Chesapeake Premises Liability Lawyer
- Last Updated: 14 May. 2025
Property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their premises safe. At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, we use our extensive experience and expertise in local area laws to fight for victims who have been hurt on hazardous properties.
If you’ve been injured at Greenbrier Mall, Crossways Shopping Center, Chesapeake Square Mall, any of Chesapeake’s six Walmarts, or at one of the many local restaurants, it’s a good idea to reach out to a local attorney for guidance on your case.
Contact a skilled Chesapeake premises liability lawyer at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers today to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
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On This Page
- Why Choose Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers for Your Premises Liability Case?
- What Are Your Legal Rights After a Premises Liability Accident in Chesapeake?
- Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Premises Liability Accident?
- How Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Builds a Strong Premises Liability Case
- How Virginia’s Contributory Negligence Law Affects Your Case
- Get Help From a Chesapeake Premises Liability Lawyer Today
Why Choose Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers for Your Premises Liability Case?
When you need a personal injury lawyer, reputation matters. Our trusted lawyers have over 120 years of combined experience serving the state of Virginia, and we know Chesapeake well. We have dedicated our careers to serving our neighbors, representing their interests against powerful businesses and insurance companies.
Our skilled attorneys have received multiple Best Lawyers accolades, and we are proud to be a repeat Gold Award recipient in the Best Overall Law Firm category for the COVA Best of Business competition in Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach.
Since establishing our practice in Virginia, we have secured tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients. Our track record includes multiple premises liability wins, including $400,000 for a hotel guest and over $300,000 for a man injured at a rail yard.
We back our expertise with a “no win, no fee” guarantee. If you don’t receive compensation in your premises liability case, you won’t owe any legal fees. Contact our knowledgeable Chesapeake premises liability lawyers today to discuss your case and take the first step toward securing the compensation you deserve.
“We do nothing but personal injury. Our focus on these cases means we’re exceptionally skilled at handling the claims our clients come to us for — it’s what we do every day.” – John Cooper
What Are Your Legal Rights After a Premises Liability Accident in Chesapeake?
If you have been injured due to another party’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses. This applies to premises liability victims, who have been injured in slip and fall accidents, structural collapse incidents, gas explosions, and animal attacks. Typical scenarios that create premises liability for property owners include things like poorly lit restaurants and improper signage on wet floors.
In these cases, injured victims may be entitled to compensation for their damages, including related expenses, including medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and personal property damage. Additionally, compensation for pain and suffering, inconvenience, and mental anguishmay also be available, if there is enough evidence to support a premises liability claim.
In some instances, your compensation may also include punitive damages if the defendant acted with malice or conscious disregard for others’ safety. To receive punitive damages, you must demonstrate that the defendant knew their actions were likely to cause harm or injury to someone. These damages are intended to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior in the future.
Consult a skilled attorney as soon as possible for help with your premises liability claim. Chesapeake cases are subject to Virginia’s statute of limitations law, which establishes a two-year filing deadline for personal injury cases, including premises liability claims.
This time frame generally begins on the date of your accident. Act quickly to avoid missing the deadline. Building a strong case requires careful preparation and time to ensure you have the best chance of securing a fair settlement or verdict.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Premises Liability Accident?
A person or business can be liable for an injury if they created or failed to remedy dangerous conditions. In a premises liability claim, that party may be:
- Property owners: Individuals or entities who hold the deed to private, public, or commercial land or buildings.
- Tenants or leaseholders: Individuals or organizations that rent a space and are responsible for its condition and safety.
- Maintenance companies: Third parties or contractors with the duty to keep a property safe for occupants.
- Managers or custodians of public spaces: Official caretakers responsible for overseeing and maintaining the safety of public areas.
One of the key responsibilities of a premises liability attorney in Chesapeake is determining who was at fault for an accident. This involves gathering evidence and thoroughly investigating what caused the incident. A thorough investigation helps identify the responsible party and strengthens your case for compensation.
What Do I Need To Prove To Win a Chesapeake Premises Liability Lawsuit?
Winning a liability case requires proof of negligence. For negligence to be present in your case, four elements must be present:
- Duty of Care: The responsible party had a duty to maintain a safe environment and ensure hazards do not harm visitors who are lawfully on the property.
- Breach of Duty: The responsible party failed to uphold this duty by not maintaining a safe environment or failing to address hazards that posed a risk of harm to those legally on the property.
- Causation: The victim’s injuries were directly caused by the defendant’s breach of duty, meaning the defendant’s actions or failure to act led to the victim’s injury and losses.
- Damages: The victim must show that the injury they suffered resulted from the accident.
Proving liability is the primary goal in any civil lawsuit. To win your case, a skilled Chesapeake premises liability attorney must demonstrate that your accident occurred because the property owner failed to meet their duty to maintain a safe environment and ensure their property was free from hazards that could cause harm.
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How Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Builds a Strong Premises Liability Case
Premises liability claims often begin with the property owner denying responsibility. Our experienced attorneys have the skill and resources to hold at-fault businesses accountable, despite their claims to the contrary.
Case Preparation and Demonstration of Negligence
We begin by thoroughly investigating the incident. We cast a wide net and gather as much evidence as possible, including surveillance footage, witness statements, and photos of the scene. We can also conduct a site inspection with the necessary experts to ensure that data is captured before the scene of the injury changes. We can also review medical records and confer with medical experts to understand your losses.
The documentation we collect allows us to counter false narratives and challenge denials of liability. We highlight evidence showing the other party could have avoided the accident, but didn’t. By painting a picture of the defendant’s negligence, we work to pursue maximum compensation.
Negotiation and Trial
Businesses and property owners work with insurance companies, whose role is to avoid liability. Our attorneys come to the table with the skills and resources we need to defend your rights and fight for fair compensation.
We push back against unfairly low offers and are not afraid to go to trial if necessary. Your fair compensation is our top priority.
Hear From One of Our Chesapeake Clients:
How Virginia's Contributory Negligence Law Affects Your Case
Virginia has one of the strictest contributory negligence laws in the country. While most states allow you to recover damages if you are partially at fault, Virginia uses a harsh contributory negligence rule that bars victims from recovering compensation if they share any responsibility for the incident. If the defendant can prove that you contributed to the accident in any way, they can avoid paying any damages.
Our expert attorneys have extensive experience practicing in Virginia and are skilled at navigating the tactics property owners and insurers often use to try and shift blame to a victim, and we know how to fight back.
We have a strong track record of securing excellent case results, and we’ll put forth maximum effort from day one to build a strong case on your behalf. We’ll thoroughly investigate the incident to find proof of negligence and argue against any claims of shared fault. In Virginia, where blame is all or nothing, we’ll work hard to establish the other party’s liability and give you the best chance at securing the compensation you deserve.
Get Help From a Chesapeake Premises Liability Lawyer Today
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers has one goal: to fight for your rights as a victim of premises negligence. We have the experience, skill, and local knowledge necessary to succeed, and we put you first every step of the way.
Don’t shoulder the burden of your injuries alone. Call (757) 333-3333 now or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation with one of our trusted Chesapeake premises liability lawyers.
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