Harris Teeter and Beyond: Safety Considerations for Charlottesville Grocery Stores

August 5, 2015 in Personal Injury Articles | MARTIN WREN, P.C. | LEAVE A COMMENT

Virginia Business Lawyers

As individuals who have to deal with the cold, hard facts of public safety every day, professional injury lawyers sometimes consider what types of community spaces are relevant to their professions and how they counsel clients. So, what types of public spaces are relevant to the personal injury field?

While any public area can be part of a personal injury case, some are more relevant because they are spaces where people congregate more frequently. Grocery store chains are a good example.

In the most basic and fundamental sense, these businesses are vital community spaces. They store the fresh food that residents need on a daily basis and they substantial amounts of foot and vehicle traffic each day. It’s easy to understand the massive volume of traffic in and out of one of these businesses just by pulling into the parking lot or spending time near the entrance and exit doors.

With that in mind, issues of premises liability apply for these types of businesses.

One potential issue for grocery store chains is the possibility of a slip and fall injury, which is one that governs the question of whether victims who fall on slick, uneven or icy surfaces deserve compensation. Virginia statutes and other factors apply to these types of cases where skilled lawyers look for specific kinds of negligence or inattention to public safety. There’s a core standard that most of these businesses adhere to in order to at least minimize their liability in a court of law.

Beyond that, there are busy outdoor areas that are often shared between businesses where other specific risks apply. Professional attorneys and others understand that with respect to this type of safety issue, the development of the specific commercial installation is a big factor. Engineers have to understand traffic flow and how vehicles and pedestrians will be interacting in the public space. Better designed lots and installations lead to better safety. The lack of proper safety precautions such as warning signs, crosswalks, visibly-lined parking spaces and other standard concessions can cause a liability for a business.

Helping an Injury Victim

When an injury victim seeks guidance from an attorney, he or she is looking for comprehensive help with bringing a case forward. Harmed individuals need to be advised of any limitations or obstacles to pursuing compensation. They often need help with dealing with insurance companies or determining how to get injuries documented. They need information on the legal process in general, as well as court dates. Qualified injury lawyers provide this type of representation and help to keep clients informed about their cases.

Let a Virginia Injury Law Firm Help

If you have been injured in or around Charlottesville or Albemarle County, the professional injury lawyers at MartinWren, PPC, can help. We have experience helping individual and families bring a personal injury or wrongful death case forward in Virginia, and we look at whether precautions and safeguards were in place before an accident to limit potential risks. Let us help you get your voice heard in local courts.

Contact Our Virginia Lawyers

We serve clients throughout Virginia — from Charlottesville and Central Virginia to metropolitan Richmond; Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley to Roanoke; and the cities of Hampton Roads to the Northern Virginia cities of  Fairfax, Alexandria and Arlington.

To speak with one of our attorneys, please call us at (434) 817-3100.

Our Virginia personal injury lawyers at MartinWren, P.C. have a statewide practice and offer free consultations at a time and location that is convenient for you.  We will gladly meet with you at your home or at the hospital, even on nights and weekends.

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