You should have a reasonable expectation that you will be safe when you visit someone else’s property. Unfortunately, due to a property owner’s insufficient maintenance, poor signage, and other forms of negligence, you can suffer severe injury. The property owner should be held accountable.

If you were injured in a slip and fall accident in Tulsa, Oklahoma, no one has to tell you about the serious consequences that this kind of accident can exact on your health and well-being. You may face escalating medical bills and lost wages, which can make it challenging to make ends meet. You may also suffer a great deal of physical pain and emotional distress. At Edwards & Patterson Law, we care about you, and we will fight for your future.

Our Tulsa slip and fall injury attorneys have years of experience helping slip-and-fall accident victims in and throughout Oklahoma pursue just compensation. Contact us today to discuss how we can assist you. We will explain your rights and review all of our legal options in a free consultation.

What Is Premises Liability in Tulsa, Oklahoma?

Premises liability is an area of law that involves the duty of property owners to maintain a certain level of safety on their premises. When the occupancy or use of a building or land causes someone harm, premises liability principles determine who, if anyone, is liable. Under premises liability law, a visitor who is injured on another person’s property may be able to hold the land or building owner accountable.

A property owner’s liability will depend on how Oklahoma law classifies that visitor.
Oklahoma premises liability law places visitors into three categories:

1) Trespassers That Slip On The Premises

When someone comes onto another’s land without permission. A trespasser does not receive much protection with regard to the safety of the property. A property owner has no duty to ensure that the property is safe for trespassers but is required to avoid intentionally harming a trespasser (unless acting in justified self-defense). However, if a property owner has a dangerous condition that may entice children such as a swimming pool, and a child is injured on the property as a result, the owner could be held liable.

2) What Is a Licensee?

A licensee is permitted to be on the property. A property owner or occupier must inform licensees of dangers on the property that are not obvious. However, the owner has no duty to maintain the property at a certain level of safety. Social guests are typically considered to be licensees.

3) Who Are Invitees?

People who are invited onto the premises to benefit the owner or occupier of the property are considered invitees. For instance, any business that allows customers onto its premises is considered to have invited the customers to do so and can benefit from customers entering the business. With invitees, the property owner or occupier has a duty to maintain and repair the property to keep it reasonably safe. If the property has been maintained reasonably, and an invitee is still injured, the property owner or occupier will not be liable for that injury.

When the owner or occupier has failed to fulfill the duty of reasonable care to maintain the premises safely, they may be liable if an invitee is injured because of that failure. In some instances, the property owner must alert people coming onto the property of hidden dangers or unsafe conditions that are not identified easily. If a dangerous condition is obvious to most people, then the person does not have a duty to warn people coming onto the property. Contact our Tulsa personal injury attorney today.

How Do You Prove Liability for a Slip and Fall Accident in Tulsa?

To have a successful premises liability claim involving a slip and fall in Tulsa, you must prove negligence on the part of the owner of the premises. This includes showing that:

  • The hazardous obstacle or condition had been in place for a long enough period of time that the owner, a manager, or an employee should have noticed it and addressed it.
  • Routine maintenance was required and not performed, or there was no routine maintenance or inspection schedule in place when there should have been.
  • The area was poorly lit or there was limited visibility to avoid potential hazards.
  • There was no justifiable reason for the hazard to be there.
  • The property owner or manager could have made the hazardous condition less dangerous by placing a warning sign or closing off the area but failed to do so.

Factors that are relevant to the safety of a property can include:

  • Inadequate lighting
  • Wet or slippery surfaces
  • Weather conditions
  • Broken stairways or uneven flooring surfaces
  • Loose or missing safety rails
  • Unmarked dangerous areas.

All of these factors could establish that a property owner failed to adequately protect you from harm. In defense, a property owner may try to pin partial or full blame on you, claiming that your own negligence contributed to your injuries. As you move ahead with a slip and fall accident claim, you should be prepared for these allegations, however unsubstantiated they may be, and be ready to show that you did not contribute to the accident through negligence of your own. An expert Tulsa slip and fall lawyer can help you prove negligence and win your claim.

Woman slip and fall on wet and smooth road.

Is There a Time Limit for Filing  Slip and Fall Injury Lawsuit in Oklahoma?

Yes, there is. The Oklahoma statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit, such as a slip and fall, is two years.  Two years may seem like a long time, but you need to act quickly. Evidence of your injury can “fade” as time passes. Additionally, proper research needs to be done for your cases.  So, do not delay in contacting Edwards & Patterson Law about your claim. Should your lawsuit not be filed before that two years expire, you will lose your opportunity to have your claim heard in court.

Our Tulsa Slip and Fall Attorneys Can Help You

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident in Tulsa, OK, or anywhere in Oklahoma, and you have questions about pursuing a premises liability claim, the knowledgeable and experienced attorneys at Edwards & Patterson Law are here to help. We care about you, and we will fight for you until the very end.

We don’t just care about winning your slip and fall injury claim. Our Tulsa slip and fall attorneys also care about your future. We want to make sure that you receive all the medical treatment you need, and we will aggressively pursue the compensation that you deserve.

We want you to move on from this tragedy and live a healthy and happy life. To learn more about how we can assist you, contact our legal team today. A Tulsa slip and fall lawyer can provide a free consultation through our office, conveniently located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Visit Our Tulsa Slip and Fall Injury Law Office