Who Is Responsible if I Slip and Fall on a Sidewalk Outside of a Store?

Store owners, building owners, and property managers are responsible for properly maintaining their property so that those walking outside are not in danger of slipping and falling. While this liability extends to many slip and fall accidents, it does not extend to all of them. If you’ve slipped and fallen outside a store, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries and financial losses.

Sidewalk Slip and Fall Accidents

There are several types of slip and fall accidents. These circumstances of the accident will likely play a large role in determining who is liable for a slip and fall accident. A few examples of such circumstances may include:

• Property damage: If the sidewalk has not been properly maintained, there is a risk for a slip and fall hazard. Examples of these hazards include uneven cement slabs, cracks in the sidewalk, and sharp bumps or drop-offs in the sidewalk.
• Icy sidewalk: If the property manager fails to properly de-ice the sidewalk, there’s an increased risk for a slip and fall accident.
• Reckless behavior: If the people using the sidewalk on any property are exhibiting reckless behavior, they are putting themselves and others at risk of being involved in a slip and fall accident.

Who Is Responsible for My Accident?

The nature of your accident is an important factor when determining who will be considered negligent. Negligence is what makes a party liable for an accident and is generally defined as an action (or lack thereof) that creates a hazardous situation or puts others in danger.

There are several parties whose negligence may lead to a slip and fall accident and cause them to be considered liable, including:

• A municipal entity that fails to properly maintain the sidewalk led to a slip and fall accident
• The property owner or manager whose failure to properly maintain the sidewalk led to a slip and fall accident
• The individual whose actions or inaction led to a slip and fall accident

Compensation After a Sidewalk Slip and Fall

Compensation for accident-related injuries and losses will often come in the form of economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are easy to calculate in financial terms and may include repairs costs, medical expenses, and lost income that results from your time off work to recover. Non-economic damages are non-monetary costs associated with the pain and suffering of a slip and fall accident and may include emotional/psychological trauma, loss of mobility, loss of companionship, or loss of enjoyment of life.

Compensation is paid by the at-fault, or liable, party or parties. In the state of Virginia, liability is based on contributory negligence, meaning that a party will be considered liable to the same degree to which they are found to have been negligent. If a property owner is found to be 100 percent negligent for your accident, they would be responsible for paying 100 percent of your damages.

How a Fairfax Injury Lawyer Could Help

If you or someone you love has been injured in a slip and fall accident, know that you’re not alone, and an experienced attorney could help you seek answers, justice, and fair compensation. At Whitestone Young, P.C., our Fairfax slip and fall attorneys have extensive experience helping people just like you get back on their feet after a severe injury accident.

Don’t wait until it is too late to get the compensation you need and deserve. Call us at (703) 912-0487 or reach out to us online for a free consultation.