Manassas Premises Liability Lawyers

When a person is shopping at a grocery store, visiting a friend's home, or spending time at a local pool, they could be at risk of a serious injury. When property owners fail to fix hazards, ignore warning signs of danger, or do not take reasonable steps to keep visitors safe, accidents and injuries can occur. These cases fall under a category of law known as premises liability, and they can leave victims facing medical bills, lost wages, and long recovery periods.

At Parthemos, Curran, Buelow and Polizzi, PLLC, our attorneys provide legal help to clients in Manassas who have been injured while visiting someone else's property. We can address issues such as careless maintenance, inadequate security, or other unsafe conditions. By investigating the causes of accidents, highlighting negligence by property owners, and calculating the damages our clients have suffered, we can take steps to ensure that they will be able to receive compensation for injuries that took place because of hazardous conditions on a property.

Responsibilities of Property Owners

When someone is invited to visit property owned by someone else, they expect that their safety will be protected. Property owners are required to ensure that their premises are reasonably safe. They must inspect their properties to identify potential hazards, repair or correct dangerous conditions within a reasonable amount of time, and warn visitors about potential risks due to any hazards that are present. A grocery store, for example, is expected to clean up spills promptly or place warning signs near wet floors. A landlord is expected to maintain handrails, walkways, and lighting in common areas to ensure that residents and visitors will be safe.

Slip and Fall Injuries

Some of the most common reasons why people may be injured while visiting property owned by others involve slip and fall accidents. Hazards on a property that may not be noticed by visitors can lead them to lose their footing and fall down. Even though these accidents may seem like minor incidents in many situations, they can lead to serious injuries.

Slip and fall injuries can take place in a variety of locations, including:

• Retail Stores: Spilled liquids or freshly mopped floors can cause walking surfaces in stores to be slippery. Tripping hazards may also put people at risk due to defective floor mats or merchandise in aisles.
• Restaurants: Grease can build up in kitchens or dining areas, making floors slippery. Spills, uneven flooring, or other hazards may also lead to fall injuries.
• Apartment Complexes: The stairwells in apartment buildings may be poorly lit, or they may have broken handrails or other defects that can lead to falls. Issues such as cracked sidewalks may also lead to injuries to residents or visitors.
• Parking Lots and Garages: Potholes can put people at risk of fall injuries when they are walking to or from their vehicles. Other issues, such as damaged curbs or poor lighting in parking garages, may also lead to fall injuries.
• Office Buildings: Torn carpeting, objects in walkways, extension cords, or floors that have been waxed recently can present hazards to workers or visitors in offices.

Even when a fall accident may seem to be minor, it can result in serious harm. People may suffer injuries like fractures, torn ligaments, traumatic brain injuries, or dislocated joints. Older adults may suffer hip fractures or other issues that can lead to long-term health complications in falls.

Negligent Security Claims

Property owners are required to take steps to protect people's safety in locations such as apartment complexes, hotels, shopping centers, and parking garages. This includes the requirement to provide security measures that can help to prevent criminal activity. When a property does not replace broken locks, does not provide adequate lighting, does not install security cameras, or does not keep security guards on staff, they may be held responsible for harm suffered by visitors because of assaults, robberies, or other crimes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Premises Liability

Options for Dog Bite Victims

When dogs attack people, they can inflict serious injuries. In some cases, dog bite victims can take steps to recover compensation for their injuries. They may be able to hold a dog's owner liable for their failure to control their animal, or other parties who had control over a dog may be held responsible in certain situations.

When addressing dog bite injuries, the laws in Virginia generally follow what is known as the "one bite" rule. A dog's owner may be held responsible if they knew that their dog had dangerous tendencies. That is, if a dog had bitten someone in the past, the owner may be liable if their dog attacks someone else. In certain other situations, pet owners may be held responsible for negligence, such as when they have failed to keep a dog on a leash or contained within a fence, and the dog goes on to attack someone who was walking nearby.

Other Premises Liability Cases

Parthemos, Curran, Buelow and Polizzi, PLLC can provide legal help in other situations where people may be injured while visiting other people's property, including:

• Swimming Pool Accidents: We can help address drownings or other injuries caused by missing safety barriers, lack of proper supervision, or failure to maintain pool decks and equipment.
• Elevator and Escalator Accidents: When poor maintenance or mechanical malfunctions lead to falls or entrapment, or other types of injuries, we can take steps to determine who was responsible.
• Falling Objects: When merchandise is not stored correctly in stores, or when shelves are unsecured, items may fall and injure people.
• Amusement Park and Recreational Facility Injuries: Injuries may occur in these locations due to faulty equipment or inadequate staff training.
• Fires: When fires occur, people may suffer injuries because of safety issues such as blocked exits or malfunctioning smoke detectors.

Contact Our Manassas, Virginia Premises Liability Attorneys

At Parthemos, Curran, Buelow and Polizzi, PLLC, we can take steps to demonstrate that a property owner was responsible for injuries suffered by a visitor, or we can determine whether other parties may be held liable for a slip and fall accident, dog bite injury, or other issues that have caused our clients to suffer harm. Contact our Manassas, VA premises liability claim lawyers at 540-662-4222 to schedule a free consultation.