3 Tips For Dealing with Portland's Snow:

Rumors of Snowmageddon are back. People seemed obsessed with the weather apps that are all showing the highly sought after snowflake graphic for Portland on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week. As Oregonians, we know that it is very difficult for meteorologists to predict snow in the Willamette Valley, but things look to be shaping up for snow to fall next week. Below are three tips to help deal with the snow (if it actually snows):

1) Be Informed: News Stations are using the threat of an impending storm to draw people in. That is why there is so much news chatter about Snow. As a result, I don’t pay attention to the snow or news meteorologist (even though some of them are pretty good.) If you want the true most reliable forecast to go to the source, The National Weather Service. Their web-site does a fantastic job, but their twitter feed is EPIC for keeping informed about snow and road conditions. Click Here for the National Weather Service Portland’s Epic Twitter Feed or follow them @NWSPortland. Click here for the National Weather Service Web-Site.

2) Be Prepared:

• Your Vehicle: Ensure the vehicles have a full tank of fuel for Monday and Tuesday’s commute. You do not want to be stuck in one of Portland’s infamous traffic jams without and run out of gas. Ensure you have a blanket and some snacks in your vehicle in case you get snarled in standstill traffic during your commute. Ideally, your vehicle should have tire chains and/or All Wheel Drive or Four Wheel drive. If you use chains you should practice putting them on this weekend. This ensures that you can put them on when you need to.

• Your Home: Ensure you have enough food at home. Remember to have food that can be prepared without electricity, because the power often goes out during a snow storm due to tree limbs falling on power lines. (Click Here for the PGE Outage Map) Be careful with heating your home with kerosene heaters, as they pose a fire risk and remember to ventilate your home. Click here for Kerosene heater safety tips. Also, remember to cover your exterior pipes and water facets so they don’t freeze.

• Your Sidewalk: Ensure you have a snow shovel or rock salt to clear your sidewalk. Remember the Portland City Code REQUIRES YOU to remove ice and snow on your sidewalk. At Ross Law we have represented people that have fallen and injured due to people failing to clear the sidewalk of ice and snow. Removing ice and snow from your sidewalk is the easiest way to avoid the guilt of knowing that your negligence injured someone and the hassle of dealing with insurance companies and their lawyers.

3) Be At Home: Unless you have to leave your home then you should stay home to avoid the commute. Ask your boss if you can work from home. Many employers in the Willamette Valley let employees go early to avoid the commute. If you have kids remember to keep up to date on their school’s closures as they often get released early.

Hopefully, everyone will be safe and avoid the disasters of the past snow events. However, if you find yourself needing a Portland Personal Injury lawyer please call Ross Law PDX at 503.224.1658 for your free personal injury case evaluation. Jeremiah Ross has represented people that were injured in car crashes in the snow and ice, and people that have fallen on slippery sidewalks.

A dangerous day for driving ,SNOW and the Superbowl:

It is Superbowl Sunday and the National Weather Service is also predicting snow yet again in Portland, Oregon.  As the Oregonian has previously reported, the Superbowl is historically a dangerous day for people to be on the road, because of all of the DUII Drivers.   Portland drivers have shown over the past few weeks that we have issues with driving in the snow.  In short, this is a terrible day to drive.  

If you need information about what to do if you were in a car crash due to snow click here.

If you were involved in a crash with a suspected DUII driver click here.

If you have questions about additional compensation, because you were hit by a DUII driver click here.  You may be entitled to punitive damages, criminal restitution, and increased damages if your case is taken to trial.  and there may be more people responsible for causing the crash than just the bad driver.  For more information click here.

If you want to speak with a lawyer rather than reading call me at 503.224.1658 for your free car crash personal injury case evaluation.  Feel free to call Ross Law and Jeremiah Ross at 503.224.1658.  

Please remember this post is for informational purposes only and the law is constantly changing.   Please call a lawyer before relying on this post. 

Shovel That Snow and Chip the Ice off the Sidewalk or You May Be Responsible for Fall Injuries

I had previously written an article about property owner's responsibilities in clearing ice and snow from the sidewalk.  Recently the Oregonian wrote a similar article and made a great video about the obligations of property owners to shovel snow and ice off of their sidewalks. 

“Portland: Doesn’t put a specific time requirement for owners — or occupants, such as tenants — to remove snow or other slip-and-fall hazards during other times of the year, such as leaves. But the city transportation bureau’s website urges property owners and occupants to do it “as soon as possible.”
Hillsboro: Requires property owners to remove snow and ice — or take other safety measures, such as sprinkling sand — within eight daylight hours after a storm covers the sidewalks next to their homes or businesses.
Beaverton: Requires property owners to remove snow and ice within four daylight hours of when it has fallen or formed.
Vancouver: Requires property owners and renters to clear sidewalks of snow and volcanic ash — perhaps in recognition of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
Lake Oswego: Property owners must remove snow or ice within four daylight hours if it accumulates at night and within two daylight hours if it accumulates during the day.
Tualatin: Has one of the toughest codes around. Snow must be removed within two daylight hours of it falling, and ice must be removed withint two daylight hours of it forming “unless the ice is covered with sand, ashes or other suitable material.”
Oregon City: Says property owners and occupants are responsible for keeping the sidewalks next to them in good condition, and they are liable if someone is hurt.”

— Oregonlive.com

It is clear that property owners must keep their sidewalks and walkways safe.  If you or someone you know were injured on an icy sidewalk call me, a Portland Personal Injury Attorney, at 503.224.1658 for your free personal injury consultation.   Please remember the law is constantly changing, so please consult with a lawyer and do not rely solely on this post.  Ross Law LLC and Jeremiah Ross arehappy to discuss the law with you.  

Dealing with an Injury from an Ice Cycle and Falling Snow..

Portland Oregon's recent snow and ice is beginning to thaw.  As it does, snow and ice will begin falling from roofs, gutters, and awnings.  Falling snow and ice can be hazardous to pedestrians walking below.  Many people will not be seriously injured, but some people may be seriously injured.   Ice and snow falling on a person may cause head injuries and lacerations.  Insurance companies will often deny any person who claims to have been injured by falling snow and ice.   

What should you do if you, or someone you know, is injured by falling ice or snow:

1. If seriously injured, immediately seek medical attention and/or call 911;
2. If you are injured, or tending to the injured person, delegate someone to take photos and get information for you;
3. Photograph the scene of the incident and any injuries;
4. Try and get names and phone numbers of witnesses (ask them to send a text to your phone is the easiest way to do it);
5. Try and obtain the address of the property where the ice or snow fell from;
6. Have another person notify the property owner of the incident;
7. Take photos of the ice or snow.  Use a finger or hand next to the ice or snow to provide some scale.
8. Keep track of the medical bills
9. Call an Oregon Personal Injury Attorney like myself at 503.224.1658.  An attorney is useful because they can notify the property owner, investigate the claim, and deal with the insurance company.  I don't charge for a consultation and work on a contingency fee in personal injury cases, so you don't have to pay for representation.

PLEASE CALL AN ATTORNEY AT 503.224.1658 IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS!  I am happy to provide free personal injury consultations.  Please remember: THIS POST IS NOT INTENDED TO BE "LEGAL ADVICE" and may be considered "Attorney Advertising."  The law is constantly changing, so it is best to call a lawyer and not rely on this post to determine if you have a personal injury case.