If you or a loved one suffered a slip, trip or fall injury at a business, you may be able to pursue financial restitution through a premises liability claim. Each slip, trip, or fall claim has unique challenges. You need to know up front that many business owners will fight tooth and nail when a premises liability claim is filed against them. This is why you need experienced, aggressive representation to fight for you and your loved ones. 

Serious slip and fall injuries can occur at numerous types of businesses or properties including: 

• Office buildings
• Shopping malls
• Parking lots or garages
• Rental homes
• Vacation homes
• Apartments
• Resorts
• Big box retailers (e.g., Wal-Mart, Target, etc.) 

A slip, trip, or fall injury claim has two key parts: liability and damages.

Liability

Liability means there is sufficient evidence to support the claim that the property owner was negligent (i.e. they failed to act reasonably) and that negligence proximately caused your harm. 

In Virginia, you also have to be aware of an archaic, unfair legal doctrine known as contributory negligence. This doctrine basically states that if the injured party contributed to their harm, even by only 1 percent, they may be barred from recovering through a personal injury claim. Many property owners will raise contributory negligence as a defense.

Damages

Damages constitute the financial consequences of the injuries you or a loved one suffered. They include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any permanent harm that may have resulted from the slip, trip, or fall.

How Emily Makes Your Case

Emily will investigate what happened, talk to witnesses, try to obtain any video footage and determine whether the property owner, or an employee, was negligent in their duty to maintain their property and/or alert individuals of hazards such as holes,water on the floor, slippery substances like grease or soap, broken  or not repaired walkways, stairs without hand rails, poorly maintained decks which lead to collapse, violations of (BOCA) building codes, no signs or warning of cleaning, malfunctioning equipment like elevators dropping suddenly, ice/snow not removed, missing mats or safety devices that should be used, failing to inspect property, electrical dangers, and poor lighting.

Photos and Other Evidence Help

In the era of cell phone cameras, you or a loved one should immediately take pictures at the scene of the slip or fall injury. Always complete an injury/incident report at the business or store, if available. If not, thoroughly document the date and time the incident occurred. If witnesses saw you slip, trip or fall, ask for name, phone number, and/or e-mail.

Contact Emily Today

Emily Mapp Brannon is an experienced, no-nonsense Norfolk slip and fall attorney. She is ready to help you and your loved ones. Call her today to set up a free, confidential consultation at 757-447-4192 or fill out the quick contact form on this page.

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Schedule Your Free Consultation with an Experienced Norfolk Slip and Fall Lawyer Today

Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer in Norfolk, Virginia (VA)

Call: (757) 447-4192