Virginia follows some special tort rules when it comes to blasting, electricity, explosives and gas. Any person who is involved with explosive products or blasting activities must use use a high degree of care, corresponding to the dangers involved, to prevent injury to others. If this is violated, there is “strict liability” on the person or company involved with the explosives. The law assumes that the dangerous activity carries with it a higher degree of care and safe practice requirements.
Electricity, wiring, and dangerous gases also fall into the category of extremely dangerous activities that require an extremely high degree of care by the company involved. Strict liability will be imposed on these companies if they injure or kill others. Strict liability means that the injured victim need not prove an awareness of the danger in advance – it is part of the high degree of care the law requires and mandates for those dealing with such activities.
These high duties particularly apply to utilities handling electricity or gas. These activities are usually considered inherently dangerous and may involve strict liability and increased care responsibilities if injuries due to the likelihood of serious injury or death due to these activities.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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