Portland Premises Liability Lawyers
Holding Oregon property owners accountable for slips and falls and other injuries
Owners of retail stores, hotels, and other businesses have a duty to protect the people who visit their businesses. Nonprofit businesses and even homeowners have the same duty to protect visitors. At Philbrook Law, we hold property owners accountable for failing to properly inspect their properties, repair dangerous conditions, and warn visitors about possible dangers. Our Portland, OR premises liability lawyers have 20 years of experience fighting for accident victims. In 2022 alone, we obtained more than $4 million in recoveries. Contact us in Portland today to assert your right to compensation.
How can we help?
- How are property visitors classified?
- What is the attractive nuisance doctrine?
- How can property owners prevent premises liability accidents in Portland, OR?
- Who is liable for premises liability accidents in Portland, OR?
- What types of injuries do premises liability accidents cause?
- Do you have a Portland premises liability accident lawyer near me?
How are property visitors classified?
In Oregon, property owners owe a duty of care to visitors that depends on the reason the visitor is on their property.
Invitees
Invitees are visitors that the premises owner encourages to enter their property for the benefit of the owner, the visitor, or both. Common examples include any business that provides goods or services for a fee such as restaurants, hotels, retail stores, and professional offices. Invitees also include anyone who enters the premises of another for nonprofit services such as healthcare or for community purposes such as religious services or self-help programs. Property owners in Portland, Oregon owe the highest duty of care to invitees.
Licensees
Licensees are visitors who have the right to be on the premises but weren’t specially invited onto the property. A classic example is someone using the sidewalk to get to another property. While a licensee has permission to be on the property, the duty of care is generally lower than that of an invitee. Generally, property owners owe invitees a duty of care if they know of or have reason to know of any dangers. Property owners generally owe a duty of care to licenses for dangers they actually know about.
Trespassers
In Oregon, property owners generally don’t owe a duty to trespassers. Trespassers are people who do not have the right to be on the owner's property. Property owners cannot intentionally injure trespassers such as by setting up traps.
What is the attractive nuisance doctrine?
One exception to the rule is that property owners don’t owe a duty of care to trespassers. That exception is called the “attractive nuisance doctrine.” This doctrine requires that property owners anticipate that children/minors might be attracted to certain items on the property such as swimming pools and trampolines. Property owners owe a duty of care to children who might be attracted to these attractions to warn children of the dangers or take steps to prevent children from accessing the pools, trampolines, or other attractions.
How can property owners prevent premises liability accidents in Portland?
At Philbrook Law, we represent anyone who is an invitee, licensee, or meets the attractive nuisance requirements – who is injured due to the following causes:
- A slip and fall or a trip and fall. Many accidents that happen to property visitors occur when a customer slips and falls due to wet surfaces, torn carpets, cracked tiles, poorly lit parking lots, and other dangers. Trips and falls occur when customers trip over merchandise, debris, cables, or any objects on the floor. Property owners should regularly inspect their property for anything that can cause a fall. The owners should then make prompt repairs and warn customers about the danger of falling until the repairs are completed. Owners should be especially attentive when it rains or snows because those elements can make walking treacherous.
- Being struck by an object. Property owners should ensure that merchandise on shelves is properly stored. Construction companies need to warn pedestrians to stay away because objects can fall on their head while walking by.
- Negligent security. Property owners have a duty to take preventive measures if they know or should reasonably know that assaults or other acts of violence are possible. For example, taverns should anticipate that alcohol increases the risk of unruly conduct and banks should be aware that where there’s money, there’s the risk of theft. Businesses in Portland may be liable for assaults if they fail to have proper lighting, install fences, install video cameras, hire security guards, and restrict access.
- Elevator and escalator accidents. Property owners can be liable for failing to warn customers that these items are not in service and/or need repairs.
Construction companies also have a duty to protect drivers, pedestrians, and workers from known dangers and dangers that are reasonably likely to occur.
Who is liable for a premises liability accident in Portland, OR?
Our Portland premises liability lawyers file personal injury and wrongful death claims against anyone responsible for an accident on their property. We file claims against:
- The owners of the property
- Any parent companies, subsidiaries, or tenants who were responsible for the property
- Architects and engineers
- Contractors and subcontractors
- Inspection/maintenance companies
- Repair businesses
What types of injuries do premises liability accidents cause?
At Philbrook Law, we represent anyone who is injured on the property of another who suffers any type of serious injury, including:
- A traumatic brain injury
- Paralysis, herniated discs, and other spinal cord injuries
- Fractures/broken bones
- Neck, shoulder, and back pain
- Nerve, muscle, tissue, tendon, and ligament injuries
- Lung, kidney, spleen, or other types of organ damage
- Gunshot wounds
- Assault injuries
- Cuts and bruises
- Wrongful death
We work with your doctors to verify your injuries, show the full range of medical care you’ve needed so far and will need for the rest of your life, the cost of your medical care, what complications might arise, and every way your injuries are impacting every part of your life.
Do you have a Portland premises liability lawyer near me?
Philbrook Law meets premises liability victims and families at our Portland, Oregon office located at 107 SE Washington St. Suite 520. If you can’t come to our office because of your injuries, we make arrangements to meet with you away from our office. Our lawyers also conduct virtual conferences and telephone calls.
We understand how scared you are. We’ll fight for all the compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages that you deserve.
Experienced representation for injury victims in Oregon and Washington
At Philbrook Law, we’ve earned the respect of former clients, insurance companies, and defense lawyers for our personal dedication to our clients and our impressive record of success. We understand the unique challenges involved when failing lawsuits against property owners such as determining who is responsible and that the property owner knew or should have known of the dangers. Please call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We represent premises liability victims in Oregon and Washington state on a contingency fee basis.