Premises Liability Lawyer in Portland

A Top Choice for Your Premises Liability Case

The Protection You Need After an Accident at a Business

Have you suffered an injury while visiting someone else’s property in Portland? You’re not alone. Every year, hundreds of residents and visitors experience serious injuries at our local shopping centers like Portland Town Center, construction sites like the Gregory-Portland Municipal Complex renovations, and entertainment venues like Portland Community Center, Indian Point Pier, and Wildcat Stadium.

As your experienced premises liability lawyer in Portland, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these accidents have on someone. Property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their property safe for visitors, and when they fail to do so, you have rights that deserve protection.

Understanding Your Rights in Premises Liability Cases

Texas premises liability law provides specific protections for those injured on another person’s property. These laws hold property owners accountable when their negligence leads to injuries.

Property owners in Portland must comply with both Texas state laws and local municipal codes regarding property maintenance and safety. The Portland Code of Ordinances establishes specific requirements for commercial and residential property maintenance that can be used as evidence in premises liability cases.

Free Consultation With Perkins & Perkins

When choosing an attorney, it is important to choose one with knowledge and experience. Perkins & Perkins has a proven track record of representing plaintiffs in a variety of personal injury cases. Our abilities are demonstrated by an $18,111,232.00 verdict we secured in 2022, which was recognized as the largest construction injury verdict in Texas, that year.

Perkins & Perkins offers free consultations and operates on a contingency fee basis for injury cases. This means that you pay nothing unless we recover damages for you. With our proven knowledge and experience, we stand ready to help you. Contact us today for a consultation to discuss your options and take the first step in reclaiming your life.

Visitor Status Determines Your Legal Rights

Invitees - Customers and Welcomed Guests

Invitees receive the highest level of legal protection. An invitee is an individual who has the owner’s explicit or implied permission to enter the property, usually for business-related reasons. This category includes shoppers at popular stores like H-E-B, Walmart, and Lowes, restaurant patrons, and visitors to local attractions like the Portland Aquatic Center or Sunset Lake Park.

Property owners must address and warn of known dangers, and also regularly inspect their premises to discover potential hazards. This places a significant responsibility on businesses throughout Portland to keep its property safe.

Licensees - Social Visitors and Service Providers

Licensees enter property with the owner’s permission but usually for their own purposes. This usually includes social guests at one’s home, and service providers from local companies.

While property owners owe licensees a slightly lower duty of care than invitees, they must still warn about or fix known dangers that might not be obvious to visitors. Your rights as a licensee still provide substantial legal protection in the DFW Metroplex region.

Trespassers - Limited Rights but Important Exceptions

Even trespassers have some legal protections in Texas. While property owners generally aren’t responsible for trespasser injuries, they cannot intentionally create dangerous conditions to harm trespassers.

Children - Special Protection

Under the “attractive nuisance” doctrine, even if your child was trespassing, the property owner may still be held liable. Attractions that naturally draw children like an unsecured swimming pool, construction equipment, or other similar property, Courts have held to be attractive nuisances that property owners have a duty to safeguard from children.

Common Types of Premises Liability Cases We Handle in Portland

Property accidents occur in countless ways, but certain patterns emerge repeatedly in our practice. Recognizing these common scenarios can help you understand if you have a valid claim.

Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents - The Most Common Property Injury

Slip, trip, and fall accidents represent the most frequent type of premises liability case we handle. These incidents often occur due to:

Wet floors without proper warning signs
Uneven walking surfaces or broken pavement
Poor lighting that obscures trip hazards
Recently waxed or polished floors
Loose carpeting or floor mats
Falling objects

Consider this scenario: You enter a local grocery store during a rainstorm. The roof leaks and store management fails to place wet floor signs about a wet floor they knew about. You slip, fall, and suffer a serious hip fracture requiring surgery. The store’s negligence in addressing a known hazard makes them liable for the shopper’s medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Other Dangerous Property Conditions

Beyond slip and fall accidents, we regularly represent clients injured by:

Inadequate security leading to assault or robbery
Swimming pool accidents without proper supervision or safety equipment
Day care accidents
Falling merchandise from improperly stocked shelves
Stairway collapses or faulty handrails
Electronic door and elevator malfunctions
Workplace accidents on jobsites
Dog bites from unrestrained animals
Toxic exposure to chemicals or mold

Here’s a quick scenario: A Portland apartment resident reports a broken security gate to management multiple times. The property manager(s) failed to repair it for weeks. During this time, an unauthorized person enters the property and assaults the resident in the parking lot. The property management company’s negligence in maintaining basic security features leaves them liable for the residents’ injuries and trauma.

Property owners who ignore maintenance issues put visitors at significant risk of serious and sometimes permanent injuries. We help hold these negligent parties accountable for their actions or inactions.

Steps to Take After a Premises Liability Accident in Portland

The actions you take immediately following a property accident dramatically impact your ability to recover compensation. Following these essential steps protects both your health and legal rights.

Document Everything - Building Your Compensation Case

Creating a thorough record of the accident scene and your injuries strengthens your claim significantly. Take these critical steps if you’re physically able:

Photograph the dangerous condition from multiple angles
Photograph your injuries
Get contact information from anyone who witnessed the accident
Report the incident to property management or ownership
Note any lack of warning signs or safety measures

Medical Documentation - The Foundation of Your Claim

Never delay seeking medical attention after a property accident. Even minor injuries can develop into serious conditions later. Here is how proper medical documentation can help your case:

Establishes a direct link between the accident and your injuries
Creates official records of your condition from day one
Demonstrates the severity of harm through diagnostic testing
Provides expert opinions about future medical needs
Helps calculate fair compensation for your suffering

Premises liability accidents frequently cause serious injuries including broken bones, spinal damage, traumatic brain injuries, burns, and soft tissue damage. Each requires specific medical expertise to diagnose and document properly.

How Our Portland Premises Liability Lawyers Fight For Your Rights

When facing powerful property owners and their insurance companies, having experienced legal representation levels the playing field. Our approach to premises liability cases combines thorough investigation, aggressive negotiation, and strategic litigation when necessary.

We carefully examine all aspects of your case, including property maintenance records, previous incident reports, building code compliance, and witness statements. This comprehensive approach uncovers evidence of negligence that strengthens your position.

Insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts through various tactics, including blaming the victim. We counter these strategies with well-documented evidence and compelling legal arguments that protect your interests.

If you are not working with a Premises Liability Lawyer, give us a call or contact us below and let us help you obtain maximum compensation for your case.

Our No-Fee Guarantee - You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

Worrying about legal fees should never prevent you from seeking justice after a property accident. That’s why we offer:

Free initial consultations to evaluate your case
No upfront costs
Contingency-based representation
All investigation expenses covered by our firm
All medical bills covered by us
Payment only if we secure compensation for you

This approach allows you to focus on recovery while we handle the legal complexities. You face no financial risk in pursuing the compensation you deserve.

Local Experience - We Know Portland Property Laws

Our deep connections within the Portland legal community provide substantial advantages for your case. We understand the local property ordinances, building codes, and court procedures that impact premises liability claims.

Perkins & Perkins legal team’s combined 75+ years of legal experience has created unmatched institutional knowledge about Portland’s legal environment. Further, over the past decades, our firm has secured tens of millions through verdicts and settlements for injury victims. As a result of our attorneys’ victories, our law firm has earned recognition from prestigious organizations such as:

Perkins & Perkins - Your Premises Liability Lawyer in Portland

The path to compensation after a premises liability accident requires prompt action. Texas law limits the time you have to file a claim, making immediate consultation with an experienced attorney essential.

Common Premises Liability Questions

1. Do I have to be given actual permission to be on someone’s property?

No, you do not always need actual permission. You can also have implied permission, which based on the circumstances and actions of the property owner can simply permission to be on someone’s property without it being explicitly stated. If you have questions about whether you were legally on someone’s property when you were injured, call Perkins & Perkins today.

2. How quickly should I get medical attention?

You should seek medical attention as soon as possible after an injury, even if the symptoms seem minor. Immediate medical care ensures your health and safety, allows for proper diagnosis and treatment, and provides documentation of the injury and its severity. Prompt medical attention also strengthens your case by clearly linking the injury to the incident. If you need help getting medical attention after your injury the Perkins & Perkins law firm can help you get the treatment you need without having to pay anything out of pocket.

3. If the defendant knows about a danger, are they required to warn me?

Yes, if a property owner has knowledge of a potential danger on their property, they have a duty to warn anyone legally on the premises about the hazard. However, a property owner is usually not required to warn trespassers. If you find yourself in need of a lawyer to help you with your premises liability claim, call Perkins and Perkins today.

4. Is the tenant or property owner liable?

They both can be. Property owners have a duty to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition for anyone who enters legally, including tenants, visitors, and sometimes even trespassers. Tenants can also be liable for injuries that occur within their leased area if they have exclusive control over the area and the injury results from their failure to maintain it properly. At Perkins & Perkins, we have the experience and skill needed to determine who was at fault for your injuries. If you or a loved one suffered from an injury while legally on someone else’s property, call our attorney’s today.

5. Will the property owner or insurance have to pay me?

If a property owner is found liable, their insurance company typically pays for damages up to the policy limits of their insurance policy. For any amounts exceeding the policy limit, the property owner will be personally responsible. If you have a premises liability claim, call the Perkins and Perkins Law firm today to get the compensation you deserve.