, can assess the merits of your injury claim and determine whether pursuing a claim viable or litigation is likely to lead to a satisfactory recovery. Typically, for a case to be viable, there must be more evidence of fault than just you sustaining an injury on someone else’s property and a serious injury with significant treatment and damages. Courts consider several factors before deciding on compensation eligibility.

Legal Right to Be on the Property: Your entitlement to compensation can be affected by whether or not you were invited (Virginia) or a lawful visitor (North Carolina) to the property. If you were a customer or lawful visitor, the owner is typically required to take reasonable measures to ensure your safety. However, if you were trespassing, the property owner may not be held legally responsible for injuries occurring as the result of being on the property as a trespasser.

Nature of the Hazard: Determining who is at fault after an injury is important because it can affect your compensation. If you have been injured on someone else’s property, it’s important to understand your legal rights. We are here to help you navigate this process and provide the guidance and assurance you need during this difficult time.

To establish a viable liability claim in such cases, an injured victim typically must demonstrate one of the following:

• The property owner caused the hazardous condition that led to the slip and fall injury (“Active Negligence”).
• The property owner was aware of the dangerous condition–the condition created by a third party–but failed to take appropriate corrective measures including placing visible warnings of the hazardous condition and failing to clean up or fix the hazardous condition. (“Passive Negligence”).

Why You Need a Slip & Fall Lawyer

Slip and fall cases often require more research and meticulous examination than other types of injury cases, considering factors such as the duration of the hazardous situation and the reasonableness and appropriateness of the property owner’s efforts to rectify the issue. Incidents of injuries due to similar conditions prior to the specific injury may be important in establishing notice.

Your Level of Care and Attention: Any contributory negligence on your part may also influence your case. If, for example, you were walking while you were using your cell phone and failed to notice a “Wet Floor” sign before slipping and falling, you may be less likely to receive compensation due to contributory negligence laws in both Virginia and North Carolina. To seek compensation, context matters.

Consult with one of our experienced premises liability lawyers to discuss the facts of your case and determine your legal options. The Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC team understands how overwhelming and confusing this process can be, but we’re here to guide you and help you make informed decisions.