Did you suffer injuries on somebody else’s property due to the property owner’s or another party’s negligence? You may have the right to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Under Virginia law, property owners owe a duty of care to lawful visitors who enter their property. This duty of care includes using reasonable efforts to maintain the premises to keep them free of hazards that may injure visitors.
However, your right to compensation may depend on the specific facts of your case. D. Michael Mullori, Jr., Attorney at Law can identify your legal options and help you pursue financial recovery and accountability from negligent parties.
Since 1999, Mike has advocated for the rights and interests of accident victims across Virginia and the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region. He has dedicated his career to helping clients overcome the challenges of recovering from life-altering accident injuries. When you turn to Mike for help after a premises liability accident, you can expect to work with him directly throughout your case. He keeps his caseload small so he can devote the time, energy, and resources that you and your claim deserve. And because he only works on a contingency fee basis, you owe no legal fees unless you recover compensation in your case.
After getting hurt due to a dangerous property condition on someone else’s premises, let a Prince William County premises liability attorney help you seek accountability and financial recovery for the harm and loss you’ve suffered. Contact Mike or call (703) 762-2142 for a free initial case evaluation. He will discuss your legal options for recovering compensation in a Virginia premises liability claim.
Who Is Responsible for an Injury in a Premises Liability Case?
Virginia’s premises liability law holds property owners responsible for injuries that visitors may suffer due to hazardous property conditions arising from the owner’s negligence. However, depending on the circumstances, other parties may also have liability in a premises liability case, including:
- A residential tenant, if a premises liability accident occurs on leased premises exclusively within the tenant’s control or due to a property condition that the tenant has the contractual obligation to maintain
- A commercial tenant, such as a business, may have complete responsibility for maintenance under the terms of its lease
- A property management company for a residential or office building or complex
- A janitorial services company contracted to clean and maintain the property
- A landscaping or property maintenance company, including companies that perform pavement/walkway repairs or snow/ice removal
- A contracted private security company
What Are Common Places Where Premises Liability Accidents Occur?
A premises liability accident can happen anywhere. However, accidents more frequently occur in places where people tend to congregate. Examples of places where visitors may suffer injuries in a premises liability accident include:
- Supermarkets and grocery stores
- Bars, clubs, and restaurants
- Amusement and theme parks
- Recreational parks, athletic fields/courts, and golf courses
- Swimming pools
- Public sidewalks
- Parking lots/garages
- Stores, shopping centers, and malls
- Apartment buildings, condominiums, and townhouse complexes
- Private residences
- Office buildings/parks
- Hotels
- Concert venues
- Theaters
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Gyms/fitness facilities
- Sporting arenas
What Are Common Injuries Someone Can Sustain in a Premises Liability Accident?
Depending on the type of premises liability accident, an accident victim may suffer all kinds of injuries. Some of the most common kinds of injuries that occur in a premises liability accident in Virginia include:
- Lacerations and abrasions
- Degloving injuries
- Burns
- Electrocution injuries
- Drowning injuries
- Puncture wounds/perforation injuries
- Dislocated joints
- Ligament sprains/tears
- Muscle or tendon strains/tears
- Nerve damage
- Herniated spinal discs
- Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
- Crush injuries
- Facial injuries
- Eye/ear injury or vision/hearing loss
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Traumatic amputation or limb loss
- Infections
- Diseases caused by toxic exposure
- Fatal injuries
How Long Do I Have to File a Premises Liability Lawsuit in Virginia?
Virginia’s statute of limitations for injury claims gives you only two years after an accident to file a premises liability lawsuit against a negligent property owner or other liable parties. If you file your lawsuit after the limitation period expires on your premises liability claim, the trial court may dismiss your case upon the property owner’s request, regardless of the merits of your claim.
In addition to the statute of limitations, if you have a premises liability claim against the state government or a county, city, or town government, you must comply with deadlines to provide the government with notice of your premises liability claim. You have one year after a premises liability accident on state property to file a notice with the state government and only six months to file a notice after an accident on county, city, or town property.
Because you may have limited time to file your premises liability case, you need to talk to a premises liability lawyer in Prince William County as soon as possible to ensure you can meet applicable filing deadlines.
