Have you or a loved one experienced an agonizing slip and fall injury in Oklahoma City? Are you overwhelmed from dealing with the liable third party and insurance adjusters while trying to heal?
At Warhawk Legal, our experienced Oklahoma City accident lawyers know how to fight for your rights. Our award-winning legal team successfully wins and concludes cases yielding compensation in the millions.
So don’t delay in working with one of OKC’s best law firms. Book a free, no-obligation consultation and case review by calling (405) 397-1717 or scheduling your appointment online.
Why Choose An Oklahoma City Slip And Fall Lawyer From Warhawk Legal?
- Warhawk Legal has been a staple of the Oklahoma City legal community. Our founding partner, Joe S. Carson has been awarded numerous accolades, and the same goes for our other lawyers, Jake Kouri IV and Laura Neal. Our lawyers received their JDs exclusively at Oklahoma law schools, so they understand what Oklahomans need.
- Warhawk never charges clients unless your case is successfully concluded. With our contingency fee payment structure, you never have to worry about paying us unless we win.
- Warhawk knows how to deal with insurance adjusters. Insurance adjustors want to minimize the settlement you receive to maximize their profits. At Warhawk, we know the most common strategies these individuals use to minimize your claims – and how to employ strategies to deal with that.
Am I Eligible For A Slip And Fall Lawsuit in Oklahoma?
To bring a strong case to court, you need to follow these steps to help you demonstrate negligence in your slip and fall lawsuit.
- The third party who directly or indirectly caused the fall owed you a duty of care. Duty of care in this legal context is the duty that property owners or managers have to keep the visitors on their property conditions safe from hazards. Depending on the context in which you were visiting the property owner or manager (conducting business with them, a social visit, trespassing), you will be afforded a different level of duty of care.
- The third party who directly or indirectly caused the fall breached this duty. At whatever level this property owner or manager was supposed to offer you a duty of care, they did not.
- This breach of duty of care caused injuries. Typically, you need to at least have physical injuries to proceed with legal action, but these injuries can be accompanied by psychological or emotional injuries as well.
- The injuries experienced caused damage. A victim must claim damages to file a successful legal suit. Damages can be financial (like hospital bills or other expenses) or based on intangible causes (emotional distress, anxiety, pain and suffering, and more).
Common Causes of Slip And Fall Injuries in Oklahoma
Common causes of slip and fall accidents include:
- Wet or Mopped Floors
- Loose Tiles or Carpet
- Sliding Rugs
- Uneven Flooring
- Tripping Hazards
- Exposed Building Materials
- Improperly Flagged Floor Hazards
- Potholes or Cracks
- Inadequate Lighting
- Missing Handrails
These circumstances can cause injuries from broken or fractured limbs, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and even wrongful death.
What To Do After A Slip And Fall Accident in Oklahoma City
After a slip and fall accident, it is important to know what to do next. First, if your injuries are severe, call emergency services. Take pictures of the incident or have someone such as a witness take photo evidence of the dangerous property conditions. Document your injuries by getting examined by your doctor. Lastly, contact a trustworthy and professional Oklahoma City injury lawyer like those at Warhawk Legal. We will fight to earn you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call us at (405) 397-1717 or book your case review or consultation online today.
Common Places For Oklahoma Slip and Fall Accidents
A slip-and-fall accident can happen almost anywhere. They are especially likely in places with property hazards or defects. Some places you may be in danger of a slip and fall accident include:
- Public and private swimming pool areas
- Grocery stores
- Department stores
- Hardware stores
- Shopping malls
- Restaurants and bars
- Hospitals
- Hotels
- Schools
- Parking lots
- Sidewalks
- Vehicle repair and maintenance garages
- Sporting events
- Health clubs or gyms
These are only some examples of where you can find slip and fall accidents. Whether your accident was caused by a wet floor, loose rug or flooring, or food or drink spillage, we want to help. If the negligence of another party caused your injuries, you deserve to be compensated for your damages.
How to Prove Negligence in a Slip and Fall Case
Oklahoma personal injury cases require a duty of care, breach of duty of care by negligent actions or inactions, causation, and damages.
Property owners have a duty of care to take reasonable actions to address hazards. So, how do we determine whether they have acted negligently and then prove it?
Generally, negligence in a slip and fall accident claim is determined by whether the property owner either:
- Caused the hazard
- Knew of the hazard but did not promptly correct it or
- Should reasonably have been aware of the danger and did not correct it
When our Oklahoma City slip-and-fall accident lawyers take a case, we immediately investigate the accident to determine the causes and liability for your injuries. We then gather strong evidence to support your claim.
Some types of evidence we may use to prove the negligence of a defendant could include:
- Photographs or video footage of the scene
- Witnesses to the accident
- Expert witness reports and testimony
- Surveillance camera footage
- Maintenance logs and records for the property
Each slip and fall accident is unique. We determine the best types of evidence to prove negligence in every Oklahoma City premises liability case.
Types of Oklahoma Slip and Fall Injuries
A slip-and-fall accident can cause injuries ranging from minor to fatal. They often happen with little time to react to break your fall. Some common types of injuries from slip and fall accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and other head injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries,
- Broken bones, including arms, shoulders, and hips
- Knee injuries
- Broken or chipped teeth
- Strains, sprains, and bruises
These injuries can be painful and result in long-term medical care and therapy needs. Some injuries, when not fatal, can be life-altering.
You need an experienced Oklahoma slip-and-fall accident lawyer representing your interests. Our attorneys work tirelessly to ensure you get every dollar you deserve.
Damages Available in a Slip and Fall Lawsuit
Your injuries from a slip and fall accident can be extensive, requiring long-term medical care, and you may be unable to work. You need an Oklahoma slip-and-fall lawyer who can get all the compensation you deserve.
There are generally two types of damages you are likely to recover in these cases. They are economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are those that are easier to value. They include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current and future lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to your injuries
- Expenses to make necessary modifications to your home or vehicle due to your injuries
- Current and future necessary therapies
Non-economic damages are harder to value but can be even more devastating than economic damages. They include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability
Punitive or exemplary damages are not awarded very often in slip-and-fall cases. This type of damage is intended to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior in the future rather than to compensate the victim.
However, if clear and convincing evidence shows that the defendant engaged in especially reckless conduct or intentionally put someone in danger, punitive damages are possible in Oklahoma.
Statute of Limitations in an Oklahoma Slip and Fall Accident
The general statute of limitations in an Oklahoma slip and fall accident is two years. This means that you must file your claim for damages within two years of the date of your accident.
However, there are exceptions to the two-year deadline. You must consult an Oklahoma slip and fall accident lawyer for your deadline.
Some factors that may change your deadline include:
- Being a Minor. If the victim is a minor, they generally have until two years after their 18th birthday to file a claim.
- An Absent Defendant. If the defendant leaves the state before you can file a claim, the statute of limitations may be tolled or paused until they return in certain situations.
- Incarcerated Defendant. If the defendant is in jail, the statute of limitations may be paused until they are released in some cases.
- The Discovery Rule. When your injuries are not immediately known or discovered, the statute of limitations may begin from when your injury was or should have reasonably been discovered.
- Wrongful Death Claims. If a victim dies from their slip and fall injuries, their family members may bring a wrongful death action within two years from the date of death rather than two years from the date of injury.
- Claims Against Government Entities. If you file a claim against a government entity in Oklahoma, you will have a shorter deadline – usually one year. These claims are governed by their own procedural laws and deadlines under the Governmental Tort Claims Act. You need the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney to determine your deadline for filing against a city, county, or state agency.
The experienced Oklahoma slip-and-fall accident lawyers at Warhawk Legal can advise you about your deadline for filing a claim and help ensure you meet that deadline.
You should contact us as soon as possible so we have adequate time to fully investigate your accident and determine possible causes, and potentially liable parties.
Additionally, important evidence can be lost, destroyed, or diminished if not identified and preserved quickly.
Will I Need to Go to Trial for My Slip and Fall Claim?
Although most slip-and-fall cases are negotiated and settled without going to trial, we prepare every case as if we will be proving our claims to a judge and jury.
Our lawyers are skilled negotiators and know how to get the maximum compensation for your damages. However, if a fair settlement is not reached, we are ready to go to trial and win big for you.
We work tirelessly to ensure your rights are protected and you get the full compensation you deserve.
Contact an Experienced Oklahoma Slip and Fall Lawyer
If you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident in Oklahoma, you deserve compensation for your damages. You should seek the advice and representation of an experienced personal injury lawyer with a proven track record of recovering maximum compensation for their clients.
The Oklahoma slip-and-fall accident lawyers at Warhawk Legal have over 20 years of experience winning big for our clients, and we want to do the same for you.
Contact us today at (405) 397-1717 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to meeting you and helping you get the compensation you deserve.