- Last Updated: 04 Jun. 2025
High-traffic commercial areas such as hotels, restaurants, stores, and other businesses owe a duty of care to their patrons. When they fail to adhere to basic safety standards, they can be held liable by a Virginia Beach premises liability lawyer for any injuries that occur because of their negligence. To learn more or get started on your claim, schedule a consultation with an injury lawyer in Virginia Beach today.
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On This Page
- How the Premises Liability Attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Can Help
- Examples of Premises Liability
- Available Compensation After an Accident
- Can I Still Get Compensated if I Was Partially at Fault?
- What Is the Deadline to File a Claim?
- Does the Type of Property Affect Your Premises Liability Case?
- Contacting a Virginia Beach Premises Liability Lawyer
How the Premises Liability Attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Can Help
Our premises liability attorneys fight for injury victims throughout Virginia Beach and the coastal region. We’re a growing firm that offers the personal attention of a small practice, and our team is committed to getting you the compensation you deserve.
Local Expertise
As a local Virginia Beach firm, we use our ties to the community to build your case. We have a network of expert witnesses and accident investigators who help us to demonstrate property owner negligence and clear our clients of responsibility for their injuries.
Local hospitals and doctors’ offices know us and respect our commitment to clients’ well-being. Our familiarity with local accident hotspots allows us to build stronger cases, and we leverage our extensive experience in property liability to protect your right to compensation.
Results and Accolades
We have secured millions in verdicts and settlements for our premises liability clients, including:
- $6 million for a veteran who became paralyzed after a fall
- $400,000 for a guest injured on hotel property
Our experienced attorneys have received numerous honors for their work. Founding partners John M. Cooper and Jim Hurley are Lawyers of Distinction and were featured in the Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia in 2023. Our attorneys have also appeared in publications such as Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers.
No Fees Unless We Win
At our Virginia Beach premises liability law firm, we understand you may be experiencing financial strain after an injury. We protect your peace of mind by working on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless and until we win your case. Initial consultations are always free.
Examples of Premises Liability
Slip and fall accidents are often the first thing that comes to mind when people hear premises liability. While these incidents are common, premises liability law covers a much broader range of hazardous property conditions, including:
- Inadequate lighting
- Inadequate security
- Hazardous walkways
- Improperly stored merchandise
- Dangerous structures
- Improper maintenance
- Defective conditions
If you sustain an injury on someone else’s property—even if a third party caused that injury—you may have a right to file a premises liability lawsuit. Our Virginia Beach premises liability attorneys, John Cooper and Jim Hurley, can thoroughly examine your claim to help you determine if a negligent property owner can be held responsible for your injuries.
Available Compensation After an Accident
If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property and they are at fault, you deserve compensation for your losses. Available damages depend on the accident circumstances and the severity of the injury, with catastrophic injuries typically receiving larger settlements.
For example, many patients with traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage need lifelong medical care and daily support. Someone with a broken bone from a slip and fall accident may face lower medical costs, but their compensation should still reflect their losses.
A personal injury lawsuit should cover all damages, including economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses address direct out-of-pocket expenses, such as:
- Current and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Skilled nursing or in-home care
- Transportation to and from appointments
- Disability accommodations, including equipment and home renovations
Non-economic damages compensate victims for physical and emotional pain and suffering, including loss of enjoyment of life.
If you lost a loved one in a premises liability incident, you may also qualify for wrongful death damages. These include treatment costs for the fatal injury, as well as end-of-life costs and compensation for lost family income and services..
Can I Still Get Compensated if I Was Partially at Fault?
While some states allow victims to claim partial compensation if they share fault for the incident, Virginia follows the strict rule of contributory negligence. Under this system, a plaintiff may not file for damages if they are even minimally responsible for their suffering.
Property owners and insurers in Virginia often use the contributory negligence rule to their advantage by highlighting even minor missteps. For example, if a plaintiff slipped on ice, the defense might argue that the plaintiff’s smooth-soled shoes contributed to the fall.
Our attorneys regularly challenge insurance companies that rely on contributory negligence defenses. We use our extensive resources to demonstrate the property owner’s fault and fight for maximum damages.
What Is the Deadline to File a Claim?
Virginia’s statute of limitations for typical injury cases, including most premises liability claims, is two years from the date of the accident. In wrongful death matters, those two years begin on the date of death.
While some exceptions exist, missing your deadline usually means losing your right to compensation. It’s crucial to act quickly and seek legal counsel immediately after an accident. Two years may seem like a long time, but building a strong case requires thorough preparation. The longer your Virginia Beach premises liability attorney has to investigate, collect evidence, and consult with experts, the more effectively they can protect your claim.
Does the Type of Property Affect Your Premises Liability Case?
The rules surrounding premises liability cases can be different depending on whether the incident involved a landlord, business, or government entity.
Special rules of notice apply to government entities. For example, if the accident happened on local government property, you can’t file a lawsuit unless you also file a written statement explaining your claim. You also must submit this statement within six months to be eligible for legal action. If you sustained your injury on state property, you have one year to file a notice with the Commonwealth.
In both scenarios, the relevant government entity will only consider the notice filed when the appropriate office has received it.
Cases involving private businesses are not subject to these restrictions. They have a duty of care to protect their visitors. This means all premises must be safe for employees or customers, as applicable.
Landlords have a similar duty to maintain common areas, but might not be liable for accidents in private apartments. However, an exception could exist if the tenant submits a repair request per the tenant agreement.
Given the complexity of these rules, it’s critical to consult with an experienced Virginia Beach premises liability lawyer if you plan to file a claim.
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Contacting a Virginia Beach Premises Liability Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a poorly managed property, our Virginia Beach premises liability attorneys can help. We have locations throughout the Hampton Roads area, including two offices in Virginia Beach.
Call (757) 333-333 or contact us online for a free case evaluation. You won’t pay unless we win.
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