Virginia Beach In-Store Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers

Determined representation for injured shoppers in northeastern Virginia

One of the many amenities of Virginia Beach is its rich variety of retail stores. Whether you prefer expansive malls or tiny boutiques, famous brands or handmade curios, you can find what you’re looking for in Virginia Beach. Unfortunately, if a shopkeeper hasn’t been diligent in taking safety precautions, you can also find what you’re not looking for: a hidden hazard that causes a debilitating slip and fall. If you’ve sustained a serious injury due to a store owner’s negligence, a Virginia Beach in-store slip and fall accident lawyer at Ernest Law Group, PLC can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. 

Responsibility of store owners

Under Virginia law, a shopper is an invitee — that is, someone who has been extended an invitation to enter the premises for a business purpose. In extending the invitation, the shop owner assumes a duty to make the premises reasonably safe. That means inspecting for dangerous conditions and either correcting them or providing sufficient warning to customers. A shop owner is therefore liable for injuries that occur due to hidden hazards which the owner either knew about or should have discovered and remedied in time to prevent an accident.

Common issues that lead to slip and fall injuries 

A retail store is a center of activity that can introduce hazards to visitors. People and objects are constantly changing position, and there is constant wear and tear on the premises. Knowing this, shop owners must be vigilant to prevent or correct unsafe conditions that can injure an unwary customer. 

Conditions that can cause a slip and fall include

• An accumulation of snow or ice in the entryway of the store
• Items placed haphazardly in displays or in locations that could cause a customer to trip
• Spills or leaks that make floors slippery
• Poor lighting that results in poor visibility
• Poor floor maintenance, including cracked tiles, worn carpeting and slick surfaces
• Cluttered or obstructed walkways

Shop owners must guard against the risks that these conditions present. However, many shop owners are lax in their safety protocols. They fail to train retail workers to be vigilant and proactive. Often, the warnings they offer about hazards are insufficient, due to poorly placed or vague signage.

Our Virginia Beach slip and fall lawyers investigate cases of in-store injuries

The key to winning an in-store slip and fall case is proving that the shop owner and/or the employees were negligent. Thus, the plaintiff must show that the shop personnel did one of the following:

• Ignored a known hazard
• Failed to discover a hidden hazard that a reasonably vigilant person would have discovered
• Provided an inadequate warning to customers
• Took too long to warn of or remediate a known hazard

Building the case often requires a plaintiff’s attorney to establish a timeline of events that demonstrates negligence on the part of shop personnel. To do this, the attorney must interview witnesses to the events and find and examine other available evidence.

Another important aspect of the case is proving that the slip and fall caused the victim’s injuries. When a victim seeks immediate medical care, the case is generally stronger. When a victim waits days for the pain to set in, a defendant can claim there may have been an intervening event that caused the injuries.

Compensation for victims of in-store accidents

Victims of in-store slip and falls may be entitled to receive compensation for medical bills and other financial losses as well as their pain and suffering.

Contact our Virginia slip and fall attorneys for a free consultation

Ernest Law Group, PLC in Virginia Beach represents victims of in-store slip and fall accidents in the Hampton Roads area. Please call 757-289-2499 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.