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In addition to car accident cases and railroad accidents, Accidental Injury Advocates, Ltd., also handles select Premises Liability Cases, or what are commonly referred to as "slip and fall" cases.
Typically, these injuries occur inside grocery Stores, "Big Box" retailers, convenience stores, and restaraunts as a result of water or the presence of other types of substances or debris on the floor.
These cases are usually hotly contested by retailers in Virginia and North Carolina due to the defense of contributory negligence. The retailer will claim that the condition that caused the fall was "open and obvious" and that the injured person should have seen the condition which caused the fall. If a judge or jury determines that the item or spill which caused your fall was one which a reasonable person should have seen, the injured person will lose the case.
Therefore, before moving ahead with one of these cases, it is best to try to acquire as much information as possible as to the condition which caused your fall: Did anyone witness the item, debris, or spill which caused you to fall before your fall took place? How long had the condition been there? Had any customers complained about the debris or spill before your fall? Was the item, debris, or spill in an area that was frequently travelled by customers, such as an entrance or an exit to the store? Did anyone in management make any statements as to how long the spill or debris had been there? Who were the witnesses and their names and addresses? Why didn't the injured person see the debris or substance which caused the fall? Was it hidden or disguised in some way?
Because of the defense of contributory negligence in Virginia and North Carolina, all attorneys in these states, and other states that still have the contributory negligence defense, carefully screen these cases to make sure it is worthwhile to pursue; however, with the right factual answers to the above questions, these cases present an opportunity for the injured person to be fully and fairly compensated for their injuries, especially where the injury took place inside a large "chain" or "big box" store. If you were injured in or around any business establishment, and want to know if you may have a case, please call us toll free at 877-622-8656, or click on the "contact us" or "submit a case" link above to get your response within 24 hours. |
