With more people outside as summer gets into full swing there will be more injuries at other people’s homes like falls or trips on inadequately maintained decks and steps. Trips resulting in injuries on upturned sidewalks, and dog bite injuries in Oregon and Washington.

In helping injured clients in Oregon and Washington for many years I see many injuries caused by rotten steps and decks. It rains a lot in the the Pacific Northwest so annual upkeep of wood stairs and decks is important. Loose steps and rotten deck boards cause minor and serious injuries for which you should be compensated.

Summertime is also sidewalk repair time. You can get money for injuries for upturned sidewalk injuries but these claims are very fact specific in that the walkway must be in such a condition as to present a trip and safety hazard. In my neighbor, in Northeast Portland, I have approached homeowners in our neighborhood who have upturned sidewalks and many have fixed them. When you put homeowners with upturned sidewalks on notice like I did and they fail to do anything and you are injured it makes for a much stronger case which a judge would be hesitant to throw out.

Notice is also important on dog bite cases. I have a neighbor who flaunts the law and walks her terrier without a leash. She even has a dog warning sign on her house. She is on notice because I have warned her and any bite or other injury her dog causes will result in a good negligent injury by inference case. Some people just don’t have for sight and care little about the consequences of dog bites especially for people who have been injured and bitten before like many US Postal letter carriers.

Finally with homeowners insurance claims the amount of your settlement usually will not exceed the amount of the homeowners insurance policy unless you file a lawsuit and get an excess money judgment against the homeowner. In our office if you don’t want to sue your neighbor we listen and we would present a confidential insurance claim on your behalf. Why do we do this? Answer: To make the our community safer and to educate neighbors to be respectful of our laws which protect everyone even though sometimes it takes extra effort to conform with law.