Dangerous conditions are a liability that most property owners, homeowners, and businesses want to limit. Unfortunately, some people are not concerned with the safety of guests, patrons, and tenants. When unsafe conditions cause a personal injury, you can hold the property owner or the business responsible for your injuries and property damage. Consulting with an experienced Arlington County premises liability attorney is your first step toward justice.
Regan Zambri Long’s legal team has extensive experience with Arlington premises liability practice areas. Schedule a free consultation today online or by calling 202-960-4596.
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Premises liability accidents occur when unsafe conditions cause injury or property damage. Property owners or business operators owe their tenants and patrons a duty of care. This includes making sure all premises are safe or that you are warned of potential hazards.
Serious injuries can occur when the duty of care is violated. You may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit in Northern Virginia if you can prove that the responsible party was negligent and that negligence caused your injuries.
Regan Zambri Long’s experienced premises liability lawyers handle all kinds of cases. Some of the most common types include:
Slips and falls are the most common accidents. They can be especially damaging and cause broken bones and head and brain injuries. Wet floors at grocery stores, dust or dirt coating the floor, or obstructions on walkways are common causes of fall accidents. Elderly populations are at increased risk for serious injuries after a fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 26.4 percent of Virginia’s elderly population (65+) had a fall in 2020.
Property owners or residents are liable only for their domesticated animals. Virginia’s one-bite rule states that a first bite is not grounds for a liability claim. However, if it can be shown that the owner knew or should have known that the animal was aggressive, the one-bite rule may not apply. A knowledgeable attorney will help you understand your legal options. In the United States, nearly 4.7 million people suffer dog bites each year.
Property owners, landlords, and businesses are responsible for regular maintenance to keep premises safe. These include:
Some commercial and older properties may expose tenants or patrons to hazardous substances. You can file a premises liability claim when you can prove that the property or business owner was aware of the situation or should have been aware.
Part of maintaining safe conditions is taking reasonable security measures. Particularly for businesses or landlords in high-crime areas, security must take reasonable care against crime trends. Negligent security can include:
Hiring legal counsel is always in your best interest when making any personal injury claim. An experienced premises liability attorney will negotiate with insurance companies to recover a fair settlement. If your case needs to go to trial, your lawyer will build your case and argue it before a jury.
Your time will be taken up with medical treatment and recovering from your injuries. Regan Zambri Long can ensure you receive fair compensation for medical bills, property damage, and other losses.
Virginia’s statute of limitations on personal injury cases is two years. That means you have two years from the accident date to file your claim. A lawyer from Regan Zambri Long will provide legal advice and ensure your claim is filed in time.
The responsible party would willingly pay for your injuries and damage in a perfect world. Unfortunately, too many insurance companies and businesses care more about money than justice. The injured party must prove liability before any financial compensation is paid.
Premises liability claims hinge on the legal concept of negligence:
Virginia negligence standards prohibit anyone who contributed to an accident from recovering compensation. A premises liability attorney is invaluable in proving negligence.
Virginia premises liability law requires different duties of care, depending on the purpose for being on the property and whether it is public or private property.
An invitee is someone who has been expressly invited onto the property. This can be further categorized as:
The duty of care owed to invitees includes inspection for hazards and correction or warning of hazards.
A licensee is someone who has been permitted to be on the property. The owner can be liable for any hazards they knew about but did not correct or disclose to the licensee. A property owner is not legally required to inspect the property for hazards for a licensee.
A trespasser is someone who enters a property without legal right or permission. This includes burglars, squatters, and loiterers. In general, private property owners have no duty of care to trespassers.
If you are injured on another person’s property, you are entitled to compensation for your premises liability injuries and damages.
Economic damages include all direct financial losses, such as:
Non-economic damages include:
In some cases, a jury may also award punitive damages. These payments are a fine or punishment for the negligent property owner.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Top Arlington, VA Premises Liability Attorney
Property owners must exercise reasonable care regarding property safety and maintenance. You are entitled to fair compensation when you or your loved one are injured because of hazardous conditions on someone’s property. The Arlington personal injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long have over three decades of experience with premises liability cases. Let our Arlington Virginia personal injury law firm ensure justice is served.
We operate on a contingency basis, meaning we don’t take any payment until we’ve recovered in your favor. The press and peers recognize our law firm’s track record of success, making us some of Northern Virginia’s best personal injury attorneys.
Schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced attorney today by calling 202-960-4596.