Doctor who Slipped on Waxed Floor in Wal-Mart in Fredericksburg, VA is Awarded $11.25 Million

Big stores such as Wal-Mart are well aware of the dangers from customers hurting themselves in their stores. That doesn’t mean slip and fall lawsuits aren’t still being filed against them.

In Stafford County, Virginia, a jury recently awarded $11.25 million in the case of a doctor who suffered a permanent back injury when he slipped and fell on a “recently treated patch of floor,” Virginia Lawyers Weekly reported.

The verdict was returned for oncologist Christopher Walsh on Feb. 13, 2013 after a three-day trial.

According to the plaintiff’s lawyers, a Wal-Mart employee at a store in Fredericksburg, VA had stripped and waxed the floor and had gone to get safety cones to indicate the danger. But, while he did so, there was no warning that the floor was slippery.

The fall caused the doctor to injure his elbow but a more serious and permanent problem with his spine that was caused by the fall became apparent 18 months later when a spinal fracture was discovered. Spinal injuries are often severe. See this article by our Virginia Beach injury lawyers on spinal injuries.

The plaintiff was represented by Virginia attorney John P. Harris.

I see a number of slip and fall or premises liability injuries as a Virginia Beach accident lawyer. Although these injuries are not always serious, the case in Fredericksburg illustrates they can have life changing consequences that are not always apparent at the time of the fall.

Wet or waxed floors are a common factor. But other problems can lead to slip and fall cases. In 2011 a case was settled in Newport News of a man who hurt himself when he slipped on dog feces in the PetsMart store in Newport News, VA.

If you have been injured in a store contact an experienced Virginia premises liability attorney

The Norfolk, VA based personal injury law firm, Cooper Hurley with client meeting locations in Virginia Beach and Hampton, handles automobile, truck, and motorcycle injuries as well as wrongful death, railroad injury cases and medical malpractice. John Cooper and Jim Hurley have over 40 years of combined experience in handling auto injury accident claims. Attorney John Cooper has been named to Virginia “Super Lawyers” since 2010. Cooper Hurley represents people hurt in accidents in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and throughout VA. If you need help or advice about a serious injury, please call us at (757) 455 -0077 or see CooperHurley.com