Premises Liability Attorney in Virginia Beach

premise liability lawyers in virginia beach

What is Virginia Beach Premises Liability?

Suffering an injury on someone else’s property is a painful and confusing experience that can leave you with questions about how you’ll recover. Medical bills may pile up, and it may be difficult to tend to your injuries and deal with an injury claim at the same time. If you’ve been hurt or a loved one has been killed because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, get the legal help you need now.

Based in Virginia Beach, Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C. has represented injury victims throughout Tidewater Virginia for over 30 years. Our tough and talented lawyers know how to investigate your accident, work with owners and insurers, and find the compensation you need. We know how much you’ve suffered, and we know how complicated the recovery process can be. If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, we can help.

Don’t bear the cost of a careless property owner’s mistakes. There may be ways to recover compensation for your injuries in a premises liability claim. Call us or use our online contact options now for a free consultation and claim review.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Premises Liability Claim?

In a premises liability claim, many parties might be held liable. Your lawyer can investigate and determine all the parties who may be responsible for your accident. This includes property owners, but it may also include those who are responsible for maintaining or repairing a property. Maintenance companies, business owners, and renters may also be liable depending on the circumstances.

Parties that could be liable in a premises liability claim include:

Property owners. Property owners are often liable for a premises liability claim. As owners of commercial or private property, they have obligations to make sure that their property is reasonably safe for visitors. When it isn’t, they may be held accountable.
Businesses. Businesses often don’t own the property that they occupy. However, as tenants, they must keep their facility in a reasonably safe and working order for customers. Customers and other guests who get hurt due to conditions created or allowed by a business may be able to recover from them.
Maintenance companies. Property owners and businesses often contact with maintenance companies to take care of their facilities. If a maintenance company fails to perform the repairs that a property needs and someone is hurt as a result, the maintenance company may be liable.
Homeowners. Residential property owners have obligations to their guests just like everyone else. When a homeowner allows unreasonably dangerous conditions on their property, and such a condition results in harm to a guest, they may be held liable for any injuries.
Hotel operators. When you’re a guest at a hotel, you expect facilities to be clean and safe. Unfortunately, dangerous conditions, inadequate security, bedbugs, and other causes of injury are common in hotels. If conditions in a hotel cause you harm, you may be able to hold the hotel accountable.

These and many other parties may be liable for your injuries depending on the specifics of your situation. A thorough investigation can determine which parties were responsible for the accident. If you’ve been injured on premises owned or maintained by someone else, there may be ways for you to recover compensation. Contact our lawyers to discuss your options.

Common Types of Premises Liability Claims

It’s important to remember that any time you are injured on property that is maintained or owned by someone else, you may be able to recover from your injuries. Governing rules and compensation will vary depending on the facts of the case. Our premises liability attorneys can help you understand your claim and how to move forward.

Some of the most common types of premises liability cases include:

Slip and fall accidents. Slip and fall accidents and trip and fall accidents are serious accidents that can lead to lasting pain and injury. Broken bones, cuts, head injuries, and many other life-threatening injuries are possible. It’s up to businesses and owners to keep their property free of unreasonably dangerous slip and trip hazards. For the safety of their guests, it’s essential that they monitor their property and correct or warn about any problems. If they don’t, they may be liable for the injuries they cause.
Dog bites. Dogs and other pets can attack out of the blue. When they do, it can lead to scarring, nerve damage, and life-threatening infections. Homeowners and pet caretaking companies may be liable if their animal bites or attacks you. Remember that if someone else’s dog bit you, there might be options for recovery including homeowner’s insurance that will compensate you for your injuries.
Neglected or inadequate maintenance. Property owners and businesses must take steps to keep their property in good, working order. When they fail to do so, it’s easy for customers and guests to wind up hurt. Leaking pipes, faulty wiring, inadequate lighting, uneven floors, damaged stairways, and many other maintenance problems can lead to serious injury. If you’ve been injured because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property, speak with our lawyers about your situation.
Swimming pool accidents. Swimming pools can be a lot of fun, but they can also lead to dangerous situations. The area around the pool may be slippery, and the pool may present a danger to young children who are not yet ready to swim. Owners should keep the area around the pool safe and provide measures such as fencing to keep others from falling in. Swimming pool injuries are common, and when they happen, owners may be responsible.
Negligent security. Businesses, landlords, and property owners must maintain adequate security on their premises. This means that lighting must be sufficient, staff must be trained, and the business must be ready to respond if there is a security threat. If you were injured by a criminal act that took place on someone else’s property such as an apartment complex or a hotel, you might be owed compensation.
Burn injuries. Businesses, landlords, and other property owners are required to protect their guests. This means that buildings must be up to code and include adequate fire safety mechanisms. If an owner’s negligence has led to dangerous conditions that resulted in a fire, they can be held liable for the injuries they cause.

Premises liability claims arise more often than you may think. Compensation is common for these types of accidents, but you’ll have to build your claim and work with the responsible parties to get the recovery you need. If you’ve been hurt on someone else’s property, talk with our lawyers to understand how to build your claim and what your options for recovery may be.

Types of Compensation in Premises Liability Cases

When you’re injured on someone else’s property, you may have questions about the compensation you might be able to recover. There are many types of compensation available depending on your injuries. Our attorneys can review your case and help you determine the best path to recovery. Don’t let someone else’s negligence cost you time and money. If you’re injured, pursue the compensation you need.

Premises liability claims may include compensation for losses such as:

Medical treatment. The cost of medical treatment can add up fast. Your injuries may require emergency treatment, physical therapy, and multiple follow-up visits to the doctor. In no time, you can be drowning in medical bills. A premises liability claim may include the costs of treatment for your injury, and it may include the cost of any future treatment your injuries require.
Lost wages, lost income, and reduced earning potential. When you’re injured, you may be out of work for a while. It could be days, months, and in some cases, years. Your injuries may also reduce your ability to earn money and earn promotions in the future. A premises liability claim may include compensation for the work you miss, and for the opportunities, your injury may cost you in the future.
Property damage. If you suffer an accident on another’s property, you may be able to recover for your property that is lost, damaged, or destroyed because of the accident. You may recover money to pay for the replacement of cell phones, clothing, and any other property you had on yourself at the time of the accident. If you’ve lost property because of another’s negligence, you may be able to recover.
Pain and suffering. Physical pain can follow injury victims for years. Even with the best treatment, that pain may linger and reduce your quality of life. Injuries can also cause emotional pain and anguish that can lead to lasting problems such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. A premises liability claim may include compensation for the physical and emotional pain you’ve suffered.

These other recovery options may be available in your case. We are ready to review the facts of your case and help you determine what compensation options may be available. If you’ve been injured, don’t wait to get the help you need.

What to Do If You’ve Been Hurt on Someone Else’s Property

Injuries can happen fast, and they can leave you stunned. But the minutes following an accident are a critical time to gather evidence for your claim. As soon as you leave the premises, property owners may correct the condition that led to the accident, and you could be facing an uphill battle to secure compensation for what happened to you.

If you’re injured on another person’s property, remember these tips for protecting yourself and your claim:

Get the immediate medical attention that you need. In many cases, a victim’s injuries aren’t immediately visible. If you’re injured in an accident, get a medical evaluation as soon as you can. This evaluation will help determine if you were hurt if you have internal injuries that you were unaware of, and it will generate substantial documents about your injuries. Medical records like these will be a cornerstone of your claim.
Get witnesses’ contact information. Accident witnesses may disappear before anyone thinks to look for them. Once they’ve left the premises, it can be difficult, if not impossible to find them. Get their names and contact information so your attorney can contact them later.
Take photos of the accident scene and its surroundings. In many premises liability cases, property owners and managers will quickly clean up the conditions that led to your accident. When you take photos of the accident scene, you are documenting important information that investigators can use later.
Notify the owner or property manager about the accident. The owner or manager of the space needs to know how, when, and where the accident happened. Stick to the facts and avoid apologizing or accepting blame. There may be many reasons the accident happened, and the responsible party may be unknown. Later investigation will determine who was responsible.
Follow your doctor’s orders. Medical treatment is rarely “one and done.” Your doctor may give you specific instructions on how to care for your injuries. Follow your doctor’s orders and attend any appointments that they require. When you’re seeking compensation for your injuries, you’ll need to show that you’ve done everything the doctor asked.
Speak with an attorney about the accident as soon as possible. Premises liability claims can be complicated, and there may be many parties involved. At this stage in your claim, it’s easy to say the wrong thing or make the wrong assumptions. A lawyer can handle any discussions and paperwork related to your claim and help you build your case. Remember that a lawyer will represent you and your interests, not an insurer’s.

Experienced Virginia Beach Premises Liability Lawyers

Injuries on another person’s property can affect your life for years. Get the help and compensation you need to move forward. Our experienced lawyers can investigate the accident, build your claim, negotiate for a settlement, and if needed, advocate for you in court. No matter what type of injury you’re facing, we have the knowledge and resources to help.

Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C. has represents clients just like you in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton, Chesapeake, and throughout the Tidewater region and beyond. With decades of experience helping injury victims seek the money they are owed for their premises liability claims, we know what goes into winning your case. We’ll fight for you and your recovery with compassion and integrity every step of the way.