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Premises liability lawsuits result from accidents and injuries on someone else’s property because of negligent upkeep or maintenance. These cases arise when a person is harmed due to unsafe conditions on someone’s property, highlighting the legal responsibility of property owners to maintain safe premises for guests, customers, or invitees. Civil laws require that landowners, possessors, and managers keep their property hazard-free to protect visitors they invite to enter the premises. Oklahoma law governs premises liability and sets the standards for when property owners may be held accountable.
While not all accidents on property owned by another party are valid causes for a lawsuit, the courts will hold them financially responsible when the elements required by law are present. This includes evaluating the property owner’s duty to maintain safe conditions and prevent foreseeable harm to visitors. Contact a qualified Lawton premises liability lawyer at AMA Law for more information. Consultations with our seasoned personal injury attorneys are always free and have no obligation.
While the laws require that all landowners maintain their properties, the level of care they owe people depends on the reason they entered the property. Property owners owe different duties to invitees, licensees, and trespassers under Oklahoma premises liability law, with the highest duty owed to invitees, a lesser duty to licensees, and limited duties to trespassers.
The owner invites invitees to enter the premises for business or personal reasons, including private property, and owes them the highest duty to protect them from harm. Under the law, the landowner must keep the property reasonably safe and is liable for damages caused by their failure to meet the standard.
Licensees have consented to enter for personal reasons, and landowners owe them the second highest duty of care to keep the building and surrounding areas safe and protect them from sustained injuries while on the premises. According to the regulations, they must warn licensees of any potential defects or hazards that put them at risk. If homeowners fail to address known hazards or neglect to warn licensees about dangerous conditions, they can be held liable for any injuries that occur as a result.
Trespassers enter properties without permission, and owners have no legal responsibility to keep the property hazard-free for them or warn them of potential risks. However, they cannot intentionally create a dangerous situation to cause them bodily harm. There is an important exception for children under the “attractive nuisance” doctrine: property owners may be liable if a hazardous condition, such as a swimming pool, entices children onto the property and causes injury, even if the children are trespassing. Our knowledgeable Lawton premises liability attorneys can answer specific questions during an initial consultation and help determine which visitor category you fall within.
A dangerous condition on someone else’s property can quickly turn an ordinary visit into a life-altering event. Under Oklahoma City premises liability laws, property owners have a clear legal responsibility to keep their premises safe and free from hazards that could cause harm to visitors. When a property owner fails to address unsafe conditions—whether on residential or commercial property—they may be held liable for any injuries that result.
Premises liability claims often arise from a variety of dangerous conditions, such as wet or slippery floors, uneven walkways, broken stairs, poor lighting, or unmarked obstacles. These hazards can lead to serious fall accidents, including slip and fall or trip and fall incidents, as well as falls from heights. Whether the accident occurred in a private home, an apartment complex, a retail store, or another commercial property, the injured party may have a valid claim if the property owner knew or should have known about the danger and failed to take reasonable precautions.
Proving liability in these cases requires demonstrating that the property owner was aware—or should have been aware—of the unsafe condition and did not act to fix it or warn visitors. This can be a complex process, as property owners and their insurance companies often dispute responsibility or claim ignorance of the hazard. An experienced premises liability attorney in Oklahoma City can help gather crucial evidence, such as maintenance records, witness statements, and photographs, to build a strong case and prove liability.
If you have suffered injuries due to dangerous conditions on city premises, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. In some situations, if the property owner’s conduct was especially reckless, punitive damages may also be awarded. Navigating the legal system and dealing with insurance companies can be overwhelming, but a skilled premises liability lawyer can guide you through every step of the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Don’t let a property owner’s negligence jeopardize your health or financial security. If you or a loved one has been injured on someone else’s property in the Oklahoma City area, reach out to a knowledgeable premises liability attorney for a free consultation. With the right legal support, you can hold the property owner accountable and take the first step toward recovery and justice.
During the civil claims proceedings for premises liability cases, the defendant (i.e. the negligent property owner) often asserts that the injured party shares fault for the damages that occurred. This is known as comparative negligence, a legal doctrine that determines how liability and damages are allocated when more than one party is at fault in a premises liability case. The Oklahoma Statutes § 23-13 provides that the state follows a modified comparative fault rule for shared liability when both parties are at fault. The injured party can still collect compensation if they are under 50 percent responsible for the accident. In some premises liability cases, liability may be shared among multiple parties, such as joint property owners or other responsible entities.
That means if the total cost of damages is $90,000 and the civil court determines the injured individual is 20 percent responsible, the amount they are eligible to collect is $72,000. A skilled premises liability lawyer in Lawton can answer your questions about the state regulations and help calculate a potential settlement amount.
Common injuries that often lead to premises liability claims include slips, falls, and other accidents caused by unsafe property conditions.
After the court determines the property owner is responsible for the injury victim’s damages, they may award compensation to cover the following:
A serious injury or severe injury from a premises liability accident can have a lasting impact on the injury victim’s life, sometimes resulting in long-term or even permanent consequences.
The court considers the injury victim’s verifiable losses—such as medical bills and the time the injury victim missed from work—and non-monetary damages, such as the emotional distress and physical pain associated with the injury victim’s injuries.
Premises liability laws protect people when property owners are careless and fail to meet their legal obligations, causing visitors to suffer bodily harm and other damages. Experienced liability lawyers handle a wide range of personal injury cases, including premises liability, using their expertise to help clients recover compensation for injuries caused by property owner negligence. However, the cases are complex, and many factors play a role in the owner’s level of fault and the compensation amount available to you.
A diligent Lawton premises liability lawyer at AMA Law can review the specifics of your case and determine if there is cause to take legal action. We can guide you through the challenging process and fight for the fair compensation you need and deserve. Call (405) 972-6123 today to schedule your free case review.