Slaughter & Lupton Law
Your Premises Liability Injury Advocates
Unexpected hazards can lurk in various places. The aggressive dog at the house you are visiting. The local grocery store. The restaurant your family eats at every week. Although you expect and trust property owners to remove hazards and dangers and to keep their premises safe, if they or their employees are not careful and mindful of dangers, their customers, patrons, lawful visitors, or guests suffer injuries. Often injuries in a premises case are severe and life changing all because of the business or property owner’s negligence.
In such instances, you may have the legal right to pursue a premises liability claim and lawsuit. Although many people think that if someone is injured on someone else’s property, then the injured party can recover, the law in Virginia and North Carolina is not so gracious. Liability in premises cases is usually more complicated and difficult than car accident cases. In Virginia, premises liability law is often classified as active negligence versus passive negligence. Notice of the hazardous condition by the property owner or occupant is usually required in order to even bring the case to a jury. In North Carolina, the owner or occupant of the property is legally required to give adequate warning of any hazard that is known, or in the exercise of ordinary care, should be known to the property owner/occupant, but is not required to warn of any hazard about which a lawful visitor to the property has knowledge equal or superior to the owner/occupant. The outcome of these types of cases hinges on numerous factors. For these reasons, it is critical to the success of your injury case that you hire a skilled and experienced lawyer who knows the relevant law! The attorneys of Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC are experts in premises liability law of Virginia and North Carolina. With significant litigation experience representing numerous individuals injured on others' property, we possess the necessary skills and resources to effectively represent you and fight for the maximum recovery for you! Our commitment is to advocate for your rights and diligently work toward holding negligent property owners accountable.
Please don’t wait. Contact Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC right now for a free initial consultation and discover how we can aid you in your premises liability claim.
Here for you when you need it most.
Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC is proud to service the following Virginia and North Carolina cities:
Virginia Areas We Serve
- Virginia Beach - To ensure easy access to our services, we have an office on Virginia Beach Blvd. near Newtown Road. Our Virginia Beach office is within 400 feet of the Norfolk city line and is centrally located near the Interstate 64/Interstate 264 interchange.
- Chesapeake
- Newport News
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- Williamsburg
- Portsmouth
North Carolina Areas We Serve
- Edenton - Located within walking distance of Edenton's Historic District and less than 10 minutes off of Highway 17.
- Elizabeth City
- Greenville
- The Outer Banks
- The Inner Banks
- Currituck
- Ahoskie
Our firm is technologically proficient with comprehensive case management information systems in place to handle many transactions and documents electronically including signing and paralegals who are Virginia and North Carolina e-notaries.
Virginia Beach Location
Edenton Location
Common Causes
of Premises Liability Incidents
Accidents can happen anywhere, but not all incidents are unavoidable. 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 premises liability claims can assess the facts of your specific situation and knowingly advise you on whether you have a viable case.
Injuries Commonly Seen
in Premises Liability Cases
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 premises liability cases:
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.
Electrocutions: Prevent electrocution injuries by avoiding exposed or defective electrical wiring. Electrocution can cause minor burns to fatal outcomes, depending on the electrical current involved. Children are particularly at risk because they may not recognize the danger posed by electrical outlets or exposed cords.
Burns and Chemical Exposure: Hazards in stores or workplaces can lead to burns or exposure to harmful substances. Burns can result from chemical, electrical, or thermal sources. Severe burns may require immediate medical attention, and chemical exposure can lead to various internal injuries, including lung damage, headaches, and nausea.
Do I Have a Slip and Fall or Premises Liability Injury Case?
Lawyers experienced handling slip and fall and premises liability 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. 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 an invitee 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 your well-being.
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
Premises Liability Injury 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.
Seek Assistance
for Your Premises Liability Injury Case Today
If you or your loved ones are enduring pain and suffering due to a slip and fall or premises injury accident, Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC and our experienced lawyers are here to assist you in seeking full compensation for injuries sustained at stores, restaurants, or on other people's property due to their negligence. When it comes to liabilities related to someone else's property, do not hastily accept a settlement or dismiss the incident as insignificant. Instead, contact us today to learn how we can support your recovery.
Given the intricacies surrounding slip and fall claims, it is crucial that you reach out to an attorney who is knowledgeable and experienced in successfully handling slip and fall and premises cases.
Slaughter and Lupton have decades of trial experience litigating premises cases. Why not trust the team at Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC to manage the legal aspects of your injury claim while you focus on your recovery?
Contact Slaughter & Lupton Law, PLLC for a free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer who understands the challenges of slip and fall accidents. We a're here to guide and support you, and to protect your legal rights.
