Eugene Slip and Fall Attorneys
Eugene Slip and Fall Attorneys
Eugene Slip and Fall AttorneysA trip or slip and fall accident is a type of premises liability case. Tripping or slipping could cause injuries that range from minor to catastrophic. When you suffer injuries after a trip or slip and fall accident, you could recover compensation to cover medical expenses and other damages if you can prove the property owner was negligent in keeping his or her property free of hazardous conditions.
A Eugene, OR, slip and fall lawyer can help prove your case so you can recover damages. Contact our slip and fall lawyers at Strong Law Accident & Injury Attorneys at 206-741-1053 today for a free case evaluation.
How Slip and Fall Lawyers in Eugene, OR, Can Help
Trip or slip and fall accidents are usually complex because you must be able to show that the property owner knew of the danger and did not warn you of it. They are also complex if the accident happened at a rental property, such as an apartment complex. More than one person could be liable for your injuries.
As part of the investigation into your case, slip and fall accident lawyers in Eugene will find those who are liable for your injuries. It is usually the property owner, but in some cases, it might be a manager or a tenant. Your legal team will also look at your medical records, the site of the accident and more to help prove your case.
Types of Slip and Fall Accidents
The experienced Eugene, OR, slip and fall lawyers at Strong Accident & Injury Attorneys handle all types of slip and fall accidents caused by hazardous conditions. One way you can help document your case is to take photos of what made you trip or slip and fall. You will need this proof to move forward with settlement negotiations or litigation.
In many cases, the condition of the property that caused your accident disappears. The weather could melt the ice of a walkway, someone could inadvertently destroy the evidence, or the defendant could remove or repair the hazardous condition, leaving you without proof.
Types of premises liability cases that the court considers as trip or slip and fall accidents include:
- Defective conditions, such as a broken step or handrail
- Foreign items, such as a shelf-stocker’s leaving the corner of a pallet at an angle so that it sticks out into an aisle in such a way that you might not notice the corner
- Surrounding conditions, such as a spill or wet floors from people tracking in rain or snow, poor lighting, and lights that do not work.
Other factors that investigators could find that might help your case include a history of accidents at the location, prior lawsuits, negative inspection and/or safety reports, noncompliance with building codes, surveillance videos, a flooring’s friction coefficient, and a business’s procedures for the inspection and cleanup of spills.
Finally, the length of time the condition was present also plays a role in determining whether a property owner was negligent. For example, if someone broke a glass of liquid seconds before you slipped in it and fell, the chances of a manager or owner’s learning of it and having a chance to clean it up are not good.
The property owner or an employee must have a chance to rectify the hazardous condition before it becomes negligent.
What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident
You can help a Eugene slip and fall accident lawyer by starting case documentation if your injuries permit. After a trip or slip and fall accident, take photos of the accident scene. Be sure to show what made you slip, whether liquid on the floor, an uneven walkway, icy walkway or parking lot, a broken step, etc.
Immediately notify a manager, supervisor, or property owner that you fell. If you fell in a commercial establishment, be sure to complete an incident report. If possible, obtain a copy of the establishment’s completed incident report.
Document the details of the incident for yourself – this is in addition to the incident report. It will help you remember what happened when you have to tell your attorney about the incident. Document all details, such as what you tripped over or slipped on, whether there were signs warning you of the danger, and, if there were, where the signs were located.
If possible, take photos of your visible injuries. Ask any witnesses for their contact information and a statement.
Finally, seek medical assistance, even if you believe your injuries are minor. This is a step in documenting the incident, and even minor injuries could become more serious. Additionally, some injuries might not manifest for hours or even a day or two.
Do Not Give Any Statements
The establishment’s insurance company might call you. If so, do not give it a statement. Instead, refer the insurance company to your Eugene, OR, slip and fall lawyer. And do not post about the incident on social media. Insurance companies troll social media accounts to use your activities against you. Even going out to dinner with your spouse or friends could be used by the insurance company to convince itself and a jury that your injuries were not that serious and that you do not deserve the amount you are asking for.
Common Trip or Slip and Fall Injuries
Injuries you might suffer from a trip or slip and fall accident can widely vary because of the circumstances of the accident. You might fall and catch yourself, but not before pulling a muscle, or you might fall and hit your head on a sharp corner or bounce your head on the floor.
Injuries might include:
- Scratches, scrapes, and cuts
- Bumps and bruises
- Road rash
- Strains and sprains
- Pulled and torn muscles or other soft tissue injuries
- Face and eye injuries
- Simple or compound fractures
- Crush injuries
- Head, neck and shoulder injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries.
You could also suffer from secondary injuries, such as infections, especially if you have a compromised immune system. Additionally, fall injuries could exacerbate preexisting conditions and illnesses. The defendant is responsible for the additional medical expenses and pain and suffering for secondary injuries and exacerbated pre-existing conditions as you would not have otherwise had the expenses and pain if not for the defendant’s negligence.
Frequently Asked Questions for Slip and Fall Lawyers in Eugene, OR
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Can I sue after a trip or slip and fall accident?
Yes. However, you must report the incident immediately. You must also know what caused you to trip or slip and fall.
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Do I have to make an accident report right after I slip and fall?
Yes. The incident report documents the incident before the defendant can rectify the situation. Photos also help prove that a dangerous condition existed. If you do not make an incident report, you will have a difficult time proving your case.
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What is a dangerous condition?
A hazardous condition is when something on a property can cause harm. Oregon requires all property owners to keep their properties free and clear of hazardous conditions or, at the very least, to notify guests of those conditions. For example, a wet floor should have “wet floor” signs around the area that are clearly visible and that are not positioned in such a way that you trip over the sign.
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How long do I have to file a trip or slip and fall lawsuit?
You have up to two years in most cases to take legal action for a trip or slip and fall accident. However, we recommend you speak to Eugene slip and fall attorneys as soon as possible. You are more likely to remember what happened if you do not wait. Additionally, evidence has a way of disappearing, whether inadvertently or purposely.
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How much is my trip or slip and fall case worth?
The compensation you deserve depends on the circumstances of the incident. More severe injuries or death are worth more compensation. You could recover medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and funeral and burial costs. If your injuries are severe or you lost a loved one because of a slip and fall accident, you could also recover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of quality of life, loss of companionship and/or consortium, and inconvenience.
If your injuries caused excessive scarring, disfigurement, or amputation, you could also recover additional compensation.
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How do I pay medical expenses until I receive my settlement or trial award?
You can use your health insurance to cover medical expenses. When you receive your settlement or trial award, you reimburse the health insurance company. We can write a letter to the insurance company asking them to defer payment until you receive a settlement or trial award.
Contact Slip and Fall Attorneys at Strong Law Accident & Injury Attorneys
After a slip and fall accident, you might sustain serious injuries, or you could even lose a loved one. Eugene, OR, slip and fall attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve so you do not have to worry about your finances, especially if you sustain injuries that turn into long-term or permanent disabilities or lose a loved one. It is imperative that we investigate the incident as soon as possible, so contact a Eugene, OR, slip and fall lawyer from our team of premises liability lawyers at Strong Law Accident & Injury Attorneys at 206-741-1053 for a free case evaluation as soon as possible.
Attorney Jed Strong
Jed Strong is the founder of Strong Law. He knows that accident injuries can be devastating to individuals and families, so he does everything in his power to ensure his clients recover every bit of compensation they deserve. Prior to representing accident victims, Jed worked for GEICO insurance company as one of its in-house attorneys – representing the insurance companies. After learning the inner workings of insurance companies, he quit and began representing accident victims. [ Attorney Bio ]
