Norfolk Slip & Fall Accident Lawyers
Slip and fall accidents can happen almost anywhere in Norfolk, from busy shopping centers and grocery stores to office buildings, apartment complexes, hotels, and restaurants. Locations such as Norfolk Premium Outlets, the former MacArthur Center area, neighborhood shopping plazas, and large retailers like Walmart, Target, Kroger, Harris Teeter, and Food Lion see heavy foot traffic every day. When property owners fail to maintain safe conditions in these spaces, unsuspecting visitors can suffer serious and life-altering injuries.
At Montagna Law, our Norfolk slip and fall accident lawyers represent individuals who were injured because a property owner or business failed to take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe. We understand that these accidents are often sudden, painful, and unfair, and that insurance companies frequently try to minimize or dismiss legitimate claims.
How Slip and Fall Accidents Happen
Slip and fall accidents are typically caused by hazardous conditions that should have been identified and corrected. Common examples include wet or freshly mopped floors without warning signs, spilled liquids in grocery store aisles, uneven pavement in parking lots, loose floor mats, poor lighting, broken handrails, and debris left in walkways.
In retail environments such as grocery stores and shopping malls, spills and hazards can develop quickly, but businesses still have a duty to monitor conditions and respond promptly. In apartment buildings, hotels, and office properties, owners and managers are responsible for making routine inspections, maintenance, and repairs. When those responsibilities are ignored, visitors are put at risk.
Virginia Premises Liability Law
Slip and fall cases in Norfolk fall under Virginia’s premises liability law. Property owners and occupiers owe different duties of care depending on why a person is on the property. Customers and other lawful visitors are generally owed the highest duty of care, which includes the obligation to inspect for dangerous conditions and either correct them or provide adequate warnings.
To succeed in a slip and fall claim, an injured person must typically prove that the property owner knew or should have known about the hazardous condition and failed to take reasonable action. Because Virginia follows a strict contributory negligence rule, property owners and insurers often look for any reason—no matter how minor—to argue that the injured person was at fault. Having skilled legal representation on your side is essential to prevent this from happening.
Serious Injuries Commonly Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are often dismissed as minor incidents, but they can cause extremely serious injuries. Falls frequently result in broken wrists, arms, ankles, and hips, as well as knee and shoulder injuries that may require surgery. Head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries, are also common, particularly when a person strikes the floor or another object.
Older adults are especially vulnerable to severe outcomes, including permanent mobility loss and complications that significantly reduce independence and quality of life. Montagna Law takes these injuries seriously and works to ensure that the full scope of harm is reflected in any claim for compensation.
Insurance Company Tactics in Slip and Fall Cases
Property owners and their insurance companies often respond aggressively to slip and fall claims. They may argue that the hazard was open and obvious, that the injured person was not paying attention, or that the condition existed for too short a time to be discovered. Surveillance footage may be selectively used, and statements may be taken in ways that attempt to shift blame onto the victim.
Montagna Law understands these tactics and knows how to counter them. We gather maintenance records, incident reports, surveillance footage, witness statements, and expert analysis to demonstrate how and why a property owner failed to meet its legal obligations.
Where Slip and Fall Accidents Commonly Occur in Norfolk
Slip and fall accidents frequently occur in places such as:
- Shopping centers and retail stores, including Norfolk Premium Outlets, grocery stores, big-box retailers, and neighborhood plazas
- Apartment complexes, hotels, office buildings, and medical facilities
These locations have a legal duty to anticipate foot traffic and maintain safe walking surfaces for customers, tenants, and guests.
How Montagna Law Helps Slip and Fall Victims in Norfolk
Slip and fall claims require prompt investigation. Hazardous conditions may be repaired quickly, and critical evidence can disappear if action is not taken right away. Montagna Law moves quickly to preserve evidence and build a strong case.
We pride ourselves on accessibility and personal attention. You know who your lawyer is, you can call anytime, and we meet with clients in person, by phone, or by video—whatever works best for you. Our goal is to reduce stress while pursuing results that allow our clients to move forward with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have a claim if I slipped in a grocery store?
Possibly. Grocery stores have a duty to monitor aisles and address spills and hazards in a reasonable time. Whether you have a claim depends on how long the condition existed and whether the store failed to act appropriately.
What if there was no warning sign?
The absence of warning signs can be strong evidence of negligence, particularly when a hazard such as a wet floor or uneven surface should have been anticipated and clearly marked.
Can I still recover compensation if I fell in a parking lot?
Yes. Property owners are responsible for maintaining parking lots, including repairing potholes, addressing drainage issues, and providing adequate lighting.
What compensation is available after a slip and fall accident?
Compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, future care costs, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life, depending on the severity of the injuries.
Speak With a Norfolk Slip & Fall Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a slip and fall accident at a Norfolk shopping center, grocery store, apartment complex, or other property, you deserve legal guidance you can trust. Montagna Law’s Norfolk slip and fall accident lawyers are committed to personal attention, accessibility, and results.
Contact Montagna Law today to speak directly with an experienced premises liability attorney and learn how we can help you pursue full and fair compensation after a serious fall.