Premises Liability – Oregon Slip, Trip and Fall Attorneys

Slip, Trip and Fall (Premises Liability) Accidents may Result in Serious Injuries

The attorneys at Dwyer Williams Potter, LLP are dedicated advocates for those who have suffered serious slip and fall and trip and fall accidents as a result of the negligence or inattention of property owners.  Oregon premises liability law governs the legal responsibility of property owners to members of the general public who suffer accident or injury caused by dangerous condition of the premises of a property owner.

Many people presume that slip and fall accidents are minor incidents that rarely result in anything more than minor bumps and bruises.  However, slip and fall and trip and fall accidents can result in injuries far more serious than minor scratches or a bruised ego.  Slip and fall accidents are the second leading cause of accidental death behind only motor vehicle accidents and result in the death of over 17,000 people per year.  Oregon slip and fall accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries including head injuries, spinal injuries and broken bones.  Oregon slip and fall accidents are the number one cause of visits to emergency rooms with the average medical cost of a slip and fall accident exceeding $28,000.  These life-altering accidents can result in emotional turmoil and extreme financial hardship.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a serious slip, trip and fall accident in Oregon, the attorneys at Dwyer Williams Potter, LLP can conduct an intensive investigation to evaluate your right to compensation and seek the compensation you need to pay your medical expenses and compensate you for time off work to recover from your injuries.  Our experienced Oregon slip and fall attorneys have tried over 650 personal accident or injury cases in the past three years and have a 98% success rate in these cases.  If you need a compassionate, dedicated and experienced slip and fall or trip and fall accident attorney, the team of Dwyer Williams Potter, LLP is available to answer your questions and evaluate your case so call us at (888)-247-9023.

Causes of Serious Oregon Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents may be caused by wide variety of hazards including slipping on a wet surface, stumbling on a broken step or tripping on debris.  A property owner may have an obligation to warn of particular hazardous conditions like these or to clean-up or repair the premises.  Injuries associated with a slip and fall accident are a common cause of traumatic brain injuries according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and can cause a variety of other injuries such as fractures of the hand, spine, and pelvis.  Slip and fall accidents in Oregon frequently cause disability, incapacitation or death.  Slip and fall accidents also are the leading cause of fatal work-related accidents.  The attorneys at Dwyer, Williams, Potter, LLP has extensive experience handling a wide range of Oregon slip, trip and fall accidents including the following:

• Slips resulting from a wet surface
• Accidents caused by tripping on debris on the floor
• Slips, trips and falls of the elderly who are especially vulnerable to serious slip and fall injuries
• Work-related slip and fall injuries resulting from dangerous conditions
• Handrail or guard-rail failure
• Poorly maintained or uneven floors, pavements, or sidewalks resulting in slips or trips
• Other hazardous conditions that may have resulted in a slip, trip or fall accident or injury

Bringing a Successful Oregon Slip and Fall Accident Lawsuit

These types of accidents mainly occur in a commercial setting but may also happen on public property or at a private residence.  Oregon slip, trip and fall accidents commonly occur at grocery or retail stores, gyms, recreation centers, parking structures or hospitals.  Generally, a property owner must warn of such hazards or clean up or repair the hazard.

Oregon slip, trip and fall lawsuits tend to turn on the specific facts of the individual case and require prompt and thorough investigation of the fall related accident.  If you slip in a store or restaurant in Portland or throughout Oregon, the liability of the property owner will turn on whether the property owner knew or should have known of the dangerous condition on the premises.  Some of the factual evidence that will be important include:

Type of Foreign Substance or Defective Condition: Is the condition a broken step that has been in disrepair for a month or a spill or drainage from a leak in a water cooler that started this morning?  A broken step that remains in disrepair is called a “static condition”, which a business owner generally will be presumed to know exists and have a duty to repair.  A spill or leak is something that may change or emerge suddenly.  The liability for this type of  hazard will typically turn on the duration of time that has passed and the maintenance practices in place by the business for discovering, preventing and cleaning up such hazards.

Duration of the Dangerous Slip and Fall Hazard: If a spill occurs only moments before a person slips, it will make proving liability more difficult.  It may be necessary to establish that an employee witnessed the foreign, slippery or sticky substance on the floor and failed to clean it up or post signs or cones warning of the unsafe floor.  Conversely, if a spilled liquid or sticky substance has remained on the floor for a substantial period of time, the business owner may be presumed to have constructive knowledge of the danger even if no employee was aware of the unsafe floor, which caused the Oregon trip and fall or slip and fall accident.  Property owners operating a business have an obligation to conduct reasonable maintenance procedures to keep their floors and premises clear of debris or foreign substances so the more time that has elapsed the more likely the property owner will be negligent.

Surrounding Conditions: A hazardous condition, such as a broken uneven ceramic tile, beverage spill or missing railing on a stairway may all create a basis for liability if the Oregon property owner did not take reasonable care to warn of the danger or correct the hazardous condition.  However, the experienced slip and fall attorneys at Dwyer, Williams, Potter, LLP will also carefully investigate and develop additional evidence supporting a finding that the business owner did not take reasonable care to protect against slip and fall accidents in the Oregon business including:

• Poor lighting or non-working lights
• History of similar accidents in safety and accident reports for the business
• Evidence of related past emergency medical calls to the property
• Past lawsuits or settlements related to negligent maintenance of the premises.
• Safety reports or findings from inspection like fire safety inspections
• Existing slip and fall maintenance procedures and policies
• Compliance with safety regulations (i.e. building code issues for construction of stairways)
• Actual practices of performing inspections and cleanups of spilled substance or debris by the business
• Analysis of any surveillance video
• Expert analysis regarding degree of slip resistance in flooring called the coefficient of friction

Admittedly, this is a very short list of the type of investigation that is required to successfully recover the full amount of damages suffered from serious injuries in a Portland trip and fall accident.  Many people presume that slip and fall accidents are rather unsophisticated accident or injury cases that any law firm can handle as well as another.  It is important not to make this critical miscalculation because unsophisticated litigation of a slip and fall accident in Oregon is not the same thing as an unsophisticated legal issue.

The proper investigation and expert analysis is required to provide the best chance to prevail and receive the best possible outcome in your Oregon slip and fall accident.  This requires a law firm that will use innovative and sophisticated litigation strategies and conduct an exhaustive investigation to put as much pressure on the business owner’s property insurance company as possible.

Recovering Damages for Oregon Slip and Fall Injuries

Thousands of compensated clients and millions of dollars in settlements recovered by the accident and injury lawyers of Dwyer Williams Potter, LLP provide an objective measure of our skill, commitment and dedication.  A slip and fall accident in Oregon can have catastrophic and life-changing results including:

• Severe head trauma or brain injuries causing loss of mental functioning
• Permanent debilitating spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis
• Broken bones including hip fractures that can be very dangerous for the elderly
• Broken bones and fractures
• Wrongful death

If you suffer any of these devastating injuries you may be entitled to the full value of your loss including intangible damages like pain and suffering and negative impact on your ability to engage in life’s activities the same way as before your slip and fall accident.  The damages you may be entitled to including the following:

• Reimbursement of all medical expenses including rehabilitative care
• Any wages that are lost
• Future lost earnings resulting from inability to work
• Pain and suffering including the impact on your enjoyment of life
• Loss of services or companionship of a spouse
• Burial or funeral costs (slip and fall wrongful death accidents)

We Have Over 75 Years of Combined Slip and Fall Accident Experience

If you or someone you love has suffered serious Oregon slip and fall injuries or you have lost a loved one in a fatal slip and fall accident in Oregon, you need experience and proven results. The experienced Portland trip and fall attorneys at Dwyer Williams Potter, LLP have over 75 years of combined litigation experience.  Call us at (888)-247-9023. We get paid only if you are compensated for your injuries or loss. We offer a no obligation initial consultation and handle Oregon slip and fall cases on a contingency basis.