Hillsboro Trip and Fall Attorneys

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident because of a hazardous condition on another’s property, you may be entitled to compensation for your injury. Property owners may be legally responsible for your slip and fall injury as they have an obligation to ensure that their premises are safe for their guests and visitors. If the owner did not take reasonable precautions as required by law, he or she could be held liable for negligence and the injuries that resulted. Contact a Hillsboro slip and fall attorney from Rizk Law today to learn about your legal rights in a free, no obligation consultation. Our lawyers can guide you through the legal steps needed to pursue a case. Our services are provided on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are no upfront costs or lawyer fees when working with one of our attorneys. You only pay us if we successfully recover compensation for your case. We take cases involving trip and fall accidents throughout the Hillsboro area and the surrounding county.

Call us today at 503.245.5677 or complete a Free Case Evaluation Form.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents

There are a variety of conditions that may cause a slip and fall accident, and if a condition was the result of the property owner’s negligence you might have grounds for personal injury claim.

Dangerous property conditions or hazards that may lead to a slip and fall accident may include:

Ditches or holes: Property owners should give proper notice when there is an opening in the ground that could pose a danger. This includes potholes or ditches in the ground. In order to avoid an accident, property owners should fill the damaged area or place fences or warning signs to give visitors adequate notice.

Damaged floors or pathways: A cracked sidewalk with rough edges may be a risk to visitors who do not expect there to be a sudden gap in their pathway. This could potentially cause a visitor to trip and fall.

Poor lighting: Bad lighting can make it difficult for visitors to see obstacles in the pathway, particularly at night and in places with other tripping obstacles, like parking lots. It can also make staircases much more dangerous.

Wet and slippery areas: Walkways or floors can get wet or slippery from a leak in the ceiling, spilled liquids, collected puddles of water from rain or snow, or even floors being recently cleaned or waxed. Property owners have the obligation to take immediate action when an area of their property (generally in indoor areas) becomes wet and presents a slip and fall danger.

Structural defects or improper maintenance: This includes broken staircases, uneven floors or torn carpet that could cause the visitor to trip and fall. Sometimes a problem has existed for a long period of time and the property owner has not taken steps to repair it or warn visitors of the danger. There are other times where a hazard springs up and the owner should have been aware of it. Whatever the case, you may be able to hold the property owner liable for not taking action to keep visitors safe.  

The hazards mentioned above can be present at various facilities, including retail stores, shopping malls, parking lots, public parks and facilities, swimming pools, friend’s houses, apartment buildings and many other locations.

Our Hillsboro slip and fall lawyers can review your accident through a free consultation and determine the cause of your injury. We can explain the next steps you can take to pursue compensation for your injuries.

Call us at 503.245.5677 or fill out a Free Case Evaluation form today.

Building a Trip and Fall Case

Proving negligence in a slip and fall case is complicated because there are so many factors to consider, from the hazard that caused your injury to the property owner’s actions or lack of action leading up to your accident.

One of the main factors that goes a long way toward determining if a property owner is liable is your legal status at the time of the accident. When you walk onto someone else’s property, you are classified into one of three categories. These three categories determine the property owner’s obligations to you in preventing you from getting hurt.

The three categories include:

Invitees

Anyone who is on property because of an express or implied invitation could be considered an invitee. For example, if you are a customer in a store, you have an express invitation to be there for the benefit of the property owner and your own benefit. Someone who comes to a store to repair something or deliver products is also an invitee.

If you are an invitee, the property owner is legally required to act reasonably to prevent you from suffering an injury. This might include the responsibility to warn about hazards you might not be aware of. The property owner may also be legally required to regularly inspect the property or take active steps to fix or remove hazards or dangerous situations.

Licensees

These are people who are on property for some purpose other than a business or commercial one. If you go to a friend’s house, you are likely considered a licensee.

The property owner must warn you about hazards you do not know about or are unlikely to discover on your own. However, the hazard must be something the owner knows about or should know about by exercising reasonable care.

Trespassers

While the first two categories of visitors have a right to be on the property, trespassers do not. There is no implied or expressed invitation to come onto the property. If you are on the property, you are there illegally.

The owner cannot take steps to intentionally cause you harm while you are on the property, even though you are there illegally. However, the property owner usually has no obligation to warn you about hazards or take steps to remove hazards.

The Hillsboro slip and fall lawyers at our firm understand these different legal statuses and the obligations on property owners to prevent injuries to visitors. We know how to determine your status and how this plays into the determination of negligence.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation today or call us at 503.245.5677.

Common Types of Slip and Fall Injuries

Though you may feel fine after an accident, it is always a good idea to seek medical attention for all forms of injury. Not only does this help ensure all your injuries are examined and treated property, but it also provides documentation of your injury for your case.

Some of the injuries people often suffer in slip and fall accidents include:

Soft-Tissue Damage

Soft-tissue injuries are typically not visible, which can make it difficult to prove their severity. These injuries can range from a minor wrist or ankle sprain to severe tears in tendons and ligaments. These types of injuries can cause chronic pain if not treated and can make you more prone to further injury.

Cuts and Abrasions

Slip and fall accidents often produce cuts and abrasions. The legs, arms, head and hips are common areas for this type of injury. Sometimes these injuries are not that serious, but they can also appear atop a more serious injury such as a broken bone or concussion.

Fractured or Broken Bones

These can be extremely painful and can range from minor fractures to severe breaks. Often times, costly surgeries and physical therapy are needed to recover from these injuries.

Head Injuries

A slip and fall that results in a head injury is a more common situation than you might think. Victims should immediately seek out medical attention, especially if there is bleeding, swelling and loss of consciousness. Head injuries can lead to traumatic brain injuries and cause permanent damage, including symptoms like personality changes, memory loss, confusion and other cognitive troubles.

Spinal Cord Injuries

An injury to the spinal cord can occur from falling on your back, particularly onto a hard surface like concrete. These injuries can be life-threatening and cause paralysis. These are among the costliest injuries to treat, particularly as they increase in severity. Victims could end up spending hundreds of thousands of dollars or more for medical equipment, treatment and day-to-day care.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages you sustained. Our lawyers at Rizk Law are here to assist you. Our Hillsboro personal injury lawyers have helped many injury victims recover the fair compensation they deserve.

Let us get started on your case. Call us today at 503.245.5677.

Compensation Awarded for Slip and Fall Accidents

Each slip and fall case is unique depending on the circumstance and severity of injury. Our Hillsboro slip and fall attorneys know how to analyze the particulars of your case to determine if negligence occurred and how it contributed to you getting hurt. We can help you fight for all the damages you deserve, including economic and non-economic damages.

In Oregon, there is a cap or limitation on noneconomic damages (ORS 31.710). The limit is $500,000 for things like:

• Humiliation
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of reputation
• Inconvenience and interference with normal and usual activities, except gainful employment

However, there is no cap on economic damages, which can be easily measured. These are essentially the financial losses you have suffered after the accident, including:

If you want to recover compensation for your slip and fall injury, you must file a claim before the deadline mandated by the statute of limitations runs out. Oregon places a two-year deadline from when your accident occurred to take legal action. Failing to file your slip and fall injury within the two-year deadline will mean you will no longer have the right to file a lawsuit. This is why it is best to get the legal process started right away.

Our lawyers at Rizk Law know how to build a strong case and will work to help make sure your case is filed in a timely manner so you do not lose your chance to pursue the compensation you need.

Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form or call us at 503.245.5677.

Contact Rizk Law’s Hillsboro Slip and Fall Lawyers

Slip and fall accident claims can be difficult to pursue on your own, because it is difficult to prove a property owner was negligent. You also have to ensure your lawsuit is filed before the statute of limitations runs out. Our Hillsboro attorneys at Rizk Law can guide you through the legal process and ensure that you have all the information and resources needed to pursue a lawsuit. We know how to construct a detailed case with important evidence as we seek to hold the property owner liable for your damages.

Contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation. There are no upfront costs or service fees as our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you will not pay us unless we successfully recover compensation for your case.

Call us at 503.245.5677 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form today.