Premises liability laws in Oregon outline a property owner’s responsibilities to lawful visitors for preventing slip and fall accidents.
Failure to follow these laws and address potential hazards can expose them to legal liability and financial consequences if someone gets hurt on their property.
Oregon property owners should know their obligations and take proactive measures to ensure the safety of others. That starts by becoming familiar with common slip and fall hazards, learning how to reduce risks, and understanding the basics of premises liability.
Common Slip and Fall Hazards
Many different scenarios can lead to slip and fall accidents. Property owners need to be aware of the most common hazards to fix any that might exist on their property, such as:
- Wet and slippery floors – Spills, leaks, and freshly mopped floors can cause someone to slip on pooled liquid and fall.
- Uneven sidewalks and flooring – People often trip and fall on uneven or broken sidewalks, tiles, and other flooring.
- Cluttered walkways – Objects that clutter walkways can block someone’s path and become tripping hazards.
- Poor lighting – It’s harder to see obstructions and hazards in bad lighting, which makes them more dangerous.
- Snow and ice – During winter months, snow and ice can accumulate and become hazards in walkways on the property.
- Faulty handrails and stairs – Broken handrails and missing or broken steps can all lead to serious falls from heights.
- Lack of warning signs – Maintenance or remodeling can create temporary hazards on a property. Property owners should always provide the appropriate warning signage.
How to Reduce Slip and Fall Accidents
The best way for a property owner to prevent slip and fall accidents is to reduce the risks and adequately maintain their property. Here are some critical slip and fall prevention tips all Oregon property owners should follow:
- Implement property maintenance best practices – Conduct regular property inspections to ensure the premises is free of hazards. Inspect walkways, flooring, stairs, and even the parking lot for hazards. Promptly fix any dangerous conditions found during the inspection.
- Maintain clean and dry floors – Use nonslip mats in entryways to reduce the amount of water and ice visitors bring in. Mop spills immediately and use wet floor signs while freshly mopped floors are drying.
- Improve lighting – Make sure that all areas are lit well enough that every visitor can easily see hazardous conditions. Common problem areas include hallways, parking lots, and stairwells.
- Install handrails and safety features – Put grab bars in bathrooms, use a nonslip coating on floors, and secure handrails in all stairwells.
- Train staff – Employers should hold regular training sessions on OSHA fall prevention guidelines to ensure their employees take the proper precautions throughout the day to keep visitors safe.
- Keep maintenance logs – Maintain documentation of all inspections, repairs, and safety measures, including employee training sessions. This documentation can show the reasonable efforts made to comply with safety standards.
- Purchase insurance – Homeowners, renters, or general liability insurance can provide valuable financial protection if someone slips and falls on the premises.
Slip and fall accidents can happen at any time for any reason. Still, property owners who exercise due diligence can reduce the possibility of an accident and save everyone time, money, and headaches.
Property Owner’s Liability for Customer Falls
Property owners in Oregon are responsible for maintaining reasonable safety standards for visitors. If a lawful visitor trips on an unaddressed hazard, the property owner can face a lawsuit for their failure to keep reasonably safe premises. It’s vital that property owners:
- Regularly inspect for dangerous conditions
- Perform routine maintenance as necessary
- Warn guests of known hazards with proper signage
- Follow building codes and safety standards
Victims of slip and fall accidents may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and lower quality of life caused by their injuries. However, they must prove that they were injured because of the property owner’s negligence. That involves establishing:
- There was a hazard on the property.
- The owner knew or should have known about it.
- The owner failed to warn others or fix it in a reasonable amount of time.
- That hazard caused the victim’s slip and fall injuries.
You should contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after a slip and fall accident. They can start securing the evidence needed to prove the property owner’s liability and protect your right to compensation.
Our Law Firm Helps People in Slip and Fall Accidents
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident in Portland, Oregon, Rizk Law can help you pursue fair compensation for your losses. Our founding attorney, Richard Rizk, spent years working in the insurance industry. We know the strategies insurers will use to minimize your compensation and how to counter them effectively.
Our Portland personal injury attorneys can help you by:
- Gathering evidence – We will collect surveillance footage, witness statements, and maintenance records to understand what happened and why.
- Proving negligence and liability – We use our knowledge of Oregon premises liability laws to show how the property owner’s negligence directly caused your injuries.
- Maximizing your compensation – Insurance companies often try to downplay injuries and shortchange victims. Our team will fight for full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care needs.
We have a history of securing significant settlements and won’t back down. If insurers refuse to offer a fair settlement, we are prepared to take your personal injury claim to court. As one satisfied client said: “Phenomenal assistance with the most caring and awesome lawyers you can find. They will fully invest in you and you’re case and go above and beyond.”
We’re also committed to transparency throughout your slip and fall case. We keep you informed at each step so that you have the guidance and support you need to make critical decisions about your future. And because we work on a contingency fee basis, you only pay us a fee when we win your case. That way, there’s no financial risk to pursuing your rights and demanding fair compensation.
So don’t hesitate, and don’t let the insurance company shortchange you. Let our experienced Portland slip and fall accident lawyers fight for your justice. Call Rizk Law or contact us online today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’re here to help you recover financially while you focus on recovering physically.
