Annually, numerous individuals are hurt when property owners or managers neglect to repair dangerous property conditions. If you have suffered an injury on a Staunton property, you must understand the legal protections afforded to you under Staunton premises liability law. A trained Staunton premises liability lawyer could review your case and explain intricate legal statutes. Reach out to a personal injury lawyer at The Warren Firm today to see what could be done to help you make a recovery.
Under Virginia law, property owners must not breach their duty of care by ensuring their property is safe for visitors. Should owners neglect this duty, they could be liable for the subsequent injuries victims endure.
The duty of care a property owner is obligated to provide a visitor, however, depends on the relationship between the visitor and the property owner. Legally, people visiting any property at any point in time are categorized as either invitees, licensees, or trespassers.
Invitees received either an expressed or implied invitation from the property owner to enter, and thus, are owed a high duty of care. Licensees are authorized to be on the property, and so a property owner must warn them of any dangerous conditions. Lastly, trespassers do not have permission to be on the property and are not owed a duty of care by the property owner.
There are many types of property and accidents that are covered by Staunton premises liability law. Some of the more common types of premises liability claims include:
Property owners’ insurance companies do not readily compensate injured parties for many types of damages. These companies appoint insurance adjusters to investigate the surrounding circumstances of a claim. During this investigation, the adjuster may attempt to induce an admission of liability from the injured party. Thus, it is crucial that an injured person does not answer any leading questions from the other party’s insurance company or prematurely accept a lump sum settlement
This type of admission could prevent an accident victim from successfully filing a lawsuit. It could be difficult for injured parties to receive the damages they are entitled to in full without the assistance of an experienced Staunton premises liability attorney.
Credible evidence may strengthen an injured party’s claim that a property owner breached his or her duty of care. Examples of useful evidence include pictures of the hazardous conditions after the accident happened, copies of accident reports made to the police or property owner, and medical records that document the severity of the potential plaintiff’s injuries.
It can be overwhelming for injured victims to gather this evidence as they are recovering from injuries. Thankfully, an experienced Staunton premises liability case attorney could assist an injured party by gathering evidence and investigating the property owner.
If you or someone you know was injured by a hazardous condition on someone else’s property in Staunton, do not delay speaking to a seasoned attorney at Warren Law. A Staunton premises liability lawyer could review your case and stand up for your rights. Call today to consult with one of our attorneys as soon as possible.