Richmond Premises Liability Lawyers
When you enter someone else’s property, whether it’s a home or apartment complex, a business, a government building or a public space, you expect to be reasonably safe from harm and that there are no hidden dangers or defects that could injure you. Unfortunately, accidents can and do occur precisely because the property owner was negligent in the way they maintained the premises. At Latham & Martin, our personal injury attorneys help injury victims recover compensation when they were injured because of the negligence of another. Our practice in this area includes representing victims of slip and falls, trip and falls, dog bites and animal attacks, and even people who were robbed or assaulted because of the property owner’s inadequate security measures. Learn more below about the different types of accidents and injuries that can occur on another’s property, and contact our experienced Richmond premises liability lawyers if you or a loved one has suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence.
What Is Premises Liability?
Premises liability refers to the legal responsibility that property owners have to ensure the safety of individuals on their property. This encompasses a wide range of situations, from slip and fall accidents to injuries caused by inadequate security. It is the duty of property owners to take reasonable precautions to prevent foreseeable harm. However, the duty owed by the property owner under Virginia premises liability law differs depending on the legal status of the injury victim, making premises liability cases in Virginia more complex than in some other jurisdictions. Virginia law classifies accident victims and the duties owed to them in three ways: invitees, licensees, and trespassers.
- Invitee: An invitee is a person who is on the property for the benefit of the property owner, such as a customer in a store. Property owners owe the highest duty to invitees to make sure the premises are safe. This duty includes making reasonable, periodic inspections of the property and promptly fixing any hazards or warning the public of any dangers.
- Licensee: A licensee is someone lawfully on the property, even without being invited to enter. A licensee might be someone who enters the property to deliver packages or make a sales call, for instance. Property owners owe a duty to warn licensees of any known dangers, but a property owner might not be liable if the licensee gets hurt because of a dangerous condition the property owner didn’t know about.
- Trespasser: A trespasser is someone who does not have a lawful right to be on the property. Trespassers can include people who wander into the “employees only” section of a store or who stay in a building after it is closed. Generally, property owners don’t owe any duties to trespassers and aren’t responsible for their safety, although property owners can’t deliberately try to injure trespassers by setting out traps or creating dangers.
Four Common Types of Premises Liability Cases
- Slip and Fall Accidents: These are the most common premises liability claims and include injuries caused by wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poorly maintained walkways. Trip and fall accidents are also commonly referred to as slip and fall, although there are important differences in the reason for the accident, the way it happens, and the injuries that typically occur.
- Negligent Security: Property owners may be held liable if a lack of security or inadequate encourages or makes it easier to commit an assault or theft. The level of security required differs from place to place based on a number of factors such as location and history of criminal activity in the area. At a minimum, maintaining adequate lighting and working locks on doors and windows are basic security measures that should be in place anywhere, although more may be required in certain areas.
- Dog Bites: If a dog attacks someone on the property, the owner may be held responsible. Many factors go into determining liability for a dog bite or animal attack, including whether the owner knew or had any reason to know the dog might act aggressively or bite, whether the owner was negligent in the way the animal was kept or controlled, and whether the victim can be said to have been careless or provoked the attack.
- Swimming Pool Accidents: Virginia law requires barriers around private swimming pools that meet certain standards, along with self-closing and self-latching gates. Owners of private pools who fail to meet these standards, or public pools that violate regulations regarding supervision and safety can be liable to families when tragic, preventable drownings or other swimming pool accidents occur.
How Latham & Martin Can Help
Our team of experienced attorneys at Latham & Martin understands the complexities of premises liability laws in Virginia. We are committed to thoroughly investigating your case, negotiating with insurance companies, and if necessary, fighting for your rights in court. We believe that you deserve fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering.
Our firm was founded on the premise of providing individualized attention to every client. You can count on us to work with you directly, answer your questions, understand your situation, and devote all our resources toward getting you a full and fair amount of compensation for the harm that has been done to you.
Contact Latham & Martin Today
We invite you to schedule a free consultation with one of our dedicated attorneys to discuss your specific situation and explore your legal options. At Latham & Martin, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property in Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield, Petersburg, Hopewell, Colonial Heights or surrounding areas, call the Richmond law office Latham & Martin for immediate assistance from a team of experienced and dedicated premises liability lawyers.
