Every homeowner and property controller has the inherent duty to protect visitors, guests, and patrons from unsafe hazards. More often than not, a property owner’s negligence to maintain a safe environment results in someone slipping, falling, and suffering a serious injury. If this has happened to you, our personal injury lawyers in Charlottesville can provide you with trusted, trial-tested advocacy.
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Insurance companies might try to dismiss as slip and fall accidents as nothing all too serious. The truth is falling upon the ground can cause severe injury, especially if the fall occurs on concrete, tiling, or down stairs. Children and elders are particularly susceptible to fall injuries. One of the leading causes of death among people older than 65 years is accidental falls.
Injuries not uncommon following a slip and fall accident include:
A slip and fall claim will only be viable if the property controller or homeowner should have known about the hazard that caused the accident. There is some room for interpretation in this regard. Consider these two examples that should provide clarity into your own circumstances.
Example: You are standing in the checkout line at a retail store. The customer directly in front of you drops a beverage on the ground, creating a puddle. You do not notice the spill, step forward as the line moves, slip, and hit your head. Proving the property controller – such as the manager or parent company – liable would be difficult since the turn of events was so rapid; if you did not notice the spill in front of you, it is reasonable to understand that no employees had a chance to see it either. In this case, you would likely want to bring a claim against the customer that made the spill and did not warn you.
Example: You are headed to the bathroom in a retail store and need to descend to a lower level. Once you step on the stairs, the flimsy handrail breaks and water dripping from an overhead pipe causes you to lose your balance and you fall down the stairs. The property controller would be the target of your claim, as the hazards were clear and egregious enough so that patrons should have been denied access to the area until reparations were completed.
Client service and satisfaction are our focus here at Central Virginia Litigation, PLC. We believe that in delivering a comfortable environment for you to explore your legal options, we can both decrease the stress you might be feeling and increase your chances of winning maximum compensation. The better we know you, the better we can handle your claim. Contact our attorneys to learn how 30+ years of total legal experience can benefit your case.
