Under the law, all property owners have a responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of their property, which is to be kept in reasonably safe conditions and should not pose any threats to visitors. If a hazardous condition exists, it is the duty of the property owner to post signs warning visitors of the dangers in an effort to reduce the chance of an injury accident occurring. When a property owner does not sufficiently maintain their property, and/or fails to warn visitors of threatening conditions and a visitor is injured as a result, the owner may be held responsible for the victim’s injuries and other damages.

 

Regardless of a person’s age, everyone is at-risk of sustaining injuries in a slip-and-fall accident. These injuries can range from lacerations and broken bones to traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding. After an accident, it will be very important for an investigation to conclude the cause of the fall, as well as whether it could have been prevented or not. When someone is injured because of another person or businesses’ negligence, the injured victim may be able to receive compensation for their injuries and accident-related losses from all negligent parties. Seeking the counsel of a lawyer that has experience handling similar cases can help injured victims learn more about their legal rights, in addition to learning what the best course of action to take might be in order to hold a negligent property owner liable.

 

Slip-and-Fall Accident Causes

 

There are many different dangerous conditions that may cause a person to fall, including:

 

• Stairs that are broken/unrepaired
• Floors that are wet or slippery
• Floors that are cracked, uneven, or are missing tiles
• Workplaces that are inherently dangerous, especially construction sites

 

If any of these conditions exist on a property, the owner is required to fix them as soon as they are reasonably able, as well as notify visitors of the dangerous conditions. If a fall accident occurs and it is discovered the property owner was aware of the problem yet did not act to fix it, they will be held accountable.

 

Proving Negligence in Slip-and-Fall Accidents

 

In order for a slip-and-fall accident claim to be a success, three important factors will need to be established. It will need to be proven that someone created the dangerous condition, and that the property owner knew about the condition yet failed to take action to repair or change it. Third, it will need to be shown that the property owner had a reasonable amount of time to know about the condition and then repair it. Proving negligence in a slip-and-fall accident can become very complex, particularly if the hazardous condition was temporary, such as a slippery floor. Due to the notoriously difficult nature of these cases, anyone who has been injured in such an accident is well-advised to consult with an attorney to learn more about the legal options available to them, based upon the specifics of their circumstances.

 

If you have been injured in an accident you believe was due to a property owner’s negligence, contact Homsey Law Center. Our Oklahoma premises liability attorneys can determine whether you have a meritorious claim. Call our law offices today to get started with one of our lawyers.