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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>378285</law_id><section_number>8.7-309</section_number><catch_line>Duty of care; contractual limitation of carrier&amp;#8217;s liability</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="26" identifier="8.7">Commercial Code &#x2014; Warehouse Receipts, Bills of Lading and Other Documents of Title</unit><unit label="part" level="2" order_by="3" identifier="3">Bills of Lading: Special Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A carrier who <span class="dictionary">issues</span> a bill of lading, whether negotiable or nonnegotiable, must exercise the degree of care in relation to the goods that a reasonably careful man would exercise under like circumstances. This subsection does not repeal or change any <span class="dictionary">law</span> or rule of <span class="dictionary">law</span> that imposes liability upon a common carrier for <span class="dictionary">damages</span> not caused by its <span class="dictionary">negligence</span>. <a id="paragraph-1411332" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.7-309/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> <span class="dictionary">Damages</span> may be limited by a provision that the carrier&#x2019;s liability shall not exceed a value stated in the document if the carrier&#x2019;s rates are dependent upon value and the consignor is afforded an opportunity to declare a higher value and he is otherwise advised of such opportunity. However, no such limitation is effective with respect to the carrier&#x2019;s liability for conversion to his own use. <a id="paragraph-1411333" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.7-309/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Reasonable provisions as to the time and manner of presenting claims and instituting actions based on the shipment may be included in a bill of lading or a transportation agreement. <a id="paragraph-1411334" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.7-309/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1964, c. 219; 2004, c. 200.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
