Holding Property Owners Accountable When You Get Hurt
Slip and fall accidents likely inspire more lawsuits than any other type of premises liability claim. In Oklahoma, premises owners and occupiers have a legal responsibility for any injuries that occur on their premises. Examples include:
- A visitor slipping on an icy sidewalk that should have been salted down hours ago
- A shopper at a mall slipping in a spilled beverage in the food court
- A delivery person tripping over a piece of debris or uneven stair tread in an office building
If you were injured because someone else failed to maintain their property safely for employees, guests, and other visitors, Bison Law Firm in Oklahoma can help you get full and fair compensation.
Premises Liability in Oklahoma
To recover damages in an Oklahoma premises liability claim, you must prove the following:
- A duty of care was owed to you by the defendant (owner or occupant)
- They breached that duty (e.g. did not clean up a spill that was sitting in a well-trafficked area for hours)
- Due to that breach of duty, you were injured and suffered damages
The question of whether you are owed a duty of care depends on your reason for being on the property. In Oklahoma, the following categories apply:
- Invitees: Guests of a business establishment, such as shoppers or hotel guests, fall into this category. A property owner must take reasonable and ordinary care to keep the property safe and protect invitees from unreasonable risks.
- Licensees: Licensees are social visitors, such as friends or family members. Property owners have a duty to warn them of any known dangerous conditions that they might not be aware of on their own.
- Trespassers: These are individuals who enter establishments or property grounds without permission. Since property owners have no reason to expect these people on their property, they generally owe them no duty of care.
- Children: When the trespasser is a child, a property owner may be liable for their injuries if an “attractive nuisance” is present. There are many objects that can attract children too young to understand danger or the concept of private property, such as swimming pools, open pits, and water fountains.
In general, if you are injured on someone else’s property after they fail to take reasonable measures to keep it safe and you are not an adult trespasser, you may be able to file a claim for damages against the owner or occupier.
Contact an Oklahoma Personal Injury Attorney
In Oklahoma, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a premises liability claim. While most injured parties file sooner, it is always possible that the full extent of your injuries may not become known until some time has passed.
The Bison Law Firm will aggressively pursue the outcome you deserve. When the defendant or their insurer makes a reasonable offer, we make sure it is sufficient for your current and future needs. We will also go to trial if needed. To schedule a consultation, call 405.407.0111 or contact us online.
