Portland Snow & Ice Accidents Attorney
While snow and freezing temperatures are relatively rare in Portland, they certainly do occur in the colder winter months. These kinds of conditions have the potential to cause extremely serious accidents, often due to the fact that many Portlanders are unfamiliar with serious winter weather and fail to adequately prepare for and manage these conditions.
While some accidents that occur in winter weather conditions such as snow or ice are unavoidable, some are caused by the negligence of other individuals. When this happens, victims who are hurt can often recover for the losses they incur, including their medical expenses, lost income, loss of quality of life, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.
Determining whether an accident that occurred in snowy or icy conditions was caused by negligence can be a complicated issue requiring the analysis of a significant amount of evidence. As a result, anyone injured in this type of accident should be certain to call a Portland personal injury attorney as soon as possible to determine whether they have a legal claim. Some of the more common ways that injury-causing accidents occur in the Portland area are discussed below.
Snow & Ice Can Cause Serious Vehicle Accidents
Anyone that has ever driven in snow or ice is aware of the fact that these conditions can wreak havoc on a driver’s ability to control his or her vehicle. Ice and snow can cause serious issues with tire friction, often causing a vehicle to spin out of control. In addition, a car or truck may easily go into an uncontrollable slide as a driver tries to stop or slow down if he or she is approaching another vehicle, obstacle, or intersection.
While motor vehicle accidents that occur in snowy or icy conditions are often understandable, some occur because of a negligent or careless driver. Drivers are negligent when they fail to operate their vehicle in a reasonably safe manner to avoid accidents and injuries. While it is perfectly reasonable to drive at the speed of the posted speed limit in fair weather conditions, the same is not true in six inches of snow or if there is a significant likelihood of patches of ice on the road. Some of the more common kinds of driver negligence that cause snow or ice accidents include the following:
- Speeding;
- Failing to use turn signals;
- Failing to use headlights;
- Following too close;
- Failing to stop at traffic signals or signs; and
- Failing to properly maintain brakes, tires, and other vehicle parts.
Negligent drivers may be held liable for any injuries and losses that occurred from a resulting collision.
Snow & Ice May Result In Slip & Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are another common way people hurt themselves due to snow or ice. Under the general principles of premises liability law, property owners that open their premises to the general public have the duty to ensure that their premises are safe for visitors and free from any unreasonably dangerous conditions. When snow or ice accumulates on the property, the owner should take the necessary steps to make the premises safe. This can often involve shoveling walkways, plowing driveways, laying down salt or ice, or alerting visitors to the existence of slip and fall hazards, as well as other actions. If they fail to do so, victims who slip and fall on snow or ice can often recover for their injuries and other losses by filing an Oregon personal injury claim.
Do I Need To Talk To An Attorney After A Portland Snow & Ice Accident?
Many people who are involved in accidents that are caused by snow or ice fail to consider whether their accident was also caused by someone else’s negligence. Rather than just assuming the accident was unavoidable due to the weather conditions, victims should always have their case reviewed by an experienced attorney in order to determine whether they may be able to recover compensation.
Contact A Portland Snow & Ice Accident Lawyer Today To Discuss Your Case
If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by the accumulation of snow or ice, you may be able to recover significant compensation for the losses that you sustained. In many cases, these accidents are caused by the negligence of drivers, property owners, or other parties who do not exercise the appropriate degree of care in poor weather conditions. At the Johnston Law Firm, we have helped many accident victims in Portland recover for their injuries in snow and ice accidents. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Portland personal injury lawyers, call our office today at (503) 546-3167.