Slip and Fall Accidents
When someone is injured from slipping on a surface or tripping over something and falling down, in legal terms these are referred to as “slip and fall accidents” and these often lead to “premises liability cases.” If a property manager or owner is negligent in how they maintain their premises by not taking care of repairs in a timely manner and allowing hazardous conditions to exist, they are putting people at risk. Quite a few states have enacted laws requiring landowners to keep their property maintained so people visiting the property are safe from harm. For the most part, these laws apply to both homeowners and business owners.
In the states that have enacted these laws, a merchant is duty-bound to keep his/her premises safe for customers or anyone else visiting his/her establishment. This means keeping the floors, passageways and aisles free from spills or any other hazards that could reasonably cause an accident leading to someone being injured.
Types of slip and fall premise liability cases:
- Slip and fall at business establishments caused by spills of liquids or other substances
- Trip and fall accidents due to hazardous or otherwise unsafe conditions at a property
- Accidents at construction sites caused by inadequate safety measures
- Physical assaults by business patrons or employees on the premises
Business owners in many states, along with property owners have an obligation under the law to provide a safe place for people while on their premises, whether they’re a customer, client, employee, contract worker, etc.
What Constitutes Premises Liability?
If you sustain an injury in an accident at a business or on someone’s property because they failed to maintain their premises in a way that makes it safe for everyone visiting, you may be entitled to certain damages as a result of your injury so you need to seek legal aid from a lawyer in Oklahoma whose practice areas include personal injury involving slip and fall. These damages could be for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.
If you’ve had an accident in a slip or trip and fall accident, we advise you to:
- Find out the names of the owner(s) and/or manager(s) of the property
- Make note of the names and phone numbers of any witnesses
- Take pictures that clearly show the premises at the time of your accident
- Have someone take good pictures of your injuries
- Do not make any statements regarding who is at fault
- Get medical treatment for your injuries
- Save the clothing and shoes you were wearing at the time of the accident
- Do not provide insurance adjusters with any recorded statements
The owner or operator of the property are subject to the liability laws in the state where the property is located as well as any federal laws that may apply in these particular circumstances. Premises liability laws require homeowners or the owners of a public store or shop to warn people about known hazards on the property that they might encounter. On a construction site, those overseeing the construction and the workers are obligated by law to warn the public about existing hazards and to protect people from being injured on their work site. Every situation is different, but depending on the circumstances of your accident, they may still be legally liable for the injuries you sustained on their property, even if you were warned of the hazards and the possibility of injury.
For more information contact one of our highly qualified Attorneys in the Oklahoma City area call (405) 253-4478 or our main office in Ardmore (580) 798-0447.